Segun Atanda/
A mob of motorcyclists went berserk, today, burning down a police patrol van.
According to the police, they also attempted to attack a station in Ikorodu area of Lagos.
In a swift reaction to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, vowed that the command would, henceforth, respond decisively to any attack against its personnel and property, including the use of firearms.
The command also said that it had arrested 63 suspects in connection with the attack.
NewsmakersNG learned that the action of the mob resulted from the reported death of a commercial bike rider while being chased by the police in Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, at about 10pm, on Tuesday.
The deceased was reportedly flagged down by policemen manning a black spot, when they noticed his passenger was carrying an item that appeared suspicious.
But the rider sped past the checkpoint and, in his bid to quickly get away from the scene, lost control and fell inside a gutter.
He reportedly died instantly, while his passenger escaped, before policemen got to the spot.
The police spokesman, SP Chike Oti, has issued a statement saying it has concluded arrangement to arraign all those arrested over the incident for arson.
The statement reads: “The Lagos State Police Command notes with regret the unfortunate burning of a police patrol van stationed at a black spot in Ibeshe, Ipakodo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state by irate motorcyclists popularly called okada riders, today, 30/05/2018, at about 10.45am.
“The incident was occasioned by an encounter between policemen manning the black spot and an okada man plying the routes way beyond Lagos state approved time of 10pm.
“As he approached the police pin down point, the police team observed that he was carrying a passenger with a big bag placed between him and the rider an so they flagged him down but instead of obeying the police hand signal, the okada man increased his speed in order to evade police scrutiny. Sadly, he ended up in a ditch and passed on. Meanwhile his associate with the suspicious bag vanished into the thin air.
“However, today, 30/05/18, at about 10am, Okada riders sympathetic to their late colleague, mobilised in their thousands and attempted to burn the Ibeshe Police Post. They were resisted. So they moved and found a softer target which was a police van stationed at a known black spot in Ibeshe and set it ablaze.
“In view of this incident, the police authorities in Lagos state wishes to warn all those with the penchant to burn, destroy or loot its property/armoury, that henceforth the Command will be compelled to use all lawful means including the use of firearms to protect such properties and defend its personnel. The police in Lagos will no longer stand by and watch hoodlums destroy government property worth millions of Naira for whatever reason.
“Any group of persons with complaints against any action by the police must toe the civilised option of registering their complaints with the police authorities for appropriate action.
“The CP Lagos has directed that the sixty three okada riders arrested for burning the police vehicle should be charge to court for arson. He has also directed the OC Legal to file a motion to a court of competent jurisdiction to surcharge the suspects for the purchase of another police patrol vehicle.”
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