Owoseni addressing a group of protesters at the scene
Ololade Adeyanju
Police have arrested an officer and 18 other suspects over the Wednesday mayhem in Apapa, Lagos, that led to the death of one person.
The branches of Diamond Bank on Burma road and Sterling Bank on Wharf road, Apapa, were also vandalised and partially burnt by a mob during the incident.
A policeman attached to one of the affected banks (name withheld) allegedly shot a tanker driver following an altercation. The victim later died at an undisclosed hospital.
The development reportedly angered the mob and they insisted that the bank officials must hand over the offending police officer to them.
But when bank refused to accede to their request, the mob resorted to vandalising the bank and another close by.
Police, however, did not state which of the two banks was directly involved in the incident.
A statement by the state’s police spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the quick intervention of the police minimised the level of carnage.
He said the commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, led a combined team of police officers, including the Area Commander Apapa, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other security agents to the scene, after receiving a distress call from the Chief Security Officer of the concerned bank.
Famous-Cole further stated: “The caller said hoodlums were trying to take laws into their hands by setting the bank ablaze following the shooting of a tanker driver by a policeman attached to the bank after an altercation.
“A mob had gathered in front of the bank demanding the trigger-happy policeman be released to them. But the bank refused, leading to the arson and further attack on another bank branch, located on Wharf Road.
“If not for the quick intervention of the police, the hoodlums would have wreaked more havoc as they destroyed private properties and valuables. The fire at the banks was put out by the police and other security agencies.
“Also, the tanker driver, identified as Azeez, was rushed immediately to the hospital for treatment. He was, however, confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital.”
He said normalcy had been restored in the affected area.
Famous-Cole also added: “The Lagos state police command would like to warn members of the public against acts of impunity and jungle justice in the state. We are no longer going to tolerate the act of lawlessness and impunity by members of the public.”
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Nigeria seems to be decending into a state of anarchy under this present administration. I hope some day, there would be a breakthrough. This is a country once upon a time flowing with milk and honey but now, no news is good news, violence! Violence!! Violence!!!