11th April, 2011
There was commotion at Sura market, Okesuna, Lagos Island when some suspected hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons such as knives, cutlasses and guns invaded the market and unleashed terror on traders. Some properties were burnt in the process.
The incident, according to some of the traders who lost valuables to the hoodlums happened on Thursday and Friday.
They said many people, including traders were injured and shot. One of the victims who received serious machete cuts was identified as Alhaji Umar Muazu.
The injured victims claimed that they called the police from Lion Building Division and Adeniji Adele Division during the attack but the policemen responded after the hoodlums had left.
Some witnesses told P.M.NEWS that the police stormed the scene to restore order and arrested many of the hoodlums.
Narrating his ordeal to P.M.NEWS, Jacob Okanlawon Akababa Adelaja, who claimed to be the head of the Hausa community in the market said: “The hoodlums accused us of harbouring their rivals Patey boys inside Sura market, but this was a ploy to rob traders and loot properties.
“We are calling on Governor Babatunde Fashola and the state Commissioner of Police, to station Operation MESSA operatives at the market because we do not trust the police again. The leader of the thugs called Koko has been arrested several times, but he is always released within hours. Our lives are in danger,†he stated.
Efforts made to speak with the two DPOs of Lion Building and Adeniji Adele police divisions by P.M.NEWS proved abortive.
—Paul Iyoghojie
