LAGOS MARCH 4TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Scores of people have been killed and properties worth billions of naira have been destroyed in an on-going clash between the Yoruba and Hausa communities in the popular Mile 12 area of Lagos State.
Houses, cars, personal belongings and wares being sold at the popular market located in the area were destroyed by the fighters.
The clash, which began since Wednesday night, got to a head Thursday afternoon with irate youths invading people’s homes and burning down houses.
Witnesses at the scene of the clash counted corpses of people killed and burnt in different parts of the area.
“Corpses are lying along the road. So many people have been killed. The house just beside where I live has been razed down and a carpenter in the house killed,” a witness, Victor, told our correspondent.
It was also learnt that the police did not take immediate action even when calls were made by residents to the police.
A journalist who lives in the area reported contacting the state Commissioner of Police but got a response that the commissioner was in a meeting and could not leave the meeting while Mile 12 burnt.
The situation only calmed Thursday evening after the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, ordered a shutdown of the entire Mile 12 and Agiliti areas of the state affected by the mayhem.
“The Hausa youths (some even came from other areas of Lagos just to fight in sympathy with their people) stormed different streets in Agiliti area destroying properties, killing and maiming people.
“Some of them were also attacked by the Yoruba youths who vowed not to keep quiet in the face of such attacks.
“The Yorubas also stormed the Mile 12 Market where there are a lot of Hausas and they destroyed properties and razed down buildings belonging to Hausa people in the area.
“The worst was that while the chaos went on, police officers stood aloof. It was only when the governor’s order came that they took action and arrested some people,” a witness at the area told Huhuonline.com.
Two versions exist on the origin of the crisis. One of the versions said a Hausa motorcycle rider rode on the wrong lane and knocked down someone.
Angered by this, residents of the area tried to force the motorcycle rider to take the injured victim to the hospital using his motorcycle. He was said to have refused and instead, called his friends from the same tribe.
“Another version is that the Hausa motorcycle rider rode on one way and was accosted by the leader of the motorcycle riders in the area who is a Yoruba man.
“While the leader of the motorcycle riders confronted him and was trying to cease his motorcycle key, the Hausa guy just brought out a knife and stabbed the Yoruba guy. Though the Yoruba guy didn’t die, it triggered the fracas,” Lola Oladele, a resident of the area said.
Ambode Wades Into Mile 12 War As Police Arrests 50
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday ordered the temporary closure of the Mile 12 Market, following a dispute which erupted within the communities in Ketu-Mile 12 area of the state.
The Governor also announced the restriction of movement on four streets in the area including Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2 streets.
Addressing Government House Correspondents at the Lagos House, Alausa, Governor Ambode said the decision to shut the market and restrict movement on the streets was to aid security agencies restore calm in the area.
“In order to further restore calm, I have ordered that Mile 12 Market be temporarily closed and urged traders, community leaders and other stakeholders to eschew violence; be calm and law abiding.
“Furthermore, I have also ordered a temporary restriction of movement in the following streets; Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2,” he said.
The Governor said the police and security operatives have been deployed to the area to quell the dispute, assuring residents that peace will be restored in the area.
“Today, I have just been informed that some miscreants and criminal elements have exploited that dispute to cause a breakdown of law and order within the area. These types of clashes do occur from time to time in a multi-ethnic city like Lagos and the government has responded appropriately.
“The public is hereby assured that we will not shy away from our responsibilities to protect lives and property and we will deal decisively with those criminal elements who fan the embers of ethnic strive.”
The Governor said he had received reports from the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies who are on ground at the scene saying that the situation has been substantially put under control.
He also used the opportunity to reiterate that Lagos state will continue to be home to every Nigerian irrespective of their tribe or ethic affiliation, urging residents to continue to be law abiding.
“Let me assure Lagosians that the state is home to every tribe and ethnic group and nobody should give this disturbance any ethnic coloration whatsoever. Every law abiding citizens should go about their normal businesses,” Governor Ambode said.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said the police has brought the situation under control, adding that the police will move in right away to enforce the order by the government.
He said there was no iota of truth in the rumours making rounds that two persons were killed during the clash, saying that such report was far from the truth.
“The restriction is starting right away and it will be so until the situation normalises completely. I was there personally I did not witness anybody killed.
“I was there all through before I came here. The situation is calm; people that were agitating have been cleared off the road.
“The roads are clear and as I am talking to you, substantial arrest has been made and I can assure the public that those involved in that violence will be brought to justice,” the CP said.
Owoseni dismissed reports that there was a fire outbreak in Mile 12 Market, adding that over 50 suspects have been arrested in connection to the dispute in the area.
“I’m telling you what I saw and what I witnessed. As at the time I left the scene to come to this place, there was no fire at Mile 12 Market.
“It was within Agiliti where some vehicles were being burnt by miscreants and as I told you, those miscreants have been cleared off the road,” Owoseni said.