The timely deployment of Nigerian Army troops and
operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Monday averted post-election
reprisal at some parts of Oshodi and Ajegunle areas of the state.
The crisis was said to have been engineered by
hoodlums attached to one of the political parties, who targeted traders of a
certain ethnic group for allegedly voting for the opposition.
The hoodlums had yesterday stormed Brown Street and
markets opposite GET Arena in Oshodi;
Akpasa and Market Street in Ajegunle to forcefully close down the shops
of those traders.
This move was a replica of what was obtained at
Ago, Okota, Isolo, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Aguda and some parts of
Oshodi during the presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday.
The modus operandi was to disenfranchise voters from
the said ethnic group, who are believed to predominantly reside in the
aforementioned areas.
However, yesterday’s attack would have been
successful save for the timely response of the police and the soldiers, who as
at press time, are still on patrol in the areas.
Speaking on anonymity, a trader at the Oshodi market
said: “We had opened shop to commence sales only for the thugs (area boys) to tell
us to close shop. They were asking us why we voted for the PDP candidate and
not the APC.
“These are the same people who come to task us for
money in our shops daily. Now it’s time for politics, they have turned against
us. The last time I checked, we still have the right to vote our choice.
“Mine is even more painful. I was also a victim of
the same attack in my area at Ago Palace Way last Saturday during the elections.
“The hoodlums disenfranchised me from voting my
candidate because I am Igbo. They vandalised our polling unit at Jemtok/Avenue.
They set it on fire, thereby making sure we didn’t vote.
“I have barely managed to move on and now this. On
a Monday morning when I should be making sales, I am running for my life. At
the moment, I don’t know the state of my shop, whether it was vandalised or
not.”
Meanwhile, THISDAY checks revealed that some
schools in the Ago Palace Way area did not resume classes, despite a memo sent
to parents last week that the midterm assessment for pupils would begin on
Monday.
In the messages sent to parents to keep their kids
and wards at home, the central focus was possible unrest following the fracas
on the election day.
One of the messages made available to THISDAY read:
“Dear valued parents, kindly be informed that school will remain closed on
Monday February 25, due to the tension accruing from Saturday’s general
election. The safety of our beloved pupils is of utmost important to us.
“We implore you to take the extra day to keep up
with preparing your wards for the remaining subjects in the midterm tests as we
resume on Tuesday February 26. Please stay safe as we continue to pray for
peace in our community and in Nigeria at large.”
When contacted, however, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said there was no problem at Oshodi, adding
that the police are on top of the situation.
While dispelling the allegation, Oti said nothing
could be farther from the truth, adding that the police however still
intensified patrol of the said areas.
He said: “Although the command received distress
calls from concerned Nigerians whose apprehensions were understandably
heightened by disturbing rumours emanating from some social media platforms,
the command swiftly and massively deployed its personnel.
“The personnel drawn from various units to Oshodi
and environs were deployed to assuage the feelings of residents and further
assure Lagosians of its readiness to decisively deal with any person or group
of persons who attempts to breach the public peace.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police
Command, commended Lagosians for conducting themselves in a peaceful and
orderly manner during the last Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections.
“The police, with support from other sister
security agencies, worked round the clock to ensure that the process was
generally peaceful.
“In order to sustain the peaceful atmosphere, the
command will maintain a high level of police presence in all parts of the state
with emphasis on crime prone areas.
“Those celebrating should do that with modesty
while those unhappy with the results have the privilege of adhering with laid
down procedures of addressing their grievances as provided by the Electoral Act
in the tribunal.
“The command has made adequate arrangements to
secure the venues of the Election Tribunals in the state.
“We, however, warn criminally-minded people and
disgruntled elements to steer clear of the state or be prepared to contend with
security forces in the state.”
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