By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The police in Lagos said over 100 suspects have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a violent clash between two unidentified groups of scavengers at an empty land close to Ojota new garage along Ikorodu road.
The Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of Operations, Mr Mohammed Ali, who made the disclosure on Friday, said that those arrested have been transferred to the Taskforce office, Oshodi for investigation.
Ali said that the leaders of the two groups were holding meeting with Commissioner of police, CP Imohimi Edgal at the command headquarters with a view to settle the matter amicably.
“No body was killed in the clash, the situation had been brought under control. Our men will be here until total peace is restored, “Ali said.
Our correspondent gathered that the clash which started on Thursday, was caused by some rival groups over an undisclosed matter, causing pandemonium on the ever busy Maryland -Ikorodu Road, Ojota area.
It was learnt that the two groups were scavengers who gather and sell unserviceable items at a place called “Igidanpani stressing that the clash forced the business stores at new garage and some parts of Ojota to shot down.
“We don’t really know what caused the crisis. We were surprised to see people running helter skelter, I saw some men moving round at Ojota area looking for their opponents.
“The men pass through Roju Avenue, Olatunji, Gbadebo streets, armed with sticks and cutlesses destroying the wares of traders. At Olatunji /Roju junction, the armed men destroyed the fruits of one the traders.
The coming of the police brought the situation under control on Thursday. But the groups started again on Friday, forcing owners of business centers in the area to hurriedly close for tye day“, a vulcanizer who identified himself as Adeshina informed.
Meanwhile, the State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode visited the scene of the crisis on Friday evening for on the spot assessment and warned against any forms of violence in the state.
He thereafter, shot the New Garage Motor park temporarily to prevent hoodlums from accessing the disputed land through the park.
One of the leaders of the park, Mr Femi Adio said members of the motor park were not involved in the clash, adding that Gov. Ambode only shot the park to prevent the rioters from turning the garage to a battle field.
“The governor only asked us to move our cars out to prevent those fighting from using the park to gather. I am sure, within one or two days, he will open the motor park for business, “he said.
As at the time of filing the report, policemen from different divisions under Area H Ogudu, operatives from the State CID, Panti, Taskforce on Environnental Offences and that of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have been positioned at the scene to maintain peace.