Lagos State Police Command has arrested 18 people for allegedly vandalising property during a protest at Tejuosho market shopping complex in Yaba.
Gatekeepers News reports that the demonstration was held on Thursday by traders over a prolonged power outage that has disrupted business operations.
It reportedly turned violent after hoodlums allegedly infiltrated the protest and attempted to attack a commercial bank within the market.
In a statement on Friday, Babaseyi Oluseyi, deputy spokesperson of the command, said the suspects mobilised under the cover of protest to unleash violence on the bank and police officers stationed there.
The statement reads, “The hoodlums and miscreants damaged some sections of the bank premises and attacked police personnel on guard duty at the bank within the market.”
“The PMF personnel repelled the attacks and firmly protected the bank from invasion by the hoodlums and miscreants and exercised a high level of restraint in their actions.”
Oluseyi added that the police received a distress call around 2:30 p.m. on September 18 after reports emerged that hoodlums were attacking traders and destroying goods and property.
He said mobile policemen responded swiftly, repelled the attacks, and prevented the bank from being breached. During the chaos, officers also fired teargas canisters to disperse the crowd and restore calm.
The command confirmed that investigations are ongoing and assured that the arrested suspects will be prosecuted.
