Wednesday, July 16

Youths Invade Council Secretariat In Lagos, Scores Injured.


Several persons, among whom were officials of the local council as well as visitors sustained injuries in Amuwo Odofin Local Government on  Monday,  there sporadic gunshots from suspected members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard, who attacked everyone in sight.

Reports said trouble started after officials of the Environmental Task Force attached to the local government, who had gone to demolish some illegal structures around Alakija area were attacked by suspected members of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard.

Later in the evening, members of the group, numbering about a 100 reportedly stormed the premises of the local government with dangerous weapons such as guns, bottles and knives and attacked people there.

One of the injured staff of the Environmental Task Force who gave his name as Gideon Ovat, said: “At about 3pm, while we were carrying out our duties at Third Gate, around Alakija bus stop, where we went to demolish illegal structures, we were attacked by some young men numbering about 50.

“They attacked us with bottles, knives, sticks and cutlasses. I sustained injuries on my hand in my attempt to block a machete that was targeted at my head. We narrowly escaped being lynched.”

Chairman of the Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, told Vanguard that but for the bravery of men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC there would have been many casualties.

Adewale said members of the group were advancing towards his office, apparently with intent to kill him, alleging that instead of Policemen from Area ‘E’ Command, Festac to contain the situation, they were “romancing the invaders.”

According to him, “men from the Community Policing Youth Vanguard, numbering about 100 invaded the premises of the local council with guns, bottles and other instruments of destruction, attacking everyone within the premises and advancing towards my office possibly coming to kill me.

“Several people sustained grave injuries. It took the gallant efforts of men of the NSCDC attached to the local council to push the hoodlums outside the premises, though some members of staff had already been wounded.”

“Policemen from the Area E Command did not disperse the hoodlums around the premises. Instead of effecting their arrest,the policemen were romancing them. Eventually, we got the intervention of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, from Alausa, Ikeja and OP MESA that dispersed the hoodlums and cordoned off 41 Road, thereby preventing further attacks.”

According to him, “I have been having an age-long battle with the Area ‘E’ Commander, Festac Town, ACP Dan Okoro over a group he formed called Community Policing Youth Vanguard, which is not backed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Service Act.

“We have written several letters to the Commissioner of Police and other agencies informing them of the nefarious and destructive attitude of members of this group, as well as for the need to investigate their activities but to no avail.”

Police sources also denied that the group was responsible for the attack on council members, informing rather that the clash at the local government secretariat was between traders and members of the Neighbourhood Watch .

Source: Vanguard

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