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.
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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