Police arrest 50 as hoodlums clash, set part of Ile-Epo market ablaze

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested about 50 suspected hoodlums after a clash at the Ile-Epo market that started late Wednesday and continued into Thursday, resulting in significant unrest, with reports of shops being set ablaze and multiple injuries.

The incident, which stemmed from a dispute among traders over a betting game, escalated into an ethnic confrontation that was later seized upon by suspected hoodlums.

Police swiftly responded to the situation, with officers from the Oko-Odo division moving in to restore order.

Over 50 suspects were apprehended in the process and the makeshift dwellings were dismantled to dislodge them from the area.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Thursday said following reports of clashes among some youths and hoodlums in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State, the DPO Oke-Odo swiftly led his men to the scene, and have since restored normalcy.

Hundeyin said over 50 suspects have so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them from the area.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums and has equally warned that the Command would decisively deal with anyone found breaching the peace of the state, in accordance with the law.

However, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commander Alagbado and other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command are currently on ground to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The aftermath of the clash saw shops being looted and set on fire, with reports of injuries sustained by individuals caught in the violence.

The market remains closed as authorities work to contain the situation. The Rapid Response Team (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command has also made arrests related to the clashes.

Yesterday, security personnel, including the RRS, were actively patrolling the area to ensure stability and prevent further incidents.

According to reports, despite initial challenges in quelling the unrest, authorities have managed to establish control and are working to prevent any resurgence of violence.

Firefighters, who faced resistance while attempting to extinguish the fires, are regrouping to address the damage caused by the arson, by enhancing coordination between law enforcement agencies, engaging with community stakeholders