Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has ordered the Mile 12 market in Lagos to remain shut following Thursday’s deadly clash between Yoruba and Hausa tribesmen which left no fewer than five casualties.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state said that the market would remain closed until the dispute between the communities is resolved.
“These types of clashes do occur from time to time in a multi-ethnic city like Lagos and the government has always responded appropriately,” Mr. Ambode said.
“The public is hereby a$$ured that we will not shy away from our responsibilities to protect lives and property, and will deal decisively with those criminal elements who fan embers of ethnic strife.”
A resident said that it began on Wednesday, following a dispute between two commercial motorcyclists from the two ethnic groups, which degenerated into a crisis after the Hausa rider allegedly stabbed the Yoruba rider.
The resident, who did not want to be named, said youth at Mile 12 attacked the Hausa Okada rider, leading to the Hausa community mobilizing an attack against the Yoruba community.
Five people have been killed since the clashes began, residents said.
It took the intervention of police officers of the Rapid Response Squad to quell the crisis.
But on Thursday, another round of clashes erupted again.
“Today, I have just been informed that some miscreants and criminal elements have exploited that dispute to cause a breakdown of law and order within the area,” Mr. Ambode said on Thursday.
“I have been a$$ured by the commissioner of police and other security agencies who are on ground at the scene that the situation has been substantially brought under control.”
The governor also announced a temporary restriction of movement in four streets the area – Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2 – where the clashes occurred.
“Let me a$$ure Lagosians that the state is home to every tribe and ethnic group and nobody should give this disturbance any ethnic coloration whatsoever,” he added.
The post Lagos Governor Orders Closure of Mile 12 Market after Deadly Ethnic Clash appeared first on TualeNaija.com.
Post a Comment