Kayode Sesan
At least five persons were on Thursday killed in an apparent ethnic tussle at the popular Mile 12 Market in Lagos, The Nation reports.
The clash which grounded business activities and hampered traffic flow for over three hours reportedly started on Wednesday night.
Several persons including police officers were also injured, just as buildings were razed.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday ordered the temporary closure of the Mile 12 Market, following a dispute in the area.
He also announced the restriction of movement on four streets in the area including Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2 streets.
The governor, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Haruna, said the decision to shut the market and restrict movement on the streets was to enable security agencies restore calm in the area.
“In order to further restore calm, I have ordered that Mile 12 Market be temporarily closed and urged traders, community leaders and other stakeholders to eschew violence, be calm and law abiding.
“Furthermore, I have also ordered a temporary restriction of movement in the following streets – Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2,” the statement quoted the governor as saying on the dispute which reportedly began on Wednesday night.
Mile 12, Lagos State
Ambode said the police and security operatives have been deployed to the area to quell the dispute, assuring residents that peace will be restored in the area.
“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. These types of clashes do occur from time to time in a multi-ethnic city like Lagos and the government has responded appropriately.
“The public is hereby assured that we will not shy away from our responsibilities to protect lives and property and we will deal decisively with those criminal elements who fan the embers of ethnic strife,” he added.
The Governor said he had received reports from the state commissioner of police and other security agencies who are on ground at the scene, saying that the situation has been substantially put under control.
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