The Lagos State Police Command has announced that it discovered a drug den during its operation in the Ile-Epo market in the Oke-Odo area of Lagos State following clashes between youths and hoodlums.
It would be recalled that a clash occurred at the Ile Epo Market on Wednesday night lasting till Thursday morning, during which many people were injured.
The clash was said to be between hoodlums and some traders over bet money. Over 50 suspects linked to the clashes were apprehended, and the shanties they occupied were demolished, effectively dislodging them from their illicit activities.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said that in an attempt to dislodge the hoodlums, the law enforcement officers stumbled upon a hidden drug den that had been operating in plain sight.
The hoodlums residing in the shanties beside the market were said to have wielded a series of dangerous weapons during the clash, inflicting injuries on each other.
Some shops were also set on fire while goods belonging to traders were destroyed in the process.
Initial efforts by the police to quell the unrest was reportedly resisted by the hoodlums. The hoodlums also chased a fire service truck that arrived to put out the fire lit by the fighters.
An eyewitness, Kudirat Balogun, told the Punch that the hoodlums and some boys were engaged in betting activities when an argument broke out among them over the bet money.
Balogun said, “They are used to betting and the one they played yesterday caused an argument. One of them said he was not paid the full amount of the game he won. So, he went ahead to mobilise his colleagues and that was how the fight broke out. They also started to destroy the people’s shops in the process.”
Another trader who gave his name as Taofiq said the fight lasted through the night. He said the fighters later set each other’s goods on fire.
Some of the hoodlums seized the opportunity to loot some shops belonging to some traders during the crisis.
One of the affected traders said her goods were not spared in the clash, “I sell tomatoes and onions and other condiments. When I heard what happened this morning, I quickly rushed down only to discover that my goods had been affected.”
Another trader was also seen lamenting over the newly bought bags of corn destroyed during the clash.
Another eyewitness who preferred anonymity for personal reasons said the traders called the attention of the authorities to the activities of the hoodlums but nothing was done on time.
“We saw this coming and we called the attention of the authorities to it but nothing was done. The hoodlums especially the ones occupying the shanties have always been causing trouble and have also been a threat to the traders. I think the police will do the needful now that this has happened.”
The police spokesman for Lagos said over 50 suspects had so far been arrested while the shanties they occupied had been destroyed, effectively dislodging them.
