By Okosun Dennis
Pandemonium broke out at Mosafejo area of Oshodi, Lagos, on Thursday morning as soldiers wearing face masks were said to have attacked commuters and traders following the alleged killing of an airman by hoodlums.
As a result, hoodlums vandalised vehicles, while protesting the presence of soldiers attached to Ops MESA in Oshodi.
Although several accounts abound as to what prompted soldiers’ presences at Oshodi, it was learnt that they were there to meet the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman following the murder of a non-commissioned officer (NCO) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) by unknown hoodlums.
It was however gathered that the airman was on killed on Monday while his body was dumped on top of the pedestrian bridge.
It was further learnt that the soldiers had gone there to find out who was responsible for the death of the soldiers after his body was traced to the mortuary.
“So, the authorities asked Ops MESA to go to the park and find out from the chairman what happened that day. They were also directed to find out those responsible for the murder of the Airman.
“But as soon as the area boys saw Ops MESA approaching the park, they became riotous and were shouting that soldiers have come to arrest their Chairman. That was what happened,” added a source.
Following the uproar, the spokesperson, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Olaniyi Osoba said: “The situation is currently under control as commuters are already going about with their normal businesses without any harassment. The investigation is ongoing to determine what caused the unfortunate incident.”
Also, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi also said that the Lagos State Police Command was aware of the conflict that occurred at Capa Park/Mosafejo Osodi Lagos today Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7am.
“Normalcy has been restored to the area, as the matter is under investigation. We urge Lagosians to go about their lawful businesses in the area and in the state in general.
“No cause for alarm. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered that intensive patrol be emplaced in the area,” CSP Adejobi added.
It was learnt that during the fracas, people sustained different degrees of injuries while some were allegedly caused by machetes cut from soldiers that invaded the hoodlums.
However, according to NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, denied that the Airman who was strangled to death on Monday by suspected hoodlums was not connected to the attacks or fracas on Thursday morning unrest.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/oshodi-unrest-under-investigation-army-police/
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