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One Drowns As Police, Youth Clash in Lagos

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
June 21, 2004
Posted to the web June 21, 2004

By Idowu Sowunmi
Lagos
Vehicular movements along the popular Western Avenue, Lagos were yesterday
disrupted as a group of artisans clashed with policemen from the Area C
Command. At the end of the affray, one of the artisans was said to have drowned
in a nearby canal.
Problem started when some policemen raided a mechanic, located in Alaka end of
Western Avenue.
According to eyewitness accounts, the policemen in their patrol van arrived the
place early yesterday to extort money from these young men. In the process, the
accounts added, five men were apprehended but one of them, Afisi Salawu, was
said to have jumped into the canal in an attempt to escape arrest.
The death of Afisi, who was identified as a driver, did not go down well with
his colleagues who blocked the two lanes of the Western Avenue, demanding for
the immediate release of their colleagues.
The Police Area C Commander, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi, had to order the immediate
release of the arrested mechanics.
Upon their arrival, Ola Atobatele, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues,
narrated their ordeals, saying the police came and asked them to move inside
the van. "I asked what was our offence. They said we were selling and buying
Indian hemps. We told them that we didn't have the knowledge of this, but they
didn't listen to us. They arrested us and Ademola chased Afisi until he entered
the canal," he said, adding that this was how the policemen came three days ago
and collected N5,000 from the mechanics, noting that they are peace-loving
Nigerians who go about their legitimate businesses.
The Area Commander confirmed the incidence and said "there was a clash between
a patrol team and hoodlums in Alaka. There was no gunfire but one of the
hoodlums ran into the pool of water, got drowned and died. The Area Boys
hijacked the situation, but to God be the glory, normalcy has returned to the
area."

   

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