Alleged attack on lgbo traders in Lagos: Soldiers take over streets, nab over 40 miscreants

Over 40 miscreants have been arrested by the military in different parts of Lagos for alleged involvement in bloody attacks on mostly Igbo traders on Monday.

A source at a military formation in Lagos revealed that the soldiers were sent out to quell the attacks on Igbo traders and residents who were believed to have voted against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The source emphasized that there should be no way that a third party can know how anyone else votes and that more importantly, choice of party or candidate to vote for is a civic right of the individual, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and that a contravention of such right is actionable and punishable in law.

In Lagos and other commercial centres around Nigeria, which have large concentrations of non-indigenes, tribal and other sentiments are often thrown up in political situations and miscreants quickly take advantage, mainly to spread terror and commit looting and other antisocial conduct.

Therefore, security authorities and responsible leaders often warn of the need for politicians to be circumspect in their actions and utterances, so as not to heat up the polity and distort social harmony.

It was gathered that some miscreants came out on Monday morning to protest the INEC results in Lagos State after the Labour Party was declared winner of the presidential election in the state.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, is believed to be the stronghold of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of the state.

Available information revealed that the attackers went against Igbo traders in Lagos Island, Oshodi, Mile 2, Ijora and other areas of the state, stabbing them and looting their wares.

The report, which immediately went viral, alerted the Igbo traders to stay at home, so as to escape the aggression but said the matter had been reported to both the police and the military.

According to a source, the soldiers were sent out to deal with the situation and apprehend the perpetrators.

Our correspondent who went out to confirm the situation saw soldiers positioned in strategic areas where the miscreants usually assemble, as well as major streets on Lagos Island.

Also, our correspondent saw some miscreants being punished by soldiers at Tinubu Square on Lagos Island. The miscreants were alleged to have invaded, attacked and looted Igbo traders’ properties at the popular Oluwole Market and were caught with some dangerous weapons.

One of the soldiers who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the miscreants numbering 12 would be handed over the police for prosecution.

Meanwhile, most shops owned by Igbo traders remained locked as at press time, as they refused to open for business to avoid attack.