Two motorcyclists, on Monday, lost their lives during an exchange of gunfire with policemen who prevented an attack on the Ipaja Division of the Lagos State Police Command.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the policemen embarked on the enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycle operations in the state when the motorcyclists revolted against the action.
During the protest to express their grievances against the enforcement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement he posted on his verified handle on X.com that the motorcyclists attempted to overrun the police station.
He explained that during the exchange of gunfire between the policemen and the protesting motorcyclists, two motorcycle operators were killed.
Hundeyin wrote, “Officers of the Ipaja Police Division have successfully repelled an early morning attack on their division by motorcycle operators.
“The attack came after police officers commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos State. The attackers, who came in their hundreds, stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station.
“While officers and men of the division held their ground, reinforcement came from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad. Two of the attackers were fatally injured during the attack.”
He added that no fewer than 200 motorcyclists were impounded and some suspects arrested during the incident.
Hundeyin said, “This did not deter the officers from accomplishing their mandate as over 200 motorcycles were impounded and some of the attackers arrested, with one locally made firearm retrieved.
“The Lagos State Police Command will not be cowed into abdicating its responsibilities of enforcement of all duly passed laws and maintenance of law and order within the society.”
Our correspondent, during a follow-up conversation with Hundeyin to ascertain the number of the arrested motorcyclists linked to the attempt to overrun the police station, affirmed that the arrested suspects were 22.
“Twenty-two suspects were arrested during the incident,” the PPRO told our correspondent.
PUNCH Metro gathered that during the exchange of gunfire in the area, there was panic and residents and business owners scampered to safety to escape being hurt during the incident.
In December 2023, PUNCH Metro reported that a middle-aged woman, Mrs Bisi Raji, was crushed to death when police officers clashed with commercial motorcyclists in the Abule Egba area of the state.
Mrs Raji was returning from the hospital after an appointment with her doctor around the area.
A resident who spoke to PUNCH Metro said, “The tipper ran over the woman on the head. People who were around the area could not do anything because she died instantly.
They had to get a cloth to cover her body. Her corpse was also on the roadside for hours and there was no one to recover it until the police arrived much later to retrieve the body from the spot. We learnt her family had collected her body from the police and taken her home for burial.