Police arraign 18 suspects, 22 others over Oshodi mayhem

• Lagos bans transport unions, dues collection, others

NO fewer than 18 suspects were Thursday charged to court in Lagos for the mayhem that has occurred in Oshodi since early Wednesday just as 22 others have been arrested and were due for prosecution today. 

   Emerging from an emergency State Security Council with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola Thursday, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, disclosed that the unfortunate incident was reviewed and that henceforth, all transport union activities, including collection of dues and sale of alcohol in all garages in Lagos have been banned.

   All the prohibitions, he said, are contained in the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 and would now be enforced to the letter to forestall another motor-park crisis. He noted that three people died while about eight vehicles were destroyed in the clash between rival motor-park touts.

   According to Aderanti, “the crisis is not political and not as bad as the media painted it. All the principal characters are in custody. Today, we arraigned 18 of them and they are already in jail. Tomorrow, another 18 will be arraigned. 

   “I’m not talking about the foot soldiers but their leaders that are causing the mayhem; what we need to do is to get the arrowheads off, then all the foot soldiers can be tackled easily.

   “Now we are going after the gatekeepers that are encouraging young people to violence. By the time we destroy their command structure, we can then have peace in that area. 

   “Oshodi is a major hub and we have to be very careful in securing the area. We have picked up to 40 of them and by tomorrow, I’ve given ultimatum to one of the leaders of the group to turn himself in before we declare him wanted.”