Unconfirmed reports say residents in Ijankin area of Lagos State, are now living in palpable fear of possible break down of law and order as people in the community can no longer go about there normal activities on Thursday.
According to residents who ply the area along the Lagos-Badagry expressway almost on a daily basis claimed that there is an ongoing clash around Ijankin, in the Otto-Awori area of the state.
According to a resident, “It is true that there is a clash in Ijankin o! between supporters of community leaders, but when I left home this morning it was calm but my daughter later called me to say that she can no longer go to an event she sets out for, because there’s no road.
“In fact, I don’t know how to go home when I close at work because of the reports have heard.”
Also, another resident told CASEFILE that there’s a serious communal clash ongoing between Oto and Ijanikin communities along the Lagos-Badagry expressway blocked as at the time this reporter spoke with him.
He explained that he is unable to go to work because vehicles are turning back as guns and machetes wielding men have taken over the road.
The respondent also claimed that security men are also turning back, adding that, “Someone has been killed today.”
But another report has it that the tension in the community is not unconnected to allegations of alledged extortion by the police in Ijankin.
CASEFILE gathered that a Police officer attached to Ijanikin Police division had on Wednesday attacked a certain Chima Emmanuel who was on transit before one of the officers used a big stick to hit his head when the rider of a commercial motorcycle refused to be extorted.
Eyewitnesses say that the victim, one Chima Emmanuel was attacked at Iyana Era Bustop by one of the officers before driving their van away.
Voicing what he claimed he saw, Olalekan Muyideen explained that the policemen at Iyana era bus stop tried to extort the okada rider but he refused to part with any money.
He added that one of them got angry and hit the victim with a sharp object.
“Immediately he fell and collapsed, the policemen drove their van away from the scene, abandoning him. It was the passers-by who helped him. At first, everyone thought he was dead, until some people came closer, and rushed him to the hospital as he was bleeding profusely.
Adekola Aluko at Iyana Era bus stop also said that the activities at Iyana Era bus stop have become very worrisome.
“Their extortion has taken another dimension, they do it openly without shame. Last week, Wednesday these same Ijanikin officers caused a terrible accident that caused heavy traffic for hours.”
A video seen by CASEFILE showed a man wounded on the head, who is believed to be the victim of an attack who is currently receiving treatment at an hospital.
According to him, “I was traveling to the village for my in-law’s final burial. Because of traffic I board a commercial bike, from Agbara to Maza Maza on our way, at Iyana Era bus stop some policemen wanted to collect money from the bike man but he wanted to be smart so he refused. Immediately one of the officers hit a heavy stick on my head. I fell off the bike, it was some good samaritans that rushed me to the hospital.”
Getting the reaction of the police on this matter has been unsuccesful, as when SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer was contacted on phone, he did not answer his calls.
