Police Reopen Lagos-Badagry Expressway After Deadly Communal Clash

Police Reopen Lagos-Badagry Expressway After Deadly Communal Clash
The police dismissed claims that he was hit by a stray bullet fired by officers.
Residents were warned against actions capable of breaching public peace

The Lagos State Police Command has reopened the Lagos-Badagry Expressway at the Otto-Ijanikin axis following a communal clash between youths of Ijanikin and Otto that left one person dead and several suspects in custody.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Command said the expressway, which had been blocked for hours, was cleared and normalcy restored around 9:00am on Saturday.

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According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, personally led a joint team of police operatives and tactical squads to clear the obstruction and reopen the highway to motorists.

During the clash, a man identified as Akinyemi Omo Akin was shot and later died in hospital. The police dismissed claims that he was hit by a stray bullet fired by officers.

“From preliminary investigation, it is incorrect and untrue that the deceased died from a stray bullet from the Police,” the statement said.

The Command explained that before police intervention, information received from members of the public indicated that both sides had engaged cultists who exchanged gunfire, suggesting the victim was shot during the duel.

Seven suspects from both sides have been arrested and are currently in police custody. The police also recovered one locally made pistol and two live cartridges from one of the suspects.

The Command added that tactical squads and anti-riot units were combing affected communities and surrounding bushes to apprehend fleeing suspects.

Police Reopen Lagos-Badagry Expressway After Deadly Communal Clash — Scene of the incident

Residents were warned against actions capable of breaching public peace, with the police stating that the full weight of the law would be applied to those arrested.

The Commissioner has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident, to be led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

Police authorities assured residents of sustained deployment across the area and urged members of the public to go about their lawful activities without fear, while promptly reporting suspicious activities through the Command’s emergency lines.