The police in Lagos say they uncovered a drug den during operation in the Ile-Epo market in the Oke-Odo area following clashes between youths and hoodlums on Thursday.
Several people were injured after hoodlums and some traders clashed in the market over betting money.
Over 50 suspects linked to the clashes were apprehended, and the shanties they occupied were demolished, effectively dislodging them from their illicit activities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in an attempt to dislodge the hoodlums, the law enforcement officers stumbled upon a hidden drug den that had been operating in plain sight.
Reports said fight started in the market on Wednesday night, and continued till Thursday morning.
The hoodlums occupying the shanties beside the market were said to have wielded dangerous weapons during the clash, inflicting injuries one another.
Some shops were also set on fire and goods belonging to traders were destroyed in the process.
Reports added that an early intervention by the police was resisted by the hoodlums.
A fire service truck that also drove into the market was also forced to reverse after being pelted with stones.
An eyewitness, Kudirat Balogun, said the hoodlums and some boys were engaged in gambling when an argument broke out over betting money.
Balogun said: “They are used to betting and the one they played yesterday caused an argument. One of them said he was not paid the full amount of the game he won. So, he went ahead to mobilise his colleagues and that was how the fight broke out. They also started to destroy the people’s shops in the process.”
Another trader, who gave his name as Taofiq, said the fight lasted through the night.
He said: “The hoodlums, in retaliation, waited till evening and started to set some parts of the fire on the market. That was how the two factions started to destroy each other’s goods.”
It was gathered that the goods destroyed ran into millions of Naira.
Some of the hoodlums were also said to have looted shops belonging to traders during the crisis.
The traders, whose shops were either torched or looted, lamented their losses.
One of the affected traders said her goods were not spared in the clash. “I sell tomatoes and onions and other condiments. When I heard what happened this morning, I quickly rushed down only to discover that my goods had been affected.”
Another trader was also seen lamenting over the newly bought bags of corn destroyed during the clash.
Another eyewitness, who preferred anonymity for personal reasons, said the traders called the attention of the authorities to the activities of the hoodlums but nothing was done about it.
“We saw this coming and we called the attention of the authorities to it but nothing was done. The hoodlums especially the ones occupying the shanties have always been causing trouble and have also been a threat to the traders. I think the police will do the needful now that this has happened.”
The state police command headquarters however assured that normalcy had been restored in the area.
The police spokesman said over 50 suspects have so far been arrested, while the shanties they occupied have been destroyed, effectively dislodging them.
“The Commissioner of Police(CP), Adegoke Fayoade, has directed the prompt prosecution of the arrested hoodlums and has equally warned that the command would decisively deal with anyone found breaching the peace, in accordance with the law.
“Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Area Commander Alagbado and other Divisional Police Officers under the Area Command are currently on the ground to forestall further breakdown of law and order,” he added.