An attempt by rampaging hoodlums to set ablaze a police station located behind the popular Ile-Epo market in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State was repelled by security operatives on Monday afternoon.
Scores of security operatives bombarded the market to forestall an attack as buyers and sellers in the busy market scampered for safety.
According to reports, a police officer while on duty clashed with one of the market boys. The market boy was said to have tried to hijack the cop’s rifle and a bullet was released in the process.
The hoodlums, in reaction, were said to have set a section of the market ablaze and also tried to burn a police station at the back of the market but were repelled when more men of the Lagos State Police Command arrived at the scene.
Commenting on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a terse statement, said normalcy has been restored in the area.
Adejobi said: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered for thorough investigation into the incident.
“The command wishes to debunk the rumor that Ile Epo Police Station was set ablaze by the hoodlums. This news is false and should be disregarded. The command intends to give details of the incident as soon as possible.”