The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 18 suspects following a violent protest that erupted at Tejuosho Market, Surulere, on Thursday.
Deputy Public Relations Officer of the command, Babaseyi Oluseyi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday. He said the disturbance began around 2:30 p.m. when hoodlums mobilised under the guise of protesting a power outage but later turned violent.
According to the statement, the protesters attacked police personnel and vandalised parts of a bank located within the market. “The hoodlums and miscreants damaged some sections of the bank premises and attacked police personnel on guard duty at the bank within the market,” Oluseyi said.
A distress call prompted the deployment of Police Mobile Force operatives, who repelled the attacks and prevented the hoodlums from invading the bank. The police spokesman noted that officers exercised “a high level of restraint” during the confrontation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, also deployed additional personnel to restore calm in the market. “The operatives successfully dispersed the hoodlums and miscreants and arrested eighteen (18) of the suspects in the act of the violence and mayhem they caused in Tejuosho Market,” the statement added.
Normalcy has since returned to the market, with traders and customers resuming their daily activities. The arrested suspects are currently in custody, and police say investigations are ongoing to apprehend others involved in the unrest.
The command assured residents and business owners that Lagos markets remain safe.
“CP Olohundare Jimoh reiterates that violent attacks on police personnel and destruction of property will not be tolerated,” the statement concluded.
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