YORUBA AND IGBO CLASH

Houses were burnt as Yoruba and Igbo clashed at Ladipo market area of Mushin in Lagos state

– Naij.com gathered that Igbo traders clashed with Yoruba in the area

About 40 vehicles have been burnt in the clash between Yorubas and Igbos in Mushin area of Lagos as the army and police moved in to the quell the violence.

The wreckage of a vehicle

Affected streets are  Odushina, by Oloje; Dramola Street, Olapeju, Oshoro, Akinwunmi and Ladipo Market.

Residents in the affected areas were said to have fled to avoid being caught in the mayhem. The streets have been deserted as police and men of the OP-MESSA took over. An Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, was cited in one of the streets.

A police source said he counted 40 vehicles burnt and several others with broken screens. People have taken refuge in their houses as shops were hurriedly shut by their owners who fled to safety.

Trouble started when one Agunleri, who is the Secretary of one of the market unions allegedly stormed an area where Yoruba traders were selling their wares and began to upturn the wares on the guise that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was coming to the area for a function and that there was need for the place to be cleaned up.

One of the Yoruba traders, a male was said to have challenged him on why he was upturning their wares. He was alleged to have stabbed the Yoruba man in the process.

A source said other Igbo traders were mobilized to the scene and allegedly attacked the Yoruba populace, burning vehicles and destroying properties.

About 15 people were said to have been stabbed and rushed to the hospital for medical attention while policemen from the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, police from Mushin division and soldiers were drafted to the area to maintain order.

Another story had it that one of the union executives went to another part of the market to collect dues from the Igbo traders who resisted the move which led to the crisis. The Yoruba man who went to collect dues was said to have been attacked, while other yorubas in the area mobilized to attack the Igbos.

Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus when contacted said she was in a meeting, but confirmed the incidence.

Read our initial report of the tragic incident below:

Report of serious fighting and gunshots between Igbos and Yoruba in Ladipo area in Mushin, Lagos state, has been made available to NAIJ.com.

According to a government source, the Yoruba and Igbos were currently fighting at Oloje Street, Papa-Ajao, Mushin and houses are being burnt.

The source also disclosed to NAIJ.com that a message has been sent to the government to intimate it about the brawl.

It was gathered that the government has been called upon to take drastic action to arrest the situation before it degenerate into a full blown war.

Calls made to the Executive Secretary, Mushin local government, Jide Bello were not picked while the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Dolapo Badmus did not pick her calls.

However, the Rapid Response Squad, has been mobilized to the scene to quell the violence.

A top police source, who craved anonymity confirmed that houses were being burnt as the crisis continued.

The cause of the clash is not yet known as at the time of filing this report.

More photos below:

Riot policemen drafted at the scene

A vandalized vehicle

Dismantled make shift shops

RRS vehicle at the scene

A destroyed vehicle