Pandemonium erupted on Tuesday in Lagos following sporadic shooting, as Police operatives attached to Ijora, Badia area of Lagos clashed with the personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
According to reports, the clash was caused by what was initially a minor disagreement over the control of the movement of tankers.
It was reported that two policemen, Sergeant Tunde and Mogbojuri, attached to Badia Police Station were said to have sustained injuries in the clash.
According to eyewitness, the incident occurred when two naval personnel allegedly led a tanker from the Western Avenue towards Apapa and when they were stopped by the police operatives, who wanted to know why the tanker driver jumped the already organised queue, it resulted in an argument.
The issue could have been amicably resolved but the appearance of some personnel of the Operation Mesa, who stormed the scene in their pick up van with registration number GGE 499 DZ, with OP MESA 3 inscribed on the body did not helped matters.
The policemen already beaten and with the arrival of the OP MESA, the policemen, who were then outnumbered, beat a retreat.
The police, however, did not refer the matter to The Area Commander as against the usual urge of going for a reprisal and as at press time, the naval authorities nor the police have responded to the clash.
The Eagle Online reports that the indiscriminate movement and parking of tankers on the road has been problematic, thus it led to the deployment of both forces to maintain order.
– Emmanuel Adigwe