One Killed As Hemp Smokers Clash With Police In Lagos

One man has lost his life, while others have been left injured following a gang war initiated by miscreants at Ketu Market in Lagos on Monday, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

A witness, simply identified as Musiliu, disclosed that violence erupted when an argument broke out among a group of Indian hemp smokers over the death of a member after heavy doses of marijuana.

“What happened was some guys smoking Indian hemp in the market were fighting among themselves over the death of someone whom they gave an overdose of the hemp.

“Afterwards, the miscreants were seen carrying the corpse about in the market chanting war songs and destroying anything on sight. I think that was when the policemen were called to intervene.

“The police detachment from Ketu Police Station came and started shooting sporadically in the market while the miscreants were also seen facing them in spite of the shooting.

“The police latter went back to reinforce and that caused a lot of trouble as the market people started running helter skelter in order not to be caught up in the crisis, “ the witness said.

Another eye witness, Chioma, stated that the trouble started when police officers came in to calm the tension in the market and to repel an attack by the miscreants.

“We are tired of these jobless youths coming to Ketu to smoke Indian hemp in the market. They are causing trouble here in this market.

“Its been long they have been smoking here causing trouble for us in the market. The trouble today started with them, they are attacking those policemen that came to restore peace in the market.

“I think the policemen are not happy with thier effrontery at repelling them, so the policemen went for reinforcement.

“Things got worse as the policemen came back to the market, shooting sporadically into the air while people run for dear lives,” she said.

The Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Chike Oti, who confirmed the incident assured that calm has returned to the venue of the conflict.

“Our men are there doing the needful. The police is proactive and we have been able to put the situation under control.

” The Lagos State Police Command will not relent until perpetrators are brought to book. The area is presently under survellance,” Oti said.