Nigerian police on Monday took over a popular bus station in the economic capital, Lagos, to forestall a repeat of last week’s clashes between commercial drivers and traffic officials that left two dead.
”Our men were dispatched to the CMS park [bus station] to prevent a recurrence of violence and to ensure that law and order prevail,” Lagos police spokesperson Emmanuel Ighodalo said.
He said bus drivers clashed with officials of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency for several days last week over the control of the popular CMS bus station.
Witnesses said two people were killed and many more injured following the three days of clashes that started last Monday.
”Two people lost their lives in the fracas. In fact, one of the bodies was at the scene for two days before it was removed,” witness Fatai Adio said.
He said the drivers were protesting an order by traffic officials that they should relocate to another area.
Another witness, trader Joke Adigun, said police thwarted an attempt by hoodlums to foment trouble early on Monday.
”A group of area boys [hoodlums] were trying to cause trouble. But they beat a retreat when they sighted the police under the bridge,” she said.
Ighodalo said the situation is now under control.
”The place is now calm. We are on top of the situation,” he added. — Sapa-AFP