•••SANITY HAS BEEN RESTORED-LAGOS, ONDO POLICE
Rioters protesting against the scarcity of the new naira notes and rejection of the old notes have taken over the major streets of Ketu, OJOTA, Mile 12, Ikorodu, AGEGE, and Badagry Express, areas of Lagos.
The protests which started early hours of Friday started at mile 12 and spread to other places of the commercial State of Lagos.
There were sounds of gunshots apparently from the Mile 12 and OJOTA police stations to scare the rioters away from the scenes of the protests.
An outbreak of violence has been reported at the Mile 12 area of Lagos State this Friday morning, February 17, 2023.
Mile 12 market is a fruit market dominated by mainly Northern traders.
It was gathered that the protest started on the popular Lagos-Ikorodu expressway in Lagos State before spreading to the other places.
The hoodlums took to the road attacking commuters and creating chaos forcing the commuters to make turnings and diverting to other safe routes.
One Danfo driver, said he was forced to park his bus by the passengers who quickly jumped down and took to their heels.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the violence happening in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State.
Hundeyin, confirmed the incident in his Twitter handle, Friday morning.
“It is true. Our men are there. Reinforcement units have been deployed. Stay safe out there as we closely monitor and manage the situation.” He stated.
According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, the initial unrest that broke out at the Mile 12 area of Lagos State is under control.
He said free movement has been restored to the area, adding that sanity has been restored to the area.
He stressed that men of the Lagos State Police Command are on the ground to ensure no further breakdown of law and order.
“Free movement of vehicles and people fully restored. Our officers and men are still on ground to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
“Road is clear now, na there I pass now to Ikorodu.” He tweeted.
In another development, residents of Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, took to the Benin-Ore expressway to protest the scarcity of naira notes in the state.
The residents made bonfires on both sides of the Benin-Ore expressway, causing heavy traffic gridlock on the ever-busy highway.
According to some of the residents, they were protesting over the naira notes scarcity, adding that the suffering is becoming unbearable to them and their families.
They decried the inability to access cash from banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), stressing that they were not allowed into the banking halls.
“This is indeed a hard time for us, the naira scarcity is taking a toll on me and my family, and this protest is to demonstrate that we are not happy over this situation,” one of the protesters, Kayode Akinbola, told NAN.
According to another protester, Rotimi Akinluwa, the inability to access his money through the banks’ ATMs and banking halls was frustrating.
“I have my money in the bank and I cannot get it, even the Point of Sale (POS) operators no longer have the cash even if you want to buy, this is so frustrating,” he said.
Mr Bummi Adewole said President Buhari’s nationwide broadcast on Thursday was the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
“The most frustrating one as he refused to heed to the yearnings of the masses in his broadcast.”
“Buhari said they should re-circulate the N200 old notes, how many people will this satisfy, in fact, there is no solution on the way at all and the problem continues,” Adewole said.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the situation, but added that police officers from Ore Police Area Command were “on top of the situation to arrest any breakdown of law and order.”
