One person yet-to-be-identified was reportedly shot dead while another was injured on Saturday during a clash between commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders and policemen at the Itire area of Lagos.
It was learnt that some policemen from the Itire division seized motorcycles from two riders said to be Hausa around 8am and took the bikes to the station.
The owners of the motorcycles were said to have reported the incident to their members who followed them to the police station on motorcycles to protest the seizure.
In a one-minute-ten-second video of the incident obtained by our correspondent, policemen are seen firing straight bullets while trying to dodge objects thrown at them.
A resident, who identified himself only as Idris, confirmed to our correspondent that police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters, who in turn reportedly hurled stones at the cops.
He said the policemen replied with gunshots during which one person was hit and died on the spot while another sustained bullet injuries to his mouth.
Idris stated, “Policemen stopped two okada riders early this morning (Saturday) and seized their motorcycles.
They went to call their members and some minutes later, a number of them stormed the police station on motorcycles in protest.
“When police fired tear gas to disperse them, they started throwing stones and other objects at the police. The policemen began to shoot. Bullets hit someone in the mouth and killed another person who was not part of the protest. He was sitted somewhere when the bullet hit him and he died on the spot.”
Another resident, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said the mayhem lasted for hours before peace was restored.
“Police eventually chased them away. As I speak to you, armed policemen are around the area. A policeman was also injured,” he added.
