- Lagos High Court, City Hall, More Banks Torched
Rampaging street urchins, otherwise known as area boys, Wednesday launched series of onslaughts across the country, sacking police formations, looting banks and other establishments, with Lagos, being the worst hit.
As at 5PM, Wednesday, criminal elements were carrying out series of attacks on government and private establishments located on Lagos Island with no security operatives in sight. This was in spite of the widely publicized deployment of anti-riot policemen across the country on Tuesday by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Eye witnesses told ArmadaNews that the hoodlums, earlier invaded Ebute Ero police station where they carted away weapons, before attacking the Palace of Oba of Lagos, retired AIG, Rilwan Akiolu.
The urchins also stormed Ajah police station, empowered the policemen on duty, after which they headed for the armoury and carted away all the weapons.
Armed with the stolen weapons, the hoodlums clad in stolen police uniforms had unhindered operations in Ajah area.
A security expert, who resides in Ajah confirmed that the hoodlums were on rampage in the area as police operatives had taken to their heels after the attacks on some formations.
He said: “The hoodlums clad in stolen police uniforms, bearing various ranks are having their free day here as we speak. There are no policemen in sight. They fled the stations after the hoodlums overpowered them and made away with their weapons”, he said.
He also said the criminal elements had invaded the premises of a tier-1 bank in Ajah and were making efforts to break into the banking hall as at the time he spoke with ArmadaNews.
The hoodlums also attacked the City Hall, Lagos High Court, Appeal and Magistrate Court, all located in Igboshere area of Lagos. Students of the nearby Kings College were believed to have been safely evacuated.
Before setting the Igbosere High Court ablaze, the area boys, who made their way into the judges’ chambers, carted away their robes, court files, fans, air conditioners, computers, printers and other items.
Lagos State Television, MITV were among media houses torched. There was also an unconfirmed report that planned attack on Channels TV was averted. The station managers were said to have received a warning notice of an impending attack, forcing it to go off the air for several hours on Wednesday.
These developments confirmed ArmadaNews exclusive report that media houses and banks are mostly targets of attacks by the hoodlums, who have hijacked the hitherto peaceful #ENDSARS protests following the Lekki, Lagos shootings on Tuesday night.