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Mayhem was created in the area after okada riders allegedly threw stones at some policemen in a desperate attempt to evade arrests on Wednesday, following a reported ban of motorcycles in the estate.
PUNCH Metro learnt the police launched a reprisal on the motorcyclists ─ who were mostly Hausas ─ shooting one of them to death in the process.
On Thursday, the riders were said to have attacked commercial motorists who they alleged of plotting with the police to exclude them from the transport activities in the area.
The riot was said to have reached a climax on Friday when the okada riders stormed the motor park and vandalised no fewer than 23 buses.
Our correspondent, who visited the area around 3pm on Friday, observed about 23 damaged vehicles.
Remnant of a burnt motorcycle and tyres were also seen at the scene, while the inside of some buses were littered with blood.
Our correspondent learnt further that an okada rider was attacked with a cutlass and later died, while other members of both parties sustained degrees of injuries.
Anxious passersby were seen on the road as they could not get vehicles to convey them from the troubled area.
A resident, Isaac Emmanuel, told PUNCH Metro that the violence almost degenerated to inter-ethnic crisis, but for police from Maroko Police Station, who restored normalcy to the neighbourhood.
“The whole thing started on Wednesday between the police and okada riders. They were throwing stones at the policemen who wanted to seize their motorcycles. A mobile policeman shot one of the riders dead. Meanwhile, there is a longstanding rift between okada riders and shuttle bus drivers. So they thought it was those drivers using the police to victimise them.
“The clash was so intense that the estate main gate had to be shut. In fact, I was nearly attacked, but I was left alone because I spoke Yoruba. I don’t know the actual number of casualties, but both parties sustained injuries apart from a rider that was hacked to death.”
However, an executive member of the park, Mr. Augustin Olufosoye, absolved his colleagues from the motorcyclist’s death, claiming that they were busy running for safety.
He said, “Lekki Residents Association banned okada here two years ago. The truth is that what happened here was caused by the police.
“They collect money from them and allow them to operate after the association had banned them.
“That is why they are agitating when the police suddenly turned against them.
“But I don’t know why they decided to frustrate us and damaged our property. They vandalised about 31 buses.
“We ran away from them. Five of our members were injured and three are in the Marina General Hospital.
“We need adequate security because they can attack us again.”
Our correspondent could not find any motorcyclists on the road or in their park as of 4pm when he left the area.
The Lagos State Police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Metro on the phone.
He added, “Nobody was shot.
“An okada rider was injured in the head but he is alive. No life was lost.”
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