Good afternoon.
Yesterday there was a dispute between members of the Mile 12 Community in Ketu.
The Police and other security services were called in to restore calm and order in the community and the dispute appeared to have subsided.
Today, I have just been informed that some miscreants and criminal elements have exploited that dispute to cause a breakdown of law and order within the area.
These type of clashes do occur from time to time in a multi-ethnic city like Lagos and the Government has always responded appropriately. The public is hereby assured that we will not shy away from our responsibilities to protect lives and property and will deal decisively with those criminal elements who fan embers of ethnic strife.
I have been assured by the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies who are on ground at the scene that the situation has been substantially brought under control.
In order to further restore calm, I have ordered that mile 12 market be temporarily closed and urge traders, community leaders and other stakeholders to eschew violence and be calm and law abiding.
Furthermore, I have also ordered a temporary restriction of movement within the following streets:
- Oniyanri Street
- Maidan Street
- Agiliti 1
- Agiliti 2
Let me assure Lagosians that the state is home to every tribe and ethnic group and nobody should give this disturbance any ethnic coloration whatsoever.
Every law abiding citizen should go about their business.
Thank you.
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode
Governor of Lagos State,
Alausa.
3rd March, 2016.