One Abiodun Ariori, the CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, has been declared wanted by Lagos State Police Command for alleged involvement in the deadly clash between traders and land grabbers at Owode Onirin area which resulted in the death of three persons.
Also, one person was stabbed to death in another clash between hoodlums and miscreants at Balogun Market while the hoodlum who killed the other stabbed himself in turn, sustains injury.
The CEO was declared wanted following recent unrest in the area which led to the blocking of highways and roads in and out of Owode Onirin Market, resulting in the disturbance of public peace, law and order.
A police Inspector also sustained severe injuries during the melee, Thenewsbearer learnt.
However, normalcy, peace, law and order to the affected area were restored by the police who swiftly responded.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Wednesday, August 27, said that during the deadly clash, three persons sustained fatal injuries while a Police Inspector was seriously injured.
“The three fatally-injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” Hundeyin stated.
Thenewsbearer reports that the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Olohundare Jimoh, personally led a combined team of police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected area.
After normalcy was restored, the roads were reopened to traffic and people started going about their lawful businesses.
The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police has retained the deployment of adequate police personnel at the scene of the incident to prevent resurgence of the crisis.
The Command’s spokesman said that Ariori was declared wanted due to the prima facie evidences available in the cause of preliminary investigation, while all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice had so far proved abortive, making it clear that he had gone into hiding.
The PPRO said: “The wanted suspect, Abiodun Ariori, whose photograph is attached, with last known address in Egbeda, is dark in complexion. If seen, (he) should be arrested and handed over to the nearest police station.”
He enjoined the public to call the Lagos State Police Command control room on 08063299264, 09053872208, 08127155150, email: lagosstatepolicecommandikeja@gmail.com, also asking the wanted man to turn himself in at the nearest police station wherever he is.
He added: “In furtherance to ensuring justice and in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect.
“The outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public.”
He also dismissed the rumour of tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups and the others inside Balogun Market on Wednesday, saying that the incident which occurred was that of a free-for-all fight between some hoodlums and miscreants in the the market at about 11a.m.
CSP Hundeyin disclosed: “During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death, and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious.
“He is currently under arrest in the hospital where he is being treated. Investigation into the matter will be concluded and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital.
“There was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to goods and property of marketers inside Balogun Market.”
He encouraged marketers and the general public on the Island and other parts of Lagos State to go about their businesses and other lawful endeavours without fear.
