Agbaje, police disagree over Oshodi mayhem




The Lagos State Police Command has arrested over 20 members of the Peoples Democratic Party in connection with last Thursday’s fracas between the National Union of Road Transport Workers and some PDP youths in the Oshodi area of Lagos which left many dead.
The campaign team of the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, however, accused the police of arresting PDP members, noting that the police were acting the script of the All Progressives Congress to frustrate the campaign of Agbaje.
It accused the police at the Mosafejo police station of going from house to house to effect the illegal arrests.
According to a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Remi Adefulu,   the campaign team said the APC’s “tactics would not deter Agbaje’s resolve to win the coming election in a free and fair contest.”
But the Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, dismissed the claim that the police went after PDP supporters.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, he said, “We did not go after any party supporters. We only apprehended 20 suspects who have since been arraigned before the court. Our duty is to ensure the safety of the neighbourhood where the crime was committed .The PDP’s claim is not true.”
The PDP statement quoted Agbaje as saying, “As a peace-loving person, let me state from the outset that I totally condemn the mayhem that happened in Oshodi last week, whatever the cause may be. I am a firm believer in dialogue. And I am of the opinion that violence in whatever form must not be condoned by genuine lovers of peace.
“I am, however, disturbed by the partisanship displayed by the police in favour of the APC. This to me is condemnable given the fact that the police must be neutral at all times, especially as we move towards the general elections.”
Agbaje also alleged that some APC agents attempted to destroy his billboard last week in Ikorodu.
He called on the police to release the detained members unconditionally because their “detention is unconstitutional.

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