Pandemonium erupted yesterday evening at the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos when police officers attached to the Ishaga Divisional Headquarters clashed with some factional members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
It was gathered that trouble started when policemen on patrol stopped the OPC conveyor which was moving towards Agege area, where they had aimed to launch a unit of the congress in the local government area.
It was said that some members of the group flouted police’s orders and when they were threatened with arrest, they allegedly brought out their guns and started shooting into the air.
According to eyewitness account, the policemen had retaliated by firing canisters of teargas and at the end of the altercation which lasted for about an hour, six members of the factional group were arrested.
When contacted by journalists, one of the factional leaders of OPC, Otunba Gani Adams claimed those involved in the clash were not his members, rather he claimed they belong to the other faction.
He said, "Those who clashed with the police are never our members. They are Dr. Fasheun's people. Our findings revealed that they are launching a political party called Unity Party at Amao Street in Agege today (yesterday). It was on their way to the place that they clashed with the police.
“We were in Osun Oshogbo last week and throughout our stay there, there was no report of any violence. We never clashed with any law enforcement agency.
"Presently as I speak with you, the national leaders of OPC are currently with me where we are holding the National Coordinating Meeting. I can tell you categorically that those who clashed with the police are from the other faction."
He added, “It is unfortunate that at this level of our political history, some people still believe they can lead a group they cannot control. You don’t lead an organisation you cannot control.
"It is unfortunate that Dr. Fasheun cannot control the people he thinks he is leading. We are law abiding citizens of this country and we would never take laws into our hands.”
Attempts to contact Dr. Fasheun, proved abortive although an OPC member who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident but added that the dispute was resolved almost immediately.
As at press time, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, DSP Ngozi Braide, was not available for comment as she was said to be in a meeting.
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