ONE person was, on Tuesday evening, shot dead
as robbers invaded Alade Market in Ikeja, Lagos.
Many people were also injured in
the stampede that ensued, as people around the scene of the robbery incident
scampered for safety.
The robbery attack occurred around
6.00 p.m on Tuesday, when traders and workers around the market were closing
for the day.
The victim, identified as Tijani,
one of the bureaux de change operators at the market, was shot by the robbers
when he attempted to escape.
It was gathered that the
robbers, who invaded the market in a fully loaded bus, carted away millions of
naira after their operation.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian
Tribune a gang of about eight men jumped out of a bus and started shooting
sporadically in front of the market.
The robbers reportedly continued
the shoot-out until the road and some parts of the market had been completely
deserted.
“After everyone had scampered for
safety, the robbers ransacked some of the bureaux de change offices in the
market and made away with local and foreign currencies,” the eyewitness said.
Efforts to get the image maker of
the state police command, Ngozi Braide, to react to the incident failed, as
calls put through to his mobile phone were unanswered
A policeman at Ikeja police
station, however, blamed the bureau de change operators for the robbery which,
according to him, would have been prevented by the police.
The policeman, who pleaded
anonymity, said the operators kicked against the deployment of policemen to the
market by the area commander.