An Ejigbo magistrate court in Lagos has remanded four residents of the state who were attacked by police officers for “gambling”.
On Thursday, some police officers on mufti from the Area P command in Lagos state had stormed a shop in the area to arrest some youths who were playing ludo.
The officers, who were armed with Ak-47 rifles, invaded the area with a yellow commercial bus to arrest the youths, but some residents resisted the arrest, saying the officers were not identifiable and playing ludo was not a criminal offence.
The police officers, however, phoned their colleagues at the Area P command around the Gate bus stop in Ipaja, alleging they were under attack.
A few minutes later, about 15 police officers stormed the area in three yellow commercial buses and attacked the residents with machetes and bottles.
A police officer had broken an empty bottle on a car mechanic’s head. The mechanic, who was repairing a vehicle in his workshop, was carted away with some other residents.
A police officer also hit a lady with a machete on her buttocks.
Four of the residents were, however, released before others were taken to court. A resident who spoke with this reporter said they were released after they parted with N80,000 at the police station.
On Friday, the court remanded the remaining four residents in prison till March 25.
