Police arraign 10 men for rioting

A Nigerian policeman

The police on Tuesday arraigned 10 men in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for rioting, assaulting and damaging people’s property,

The accused persons were; Umar Zakari, 18; Babagida Malami, 20; Babagida Sani, 22; Salisu Auta, 33; Aminu Nuhu, 32; Ezekiel Yahaya, 29; Bala Yau, 30; Mohammed Bello, 45; Shefiu Halidu, 22; and Aji Rabiu, 29.

The accused are being tried for breach of peace, conspiracy, rioting assembly, damage and assault.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah told the court that they committed the offences on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 at Abattoir Animal Market, Agege.

He said that they conspired to riot, disturb the peace and damaged property of the residents of the area.

“The accused persons conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause fear by attacking the innocent residents of the area with dangerous weapons,” he said.

Unah said that there was a disagreement between the two factions of the accused over the demolition of some structures which resulted in a fight.

“The two factions had an argument which degenerated into a fight, and they stormed the area with cutlasses, knives, sticks, iron rods and other dangerous weapons,” he said.

The prosecutor also told the court that the accused damaged several vehicles and used the avenue to rob people of their belonging.

The prosecution said the offences contravened sections 50, 166, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which on conviction attracts between three and seven years jail term for offenders.

The accused persons pleaded innocence of the offences and were granted bail each in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mrs. O A. Gbajumo adjourned the case till Oct. 10 for mention.