OPC Protests, Challenged Boko Haram To Combat, In Lagos!


Thursday was a day of the militants. The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a militant group from South-west, marched through Lagos streets, demanding the opportunity to combat Boko Haram, a Northern militant group, face-to-face.

In Lokoja, over 2000 former Niger Delta militants blocked the North-South Highway at Jama'ata, Kogi State – around the River Niger, Murtala Mohammed Bridge – demanding an implementation of the amnesty programme and issuing a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

OPC militants were led by the factional leader, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, during the protest. According to eyewitness accounts, members of the group were armed with guns, machetes and other weapons as they walked the streets, firing sporadically into the air.

Aside the menace of Boko Haram, the militia group said another grouse they have is the current state of insecurity in the country. They said if the police were not fit to carry out their responsibility of securing the citizenry, then they should arm the OPC and give way.

The protesting crowd took off from Ojota along the Ikorodu Expressway and went down to Maryland axis before proceeding to Jibowu area of the state and finally settled at Yaba where they had a rally. This caused a terrible traffic snarl in the area as the protesting crowd blocked the way.
 
According to Mr. Ini Mbok, a resident of Maryland, Ikeja, the group scared off pedestrians with the sporadic shooting. All the security checkpoints along the stretch of road were quickly disbanded as the police took to their heels, he said.
 
When contacted, Chief Gani Adams, OPC factional leader, distanced his group from the protest.

When contacted, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, said the protest was not necessary since the state does not have any problems with Boko Haram. He said: “Lagos is peaceful and a security conscious state and we do not have a problem with Boko Haram and so I do not understand the reason for their protest.”

All attempts made to contact Dr. Fasheun proved abortive as his number was switched off.

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