After abduction of Lagos monarch, soldiers descend on petty traders

Armed soldiers stormed makeshift camps along the LASU-Iba road in Lagos, on Sunday, harassing and beating up those in sight.

The camps, built with bamboo and planks, serve as relaxation spots for residents of the community.

The incident happened hours after Goriola Oseni, oniba of Iba, was abducted by militants.

It is not clear if soldiers, who accompanied a top military officer, said to be one of the sons of the king, to the palace were responsible for the act, or the troops who have been patrolling the area as a result of the unfortunate incident.

A resident, who was at the makeshift camp when the soldiers arrived, narrated what transpired.

“I was hanging out with my friends here as usual, when all of a sudden we saw people running helter-skelter,” he told TheCable.

“From the place I sat, I could see outside. I noticed that soldiers were all over the place. I quickly escaped through the window, but my friends were not so lucky.”

A restaurant owner said he lost goods running into thousands.

He disclosed that the soldiers have ordered them to quit the place, warning that by the time they return those who choose to ignore the directive would have themselves to blame.

“I wonder why they did this to us. We have been in this place for years, trying to make ends meet,” he said.

“They destroyed my musical equipment, broke chairs and table, and beat up the customers in my bar. What did we do to deserve this? We know nothing about the sad incident at the palace.”

A boy among the crowd gathered around the place after the soldiers left, said he was lucky not to have been assaulted.

“They didn’t touch me. They only asked me to be destroying things. Though I sustained injuries while slamming a crate of beer on the floor, I am lucky to have escaped beatings from soldiers.”

TheCable observed that some of the traders have started moving wares out of the tents.