Hoodlum disrupts Lagos carnival

Tafawa Balewa Square during the disruption by the urchins

Gate of Warder's Barrack where the Carnival trains were attacked

Hoodlums disrupted the activities of the Lagos Carnival which took place on Saturday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island leaving many wounded and some hospitalized.

The event which started around 2pm was marred by poor organization and low turnout of fun-seekers. It was later overtaken by uncontrolled crowd who over-powered the few security operatives provided for the event. The first attack occurred during the procession of the Oko Faaji Carnival group at the Awolowo Way, Ikoyi , marked as one of the carnival route.

Our correspondent who witnessed the incident reported that the attackers who were attracted by the costumes of the carnival revelers came out from the Warder’ Barrack on Awolowo way, to harass the ladies during their procession.

The carnival coordinators who attempted to bring the situation under control were later over-powered by the barrack boys who hit the revelers with different weapon having being reinforced by their colleagues from the barrack. Further attacks were later unleashed on other carnival groups, including Obalende and Isale Eko carnival groups who were not aware that they had been incident.

According to Captain Lateef Hadaji, a coordinator of Oko Faaji carnival group, the carnival train was attacked because the barrack boys intruded into the procession while attempting to fondle the private parts of some of the female dancers. ‘‘We made several attempt to appease them but we were over-powered by the urchins who attacked us brandishing different weaponry including cutlass, axe and bottles. More than ten revelers were attacked and some had been hospitalised.’’ he disclosed.  

He further confirmed that the attackers went away with phones and wallets of some of the dancers, leaving victims with different forms of injuries. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency-LASEMA, who later arrived at the scene after about forty-five minutes when the incident had already happened, however took some of the victims to the general hospital for further treatment.

Adaji also complained that the security operatives provided for the carnivals were not adequate, adding that the few provided only manned strategic spots at the expense of the innocent revelers.

One of the revelers, Benjamin Olatunde, who was hit by the barrack boys, confirmed that he was attacked with matchetes brandished by the barrack boys without any prior notice of imminent attack because other carnival groups stopped the urchins from harassing the ladies. 

He said, ‘‘it was unfortunate that the Lagos State Government did not put security measures in the place to checkmate activities of intruders. He further identified Awolowo way as one of the various hotspots along the carnival routes where similar attack had been carried out in subsequent editions.

Attempt to speak with one of the organizer proved abortive as he declined comment because he was not permitted to talk to press. Order was later restored after the security operatives were deployed to the scene. This however delayed the proceeding by few hours as most of the revelers fear being attacked.

In another development, the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), the venue of the final parade was also disrupted by the crowds who over-powered the security operatives, immediately after the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola had finished his address.

The urchins who later brought down the barricades around TBS further disrupted performance by other carnival groups who had not performed. However, both Deejay Kelexy and Dj Jamalot who were performing during the event were attacked by the hoodlums who bashed them with bottle water.  The unexpected disruption later brought the event to an abrupt end.

The security operatives also arrested two young boys who had pistol and other weapon which they used in scaring some of the fun-seekers at the carnival ground, meanwhile fun-seekers who scored the organizer low expressed dissatisfaction with coordination and preparation.