The Lagos State Police Command has declared Abiodun Ariori, Chief Executive Officer of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, wanted over the alleged killing of three people during a violent land dispute in Lagos on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, revealed that a police officer also sustained severe injuries in the clash, which broke out in the Owode Onirin area.

He said that preliminary investigations and available prima facie evidence linked the suspect to the crime.

Hindering said the suspect was involved in the clash between traders and land grabbers, which left three people dead and a Police Inspector severely injured.

“Three persons sustained fatal injuries and were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the police.

“The police victim is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

“The suspect is hereby declared wanted by the police as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive. It is very clear that he has gone into hiding,” he said.

Hundeyin urged the public to apprehend the wanted suspect, whose last known address was in Egbeda, and hand him over to the police.

“The suspect, if seen, should be apprehended and handed over to the nearest police station or call the command control room on: 08063299264, 09053872208, 08127155150, email: lagosstatepolicecommandikeja@gmail.com.

“Wherever he is, he should turn himself in at the nearest police station,” he said.

The police spokesperson said that the command swiftly responded to the unrest and restored normalcy, peace, law and order to the affected area.

“Consequent on the disturbance of public peace, law and order, blocking of highways and roads leading in and out of the market as a result of the clash, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, led officers to the market to restore peace.

“The roads were reopened to traffic and people started going about their lawful businesses.

“To sustain the normalcy, CP Jimoh has retained the deployment of adequate police personnel at the scene of the incident to prevent a resurgence of the crisis,” he said.

Hundeyin said that the four policemen, who were brought in from outside Lagos by the suspect were immediately identified and detained at the command headquarters for orderly room trial.

He added that they were tried for going on illegal duty with the suspect.

According to him, the outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public. (NAN, with additional reports by The PUNCH)