A violent protest erupted in the Ipaja area of Lagos today, as commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) clashed with police at the Ipaja Divisional Police Station.

The chaos began around 10am, when okada riders protested the seizure of their motorbikes by policemen.

However, the situation turned violent as hoodlums hijacked the protest, leading to a hail of gunfire that sent residents running for cover.

Eyewitnesses said that hoodlums were shot dead, while many others were injured.

Shop owners hastily closed their stores, and motorists made quick U-turns to avoid the chaos.

Reinforcements from nearby police divisions under Area ‘P’ eventually repelled the hoodlums, restoring order to the area.

Lagos State Police Command spokesman, SP Benjamin Hudenyin, confirmed the incident and assured that normalcy has been restored in the area