Eighteen suspected hoodlums have been arrested for hijacking a protest against power outage in Tejuosho Market Phase II, Surulere, to damage properties as well as attack security personnel and residents.

Deputy command spokesperson, Babaseyi Oluseyi, in a statement said security operatives on guard at a commercial bank and a police post in the market, were able to repel the attacks.

Mr Babaseyi said the command received a distress call about an incident on Thursday at about 2:30 p.m. concerning miscreants “attacking people, damaging goods and properties” in Tejuosho Market.

The hoodlums attacked the market’s police post and mobile policemen guarding a commercial bank within the market but they were prevented from invading the bank.

Mr Babaseyi said, “The police joint team promptly restored law and order in the market and all the marketers and customers continued their trading and other means of livelihood peacefully.

“The 18 suspects are currently in police custody under investigation and more concerted efforts are being made to arrest all other suspects that participated in the disturbance of the peace of the market and environs. They would all be prosecuted on completion of the investigation.”