The planned protest to the office of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, by residents of Egan Oriomi, a riverine community in Otto Awori Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Ojo, Lagos, whose houses were invaded by gunmen, weekend, was suspended following an invitation by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade.

This is just as the Lagos State Police Command said 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with the invasion, during which a 15-month-old baby was burnt to death and 15 houses razed.

Doctors at an undisclosed hospital in the community were said to be battling to save the life of a 90-year-old man, who was among nine others inflicted with machete cuts by the hoodlums.

Explaining how the planned protest with the charred remains of the late baby Emmanuel was shelved, Crown Prince of Egan Oriomi Otto Awori LCDA, Olakunle Adesegun, said: ”When our lawyer wrote a letter to the Divisional Police Officer, Ajangbadi, informing him about our intention to stage a peaceful protest, the DPO told us to seek the permission of the Commissioner of Police before we can proceed.

“It was through this process that the Commissioner of Police invited us to the state command. He also informed us that he had invited the other party, which was Nofiu Dauda.

“So we stopped our planned protest and proceeded to the State Command headquarters. On reaching there, Dauda, who we suspected sent the cultists to destroy our community, was already seated. The CP asked Dauda the cause of the clash and he said that we stopped him from entering the community as the newly installed king.

“The CP proceeded to ask why he would attack the people he intended to rule but he denied it.”

Sources at the meeting said CP Fayoade handed both parties to a senior Police officer before leaving forthe Police headquarters, Abuja.

It was further gathered that while the meeting was ongoing, some of the community members informed the Police that some of the invaders were in two Coaster buses around the Police headquarters.

Some policemen who were directed to ascertain the claim, reportedly arrested those identified by members of the community and one of the Coaster buses they came in.

Meanwhile, a team of police men were said to be on guard at the hospital where the injured villagers were receiving treatment.