By Albert Akpor & Evelyn Usman
THE popular annual carnival, usually held in pomp and pageantry in  most Low Cost Housing estates in Lagos State, turned tragic on new  at Jakande Estate Ilasan, in Lekki area of the state after a middleaged man was allegedly stabbed to death by some of the fun seekers on new year day.

The deceased, identified as Michael Afolabi, report says, was based in Hong Kong and had visited home to celebrate the Christmas and New Year with his family when he met his untimely death.

Late Michael was reportedly returning from a church service on January 1, 2011, with his Bible in his hand when one of the boys on  street jamboree allegedly poured a liquid substance suspected to be alcohol on him.

Outraged by the unidentified person’s insult, Michael was said to had demanded for an apology which was turned down.

Argument
A heated argument soon ensued which later degenerated into a scuffle.

In the mean time,  three persons reportedly emerged from the tumultuous crowd and pounced on him. One of them was said to have emptied   the content of the bottle he was holding and  smashed it on the ground and then stabbed Michael on his neck. He was said to have slumped.

Sensing danger, his assailants promptly took to their heels, leaving him in the pool of his blood. Shocked at the unfolding event, other celebrants fled, bringing the carnival to an abrupt end.

Death
Michael was said to have been rushed to a private hospital around the area unconscious, from where he was referred to the General Hospital, Marina, where the Ibadan Polytechnic graduate gave up the ghost.

Policemen from Ilasan Division who were contacted, stormed the scene and eventually arrested three persons (names withheld) alleged to have been responsible.

Preliminary investigation by  Policemen revealed that the suspects had been on the wanted list of  policemen, over a similar case.

Vanguard gathered that they  had on December 30, 2010, stabbed one Jacob Olusola.

The Police Act and power to regulate public gathering Commenting on the incident, the police public relations officer, Mr. Frank Mba said that the command had recorded quite a good number of incidents associated with street jams, noting that in as much as the command was not opposed to street jam, because the constitution guarantees freedom of association, carnivals should be conducted within the ambits of the law.

Although, the provision of the police act which regulate public assembly is still a subject of contention in court,  the act empowers a  state commissioner of police to delegate or appoint special emergency personnel to oversee the conduct of such assembly in order to forestall breakdown of law and order thus: “If at any time the commissioner of police of a state is satisfied as regards any police area in that state that an unlawful assembly or riot or breach of peace has taken place or may reasonably be expected to take place in that area, or that by aby reason of other special circumstances it is necessary in the public interest for emergency special constables to be appointed in respect of that area, he may authorize the superior police officer in charge of that area or any chief superintendent of police to appoint persons resident or employed in that area to oversee the conduct of that rally” (Police Act and Regulations cap 359, section 52, laws of the federation of Nigeria)

Mba therefore,  said, “We are therefore,  appealing to parents, community leaders ,landlords, members of tenants associations and CDS to consciously work towards ensuring that this kind of negative incident does not occur again. The command will not hesitate to put stringent measures towards checking this if stake holders do not work towards checking the excesses of  fun seekers”

The suspects he informed, had been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID), while the body of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
What the law say

Section 40 of the 1999 constitution of the federation of Nigeria (right to peaceful assembly and association) aptly stated, “Every person shall be entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form of belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest.”