Some suspected hoodlums attacked officials of 7UP bottling company, the official providers of refreshment for the 2nd Access bank Lagos marathon, on Saturday, making away with packs of refreshments meant for the runners.

The officials were said to have been attacked close to the Palmgrove bus stop  along Ikorodu road, where they were stationed to hand over drinks to the runners.

The officials, who were defenceless, were forced to part with about 500 packs of table water and soft drinks.

The head of the officials, simply identified as Kike said she called for help from the police but the officers ignored them.

“I asked for help from the policemen around when the hoodlums were approaching but they  said we should share the products,” she said.

“So when I could not succeed in persuading them, we stepped back.

“We don’t have an idea that the police wont protect us; they just told us that they were not here for seven up.”

“The hoodlums took all our products in packs, about 500, meant for the marathoners.

“So instead of allowing the hoodlums to steal our tents and destroy everything, we allowed them to go away with the products while we secure our assets.”

She added that her colleague stationed at the Teslim Balogun stadium reported that the same incident happened there, too.

“Before I knew it, my colleague stationed at Teslim Balogun stadium came with the same report that the hoodlums had attacked them,” she said.

However, the police officers on duty denied the accusations, saying no officer could have ordered them to share the drinks.

- The Cable