7 Dead, 15 Wounded, Properties Looted As Hoodlums Unleash Terror In Lagos

CYRICUS IZUEKWE

At least seven persons have reportedly been killed and properties worth millions of Naira carted away as some bandits unleashed terror on a community in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that two other persons were said to have sustained serious injuries from the gunshots by the hoodlums during the bloody clash which occurred last week in Badia, a suburb located in Apapa-Iganmu Council area of the state.

Dangerous weapons which included locally made pistol, long guns and matchetes were said to have been freely used during the mayhem which lasted three days.
A marketing staff of Leadway Assurance Company identified as Muyideen Saka of 30B Baale Street, Wasiu Ajani of 42 Baale street and a trader of Northern extraction who resides at Suara Street were among the residents shot dead by the bandits.
A victim named Wasiu Yusuf, who also resides at 42 Baale Street also sustained serous gunshot injury and was rushed to Baraka Private Hospital for medical attention.
Another victim identified as Wasiu Jimoh of 36 Church Street, however escaped unhurt but had his household property estimated at millions of Naira carted away.
Similarly, the residence of the founder of Liberty Church of Zion, Primate Ayanfe Ikuyinminu, located behind Ajeromi Primary School and others were also looted by the hoodlums who carted away cash and household items.

Our correspondent gathered that the four other deceased persons, two of them identified simply as  Ejima and Noah, were members of the two warring gangs that unleashed the terror on the community.
It was also learnt that 16 suspects were arrested when the DPO of Badia Police Station, CSP. Idyar Apev, led his men and a team from the Anti-Cultistism Unit to Railway line while the shoot out lasted and recovered 10 expended cartridges.

As reliably gathered, the suspects are currently undergoing interrogations at the Anti-Cultism Unit of the State Police Command.
However, the residents claimed that the real culprits responsible for the canarge have not be arrested.
They alleged that the mayhem was caused by members of two rival gangs named “Suara and Railway Boys”.
The residents who spoke under the condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, identified one Sunday Temetan, Yomi Idowu, Biliami and Lati Suara as leaders of the notorious gang, describing them as deadly shooters.
According to an eye witness, trouble started last Sunday when some armed youth invaded the Railway line section of the community, shot sporadically and injured some residents.
They were said to have been repelled by the Railway boys, who chased them towards the white sand area of the community and killed two among them.

“Following the killing of the two Suara boys, they regrouped the following day being Monday and launched a reprisal attack on the Railway boys and also gunned down two persons identified as Ejima and Noah.
In their bid to retaliate, the Railway boys pursued them and they ran in the direction of Baale and Church streets which they turned into a theatre of war. They shot Muyideen and Wasiu (a.k.a Orobo) on the stomach and Yusuf on the leg. While Wasiu died instantly, Muyideen died in the hospital the following day” the source who is one of the community leaders stated.

He added that the community leaders have engaged the service of the members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to partner with the police to protect the community.
As at the time of filing the report, efforts at getting the comment of the Police Oublic Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, on the incident proved abortive as he failed to respond to calls put across to him.