How Area Boys Attacked Traders On Lagos Island Over Election

CHUKA UBAH

Hundred of social miscreants popularly known as area boys were said to have descended on Igbo traders on Lagos Island, accusing them of not voting for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last Saturday’s election.

The miscreants, who were reportedly armed with dangerous weapons, struck at about 9am around Oluwole, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tinubu, Bamgbose and Alli Streets.
Some Igbo traders who were just opening their shops for business were beaten with the instruction that all the shops should remain locked.
When our correspondent visited the affected areas, the armed hoodlums were seen parading the streets, shouting “Igbo should go back to their states to do business!” “This is Lagos!”
They were said to have solicited for the Igbo people to vote for Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress but they reportedly voted for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. The hoodlums reportedly insisted that for the traders to continue to do their businesses in their neighbourhood, that they should support with their votes.
“This is just a sample for them!  If they ever vote for PDP again, that will be the end of their stay in our area” the hoodlums threatened.
The threats made the Igbo traders to quickly close their shops and waited for the next line of action and what might likely happen to their shops.
Some Yoruba men in the areas were also seen challenging the hoodlums not to cause problem because the Igbos have the right to vote for candidates of their choice and should not be intimidated or attacked.
However, the coming of policemen to the areas affected on the order of the Area ‘A’ Commander, Bode Ojajuni, who was informed about the breach of peace saved the situation from escalating as the challenge by the Yoruba men believed to be PDP members heated up the tension.
As at the time P.M.EXPRESS correspondent left the area, police vehicles were seen patrolling the areas but the Igbo traders who gathered nearby refused to open their shops for fear of another attack.

When P.M.EXPRESS contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, CSP Chike Oti, his phones were switched off.