Two people were killed and over 80
vehicles vandalised after two factions of street urchins, otherwise known as
area boys clashed at the Oshodi area of Lagos State. The clash started on
Monday and continued yesterday.
The warring faction inflicted
machete cuts, not just on one another, but also on residents, traders and
commuters around the area.
Police authourities said that five
person have been arrested in connection with the killings and vandalism.
There was panic as gunshot rented
the air, forcing people to scamper for safety. Windows of houses were also damaged.
A commuter, who was heading to
office, but caught in the fray, said she was frightened beyond belief when the rampaging
appeared from nowhere around 9: am.
The woman, who appeared and sounded
still shaken, said: “They were armed with machetes, axes and they were many.
They were so young. Their appearance on the Oshodi Expressway forced many
vehicles to halt, including ours. Their appearances
were menacing. We all started jumping down from our bus. Some of us even jumped
through the window. They held a young man going with a LAWMA truck and
inflicted machete cut on his head. He ran to where we were hiding, bleeding
profusely.”
The clashing factions are identified
as Orile Street and Sadiku Street boys.
Residents said that the leader of the
Orile faction, Kamoru was killed on Tuesday, while another yet to be identified
youngster from Sadiku faction was killed on Monday. The Tuesday clash was a
reprisal attack and spill over from Monday.
A visit to different streets around
the Mafoluku Oshodi area showed that over 80 vehicles were smashed.
Buildings located at Sadiku, Femi
Akinsola, Jubril, Agbole Afariogun and Orile Streets were all vandalised and
some residents robbed of their valuables.
An eye witness, Tunde said that
a party at Sadiku Street turned violent.
Tunde explained: “The fight started
over unknown reason leading, leading to the death of one of the boys. They
started smashing cars, buses and trucks parked along the streets. They entered
homes of people, smashing windows, doors and gates. This morning(Tuesday) at
about 8am, another faction armed with guns and dangerous weapons started moving
from street to street, vandalising peoples properties and causing breach of
peace.”
Another resident said his shop was
vandalised yesterday and a lawyer who lives in one of the vandalised houses,
was robbed of his phones and laptop.
The streets soon became deserted as
resident hid in home. Broken bottles littered the streets.
Around 11am, over 50 policemen from
Area F Police Command, Shogunle Police Station, Rapid Responds Squad (RRS) and
Operation Mesa took over the entire area. The police cordoned off Orile Street
down to the house of Kamoru.
Police spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu who
confirmed the incident, said that a fight broke out between a group of area
boys at Orile and Sadiku areas of Oshodi.
His words: “This occurred during a
naming ceremony of one Jimoh Odekunle at Okeleye Street, Aforiogun on Monday.
The rival groups destroyed cars parked around the area. One Kamoru Hassan was
seriously wounded and died early this morning. Orile Oshodi boys embarked on
reprisal attack this morning. They suspected that the killer of Kamoru is one Sunday
Anajonu. Policemen from Akinpelu, Area F Police Command and Shogunle responded
swiftly. Anajonu was rescued from his assailants and taken to the hospital.
Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and are
undergoing interrogation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the
matter.”
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