One killed, police officer’s head smashed as thugs clash in Lagos

One person was killed and several others, including a police officer injured, as street urchins, otherwise known as area boys, clashed at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos.

The police officer, attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), was alleged to have been attacked and his head smashed by one of the rampaging thugs.

In the miscreants’ clash, which started on Monday, several shops and vehicle were damaged.

According to eye witnesses, the bloody clash is between Abule Oki Street boys and Alagbaa Street boys.

Trouble was said to have started after the Baale of Abule Oki held a carnival, which was well attended by both Abule Oki and Alagbaa boys.

The artist that played during the carnival gave the boys money which was equitably shared.

An eye witness said: “Last Sunday, the Baale of Alagbaa held his own carnival and invited the same artist. The carnival was well attended by Abule Oki boys. When the ceremony was over, the Baale doled out money to the boys. Fracas started after Abule Oki boys challenged Alagbaa boys for not sharing the money equally. The argument cum violence that started that night, led to the death of one of the Abule Oki boys.”

A shop owner, Mr. Paul, said the fracas started since Monday, leading to closure of shops. Paul said that vehicles plying Oshodi-Abeokuta expressway, were held up for several hours before the intervention of police.

Paul said: “We have not done any business since three days now. The fight can erupt at any time. They were shooting and using broken bottles. They used stones and machetes, chasing one another. They didn’t appear to be afraid of the police. It was when reinforcement from the RRS operatives came that they retreated. What we need in Iyana Ipaja are Soldiers! Miscreants are no longer afraid of policemen.”

Another resident , identified as John, pointed out bullet holes in his shop. He said that his wares were vandalized.

His words: “Thank God that we ran away when this fight erupted. We’re still afraid because the fight can start.”

According to the Lagos State Police Command, RRS operatives were drafted to Iyana Ipaja early Wednesday morning. The RRS men arrested 20 youth over the violence. Before the arrest however, the rear wind shield of the injured RRS officer’s patrol car was damaged at Abule Oki, Iyana Ipaja.

The police said that the 20 suspects were arrested around mid-night after almost two days of supremacy battle between two gangs.

The police said: “The youth, numbering over 100 had at around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, set up bonfire on the expressway, halting vehicular traffic on the two sides of the ever busy Lagos Abeokuta Expressway. On the ground quelling the violence was the Commander, Area M, ACP Austin Akika, who was later joined at the scene by the Commander, RRS, ACP Olatunji Disu.”

It was gathered RSS operatives were at the scene of the crisis on Tuesday afternoon. The RSS operatives dashed to the scene after responding to a distress call around 9pm, there they attempted to disperse the warring gangs.

The officers were able to push back the youth into the inner streets of Abule Oki. The youth pelted police with stones and broken bottles, leading to the smashing of the police officer’s head. He was rushed to hospital.

The rear wind shield of one of RSS operational vehicle, a Toyota Corolla with the registration number RRS 041 LA, was damaged.