One killed, several injured as youths clash at birthday party

Taiwo Jimoh

A birthday party at the Aguda and Ijesha areas of Lagos State, yesterday turned bloody, leading to the death of one person and others being injured.

The clash was said to be between two groups of youths from Aguda and Ijesha. The fight, which started on Saturday, continued yesterday.
It was learnt that youths from Aguda and Ijesha met at a birthday party on Saturday and for reasons yet unknown, quarrel started and snowballed into a bloody fight.
In the process, one person from Ijesha was killed and several others injured. It was gathered that yesterday, some aggrieved youths from Ijesha, numbering about 30, mobilised and went to Aguda in a reprisal. In the yesterday clash, property worth millions of naira, including parked cars, were destroyed.
A resident, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said: “The fracas started as a mere disagreement between two rival youths and later spread like wildfire to Enitan, Adefowope and Willy Omiyi streets in Coker Aguda Council Development Area. Policemen and detachment of military personnel were immediately deployed to the area. The youths used dangerous weapons freely. Security agencies were also seen patrolling and stationed at strategic locations within the community.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Bala Elkana, while confirming the incident, disclosed that five suspects had been arrested in connection with the clash.
Elkana said the clashed was between two youths from Aguda and Ijesha who met at a birthday party where they had a disagreement and led to a fight.
Elkana said: “On April 22, at about 9.30am, Aguda Police Station received a distress that a group of youths from Ijesha and Aguda areas engaged themselves in a free for all fight at the boundary between Ijesha and Aguda. Police Patrol teams from Ijesha and Aguda were promptly drafted to the scene. The situation was brought under control. Glasses of three shops were shattered with stones thrown by the hoodlums at one another.  Five suspects; Lekan Abiose (30), Ahmed lsiaka (37), Aro Rasaq (28), Gideon Agwu (32) and Temileyin Odulawo (19) were arrested. Preliminary investigation revealed that some members of the two rival groups fought in Efo get-together party organized by one Bulky and Baba Sunday on April 21at Ijesha area, where one Ijesha youth was injured. The injured person mobilized his friends on a revenge mission to Aguda this morning, leading to today’s (Monday) fracas. Investigation is ongoing. The Command has launched a manhunt of other fleeing suspects.”