Taiwo Jimoh
Seven
persons were injured and several vehicles vandalized after two rival cult
groups engaged in a free for all fight at Aguda in Coker-Aguda Local Council
Development Area of Lagos State.
The violence
broke out after a disagreement between two rival cult groups in a hotel on Sunday,
leading to one person allegedly stabbing another on the neck.
According to
a resident, Mr. Kunle Banjo, the clash started from a drinking joint at Oseni
Street at about10p.m on Sunday before it turned bloody, causing residents to
scamper for safety.
Banjo, a
resident of Oseni Street, said the victim after he was stabbed on the neck, was
left in a pool of his blood, a development that provoked his colleagues to carry
out a reprisal.
It was also
gathered that one of the groups, who called themselves, ‘Salary Boys,’ were alleged
to have looted shops during the mayhem.
A member of
the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Coker- Aguda Branch, Mr.
John Adeyinka, said that those fighting were not members of NURTW. He explained
that most of the fighters came from outside the community.
He said: “We’re
ready to put a stop to the incessant clash. This is because people always
attribute the clash to NURTW and Road Transport Employment Association of
Nigeria (RETEAN) members. But we’re in good working relationship.”
Mr. Ajiboye
Tolulope, also a member of NURTW said: “We’re tired of the constant clash among
these cultists. I was at home when I received a phone that the cultists had
started fighting again. After a while, police rushed to the scene. I saw
somebody lying near the canal at Itire, but I don’t know if the person was
alive or dead. I’m appealing to both parties to allow peace to reign. We as
NURTW members are ready to cooperate with the police and other security
agencies to get rid of these cultists.”
He further
stated: “After the clash on Sunday, no bus was able to park in the garage to
pick passengers. We’re also angry. If we didn’t work, we wouldn’t be able to
take care of our family members.”
The
Chairperson of Coker-Aguda, Mrs. Omobolanle Adetutu, said: “Most of the
hoodlums are from Mushin and Ijeshtedo areas. Those places house hoodlums. But
some of the cultists, who are living in our midst, would be arrested and handed
over to the police. Also, any Baale whose domain any clash occurs, will be
punished. Most of these cultists do not have any means of livelihood. They
sustain themselves by looting during clashes. We’re not going to tolerate that
anymore. We also cannot exonerate the NURTW totally because they cannot say
they didn’t know those hoodlums. Police should go after them and also prosecute
the Baales whose domains had been turned to battle field.”
The Lagos
State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who was visibly angry, told the
Chairperson, market leaders, unions and Baales to warn their wards to stop
causing trouble in communities.
Odumosu, who
summoned a meeting, said it was a meeting to charge them to warn their
children.
He said: “I will
not tolerate unnecessary killings and
destructions of property. I cannot fold my arms and allow such lawlessness to
continue. I want the NURTW and RTEAN to assist the police to make the areas
calm. I believe all those fighting are union members. You all should go back
and warn them. I am begging you now, when I arrest them you people should not
come begging. I wouldn’t tolerate where somebody cars parked on the street would
be vandalized. Landlords whose houses harbour criminals would be arrested. Any
motor park where there is a clash would be shut down and the person in charge
of the park would be arrested and arraigned.”
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