Lagos — Four persons were, Tuesday, killed in a renewed fight between factions
of social miscreants in Otto and Ilopo areas of Apapa, Lagos, while several
others were injured.
Some houses were reportedly set on fire by the rampaging hoodlums who also
attacked the home of a traditional ruler in the area. Several vehicles were also
destroyed in the fight that forced some of the residents to flee their homes.
Among those hit by stray bullets were an eight-year-old boy whose parents
were said to be fleeing the war zone and a vulcaniser, who was rushing out of
his shop.
Vanguard gathered that Tuesday’s fight was a reprisal by hoodlums from Apapa
road on Otto residents. The lingering battle was reportedly power tussle over
control of parts of the area.
The attack took residents unaware as the hoodlums, numbering over one
hundred and armed with dangerous weapons including guns, reportedly fired
sporadically.
A resident, Mr Hyginus Ogbonna said: “They even stormed the palace of the
Oloto of Otto, Oba Ganiyu Odesanyan, while he was having a meeting with some
of his chiefs.
“Several vehicles parked in the premises were vandalised.
Everybody ran in different directions when they started shooting. I even missed
members of my family in the process.
“They set some houses on fire. They said they were avenging the death of one
of their own by hoodlums from Otto. We do not know when this war will end.“
It reportedly took the intervention of conventional and mobile policemen to quell
the situation. As at yesterday, most of the buildings and shops were still under
lock and key as the owners who fled were yet to return, apparently for fear of
being caught in the hoodlums’ web.
Contacted, the Lagos State Command Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr
Lelma Kolle, said: “Nine persons have been arrested in connection with fight
that led to the death of four persons.
“The situation has been brought under control and policemen are on
surveillance around the areas to nib any likely reprisal attack in the bud.”