- We’ve arrested 8 of them – Police
One person has been reportedly killed and several others injured as rampaging hoodlums, numbering about 50, unleashed violence on residents around the Adeniji Adele area of Lagos.
During the incident, which has forced many of the residents of the area to desert their houses, several housewives were also allegedly battered by the suspected hoodlums upon suspicion that they had been giving information concerning them to rival groups in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that the violence in the area began with the renewal of hostilities between a group, the ‘Get Ready Boys,’ and their rival from Onala Street in the area.
Though the major cause of the crisis between the two groups is yet to be ascertained, sources in the area said it was a renewal of the rivalry, which the Police and community leaders had earlier settled.
During the street fight, which caused panic and fear among the residents, one unidentified person was reportedly killed and several others were injured.
It was learnt that several housewives were also attacked and severely beaten up by the hoodlums.
“Our lives are no more safe in Lagos Island. This area is now nothing but a den of criminals. On several occasions, they have struck, both at night and daytime, killing people. Police in this area are no more capable of curtailing them. When this last violence happened, all we heard was noise and we started running for our lives. We saw people wielding machetes and guns. They were led by the likes of Erinfolami, Omolope, Terisi and others,” a resident, Afolabi Alao, said.
Another resident, who simply identified herself as Omolola, said, “I learnt that one man was killed in the clash. He was shot by one of the boys while fighting. He was later rushed to the hospital, but I don’t know if he survived it. But I can confirm to you that they also chopped off one person’s wrist. The man is popularly known as Ironi. His hand was chopped off by one of the ‘Get Ready Boys’ called Razak. As I speak to you, he is receiving treatment in the hospital.”
A housewife, who pleaded not to be identified, said, “I was seriously flogged on my back by the hoodlums. It happened before my husband came back from work. When he saw the wounds on my back, he planned to go and challenge them, but for community leaders who begged to intervene.”
She also called on police to come to protect the residents of the area.
During our correspondent’s visit to the area on Thursday, a police armoured tank manned by police operatives was stationed at the Adeniji Adele junction.
At Odunfa Street, where the incident occurred, commercial activities were low key as peace gradually returned to the area.
It was also gathered that a yet to be identified person was killed at night by suspected hoodlums some days ago.
A resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said suspected hoodlums killed the deceased on the street at night and buried him before daybreak.
“We are all aware of the situation. People that saw them in the midnight told us that the boy was killed at Onala Street by the hoodlums and they secretly buried him. Some of our people have gone to report the case at Adeniji police station. We are calling on government to come to our rescue because they have killed up to four people since last week that this unrest began,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the command’s operatives had arrested no fewer than eight suspected cult members terrorising the
area.
He said, “The suspects were arrested following a distress call from residents of the area that unknown hoodlums were engaging themselves and brandishing dangerous weapons at Evans Street, Lagos Island. Upon the information received, police operatives from the command trailed the suspects to their hideout at Federation Hotel, located at Andrew Street, Lagos Island. The names of the suspects arrested are: Kazeem Kareem, Belly Akeem, Ahmed Hassan, Abiodun Hassan, Segun Popoola (a.k.a Playboy), Adeyinka Ayodeji, Olanrewaju Sulaiman and one Sakirat
Kareem.
“They were apprehended at the hotel. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to be members of the Eye Confraternity cult group. They also have useful information on one Rasak Olalekan Kareem, a.k.a Falapa, 25, who is believed to be the gang leader of the ‘Eye’ cult.”
The police spokesman, however, said all suspects arrested would soon be charged to court and enjoined members of the public to assist the police in apprehending all other cultists on the Island.
