Teenagers Storm Lagos Streets With Weapons, Loot Shops And Kill A Worshipperf

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Lagos Island was thrown into confusion on Friday after hoodlums, mostly teenagers, stormed five streets with daggers and machetes, and looted shops, Punch reports.

At least one person, identified as Ade Busari, was killed during the unprecedented attack.

Journalists who visited the scene on Saturday said that the streets affected include Massey, Oke Popo, Odunfa, Onala and Smith streets. The hoodlums damaged vehicles during their attack, which could not be curbed by the officers of the Rapid Response Squad.

Speaking with the press, a resident said Busari, who was cut down during the attack, was killed by one of the gang leaders, Azeez, alias Small Zego.

Here’s what the resident said:

“The boys got to the area around 2pm and began to loot some of the shops. Most traders quickly locked their shops and ran home. The hoodlums did not have guns; but they had daggers and machetes.

The victim was going to pray in a mosque. As he passed by them, one of the robbers shouted, ‘That’s him. He is one of them.’ They encircled Busari and began to cut him with machetes. One of the gang’s leaders, Azeez, alias Small Zego, brought out a knife and stabbed him to death. The police later came to remove his corpse. There is still tension in the area.”

Presently, there is heavy police presence in the affected areas to stall further attacks. Four tanks have been spotted so far.

An Islamic cleric on Massey Street told Punch:

“People have refused to come to their shops today (Saturday) as a result of the robbery and the death. I could not go for my Islamic prayers on Friday as a result of the tension. But the police brought four tanks to Odunfa on Saturday and peace is gradually returning.”

Another victim, a trader, had this to say:

“I was about locking my shop when the robbers got to my street. One of them stabbed me in the hand because I did not want them to loot my shop. There was a crowd of gangsters; it was as if they were on a rally. They wore only shirts and jean trousers. They vandalised any vehicle and tricycle they found by the roadside. It was after they had looted about three streets that the police brought the tanks.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed that three suspects have been arrested. “Hoodlums engaged one another in a fight on those streets. They damaged seven vehicles. Three suspects – Komeji Idris, Ola Saka and Ishola Adams – were arrested and they were arraigned in court on Friday,” she said.

“They have been remanded at the Ikoyi prison. The police do not have any record of death. However, the family of the deceased can come forward to file a report to assist police investigations. The command is on the trail of other suspects and order has returned to the area now,” she added.

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