Teenagers invade Lagos streets, kill worshipper, loot shops

There was confusion on the Lagos Island on Friday when about 50 hoodlums, mostly teenagers, invaded five streets, where they killed a resident, Ade Busari, and looted several shops.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums were armed with daggers and machetes during the attack.

It was learnt that Busari was killed around 2pm while going for an Islamic prayer.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Saturday, gathered that the affected streets were Massey, Oke Popo, Odunfa, Onala and Smith streets.

Busari was reportedly killed on Odunfa Street.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the men, who were said to have mobilised from another part of the Lagos Island, vandalised vehicles parked by the roadside.

Policemen from the Adeniji Adele division and operatives of the Rapid Response Squad were said to have attempted to curtail the attack.

A resident on Odunfa Street, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that Busari, who was married with children, was pursued by the armed hoodlums before being hacked to death.

He alleged that Busari was killed by one of the gang’s leaders identified as Azeez, alias Small Zego.

He 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.”

An Islamic cleric on Massey Street said the police brought four tanks to the area on Saturday.

He said, “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.”

A trader, who claimed he was stabbed by the hoodlums, said, “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.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said three suspects were arrested during the attack, adding that they had been charged to court.

She said, “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.

“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.”