Gun-wielding hoodlums on Tuesday unleashed terror on Daodu, Olokodana
and Iya Agan streets on the Old Apapa Road in Lagos, during which they
shot dead a 28-year-old bricklayer and injured other residents.
Our
correspondent learnt that the bricklayer, identified simply as Wahab,
who hailed from Ilorin, Kwara State, had come to the area to work and
save money to pay for his ailing father’s treatment.
It was
gathered that the gunmen, who struck at about 8pm in the area, shot
Wahab in the neck and also robbed residents and passersby of their
valuables.
It was also learnt that Wahab died instantly, while
policemen from the Iponri division, who received a distress call,
mobilised to apprehend the gunmen.
Our correspondent learnt that
none of the fleeing gunmen was arrested, but the police recovered
Wahab’s corpse, which had been deposited in a morgue.
When PUNCH
Metro visited the streets on Wednesday, there was palpable tension as
most houses and shops were locked. The few people sighted were not
willing to talk about the attack.
A member of the vigilance group
in the area, identified only as Ishola, however, told our correspondent
that the gunmen were hoodlums from Fagbayimu, led by one John Ibafo. He
added that the Fagbayimu gunmen came to attack Railway Line boys, led
by Dagbe Ahmed.
He noted that Wahab was a victim of sporadic gunshots as he was not a member of either faction.
He
said, “Wahab was not married. He lived in the Ibafo area of Ogun State,
and sometimes came to Oyingbo to work. It was two days ago that he came
again for some bricklaying work, and stayed with friends on Daodu Lane.
“The
gunmen invaded the streets yesterday (Tuesday) at about 8pm in search
of rival gang members. They also used the opportunity to rob passersby
and residents. They were shooting sporadically to scare people. It was
in the process that Wahab was shot in the neck. He had just finished
eating dinner when he was shot.
“The friends he was staying with
quickly called the vigilance group and the police that one of them had
been killed by the rampaging gunmen. But by the time the police arrived,
the gunmen had escaped.”
One of Wahab’s friends, identified only
as Wale, who spoke on the telephone, said Wahab’s father was down with
sickness in Ilorin, adding that the news of his son’s death would be a
bigger blow.
He said, “He was working to get money to take to his
ailing father for his treatment. His mother is late. The old man has
been sick for several years, and it was Wahab who worked to finance his
treatment. He would have travelled to his hometown today (Wednesday) had
he not been killed.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the cult gangs also
went on the rampage on Sallah day, and looted houses along the Railway
Line, during which a policeman shot himself in the leg.
It was
learnt that the officer, identified only as Ugor, who was attached to
the Iponri Police Division, had been hospitalised since last Thursday.
Our
correspondent gathered that about 10 persons sustained gunshot injuries
and were being treated at some local health centres in the area. A
source, who visited some of the injured persons, said none of them was
willing to talk for fear of being traced.
The Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, said the police removed Wahab’s
corpse, noting that the injured officer was recuperating in the
hospital.
He said, “The dead body was found when the police
arrived at the scene. There was no exchange of fire as the hoodlums
immediately fled the area.
“On the Sallah day incident, we were
able to recover some ammunition abandoned by the fleeing cultists.
Unfortunately, one of our men mistakenly shot himself in the leg during
the operation. He is still recovering in a hospital I cannot disclose.”
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