Bella Ifasola
Lagos – At least three persons were feared killed in violence involving some hoodlums in Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos.
The violence, which broke out as a result of a longstanding feud between two rival groups, resurged on Friday, December 27, in the Paul Oguntola area of Mushin, a local newspaper reported.
It was gathered that members of a gang identified as Kesari boys were returning from a carnival when a rival group also identified as Idi Araba boys ambushed them on the way, resulting in a clash that led to the death of a member of the Kesari group.
Some vehicles in the area were also vandalised during the violence, the Punch newspaper reported, citing a community source.
“We woke up on Thursday morning to see some of the vehicles on the street vandalised and that was when we realised that it was during a fight between the Kesari and Idi Araba boys. The vehicles affected were up to 20 and most of their windshields were broken. This fight has been ongoing for a long time but the last was when a member of the gang was killed about three months ago. So, we were told this was a reprisal on the other group. We also saw the corpse of the one who was killed with matchet cuts on his face.” the source said on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident.
A second source who identified herself as Adebisi said the aggrieved gang members returned to the community on Thursday night to vandalise more vehicles in the area.
“The boys threatened to return the following night and they made real their threat by returning to the community on Thursday night to vandalise more vehicles. Some of the vehicles that were fixed after the clash the previous night were vandalised again. As we speak, there is panic in some areas in Mushin,” she told the newspaper, with a video showing residents lamenting over the vandalised vehicles, while the deceased victim was seen lying on the ground in a separate video.
It was gathered that pockets of clashes were also recorded at Kosobameji, Adeyemi and Cardoso areas of the community where two other persons were reportedly killed with another person’s hand severed in the process.
Meanwhile, residents have lamented that the activities of the groups have led to an increase in theft and burglary in the community.
“The Kesari boys usually converge at the Mushin market before moving out in groups to cause trouble, but what is more worrisome is the robbery activities they engage in. Some people were robbed on the day they clashed at Paul Oguntola. These are people who were going to the mosque and their place of work early in the morning. We want the police to do what is needed. They appear overwhelmed by the activities of the boys,” a resident who identified himself simply as Adewale said.
The Punch newspaper quoted the Area Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Abiodun Vincent, as saying two suspects were apprehended during the clashes.
“Two suspects were arrested after being caught trying to remove a bullet from the body of one of their gang members. We work hand in hand with the police to ensure they were apprehended,” Vincent said.
The Lagos State Police Command could not be reached for comments.
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