- Police nab eight suspects
Disagreement over an unspecified amount of money allegedly given to youths in the Orile area of Lagos State by an unidentified politician has resulted in a violent scuffle in which no fewer than 20 persons were injured.
During the violence, guns and other dangerous weapons, including machetes, were freely used by the rival youth groups from Apala and Alhaji Kabiru streets in the Orile area.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested about eight suspected persons over the incident.
According to a police sergeant attached to the station, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Olorunwa Ogundele, led the operation and ensured that normalcy was restored in the area.
The sergeant said Ogundele had to immediately drag the eight suspects to court, adding, “Now they are cooling their heels in prison. A politician gave the youths money, but one of the hoodlums took the money with his boys and went to where he is living. The other street boys had to reinforce and attack them. Guns and cutlasses were freely used. What these politicians are doing is very bad. They know that when they drop money for these boys, it would lead to a very violent fight that could even lead to the death of somebody. They enjoy seeing the youths killing themselves.”
A resident of Apala Street, Tajudeen Olayiwola, said, “It was money that caused the problem between the hoodlums in this area. A honourable (politician) gave the youths money and the boys from one street wanted to share the cash among themselves, but the other boys from Apala Street had to go to them to demand their own share of the money. That was how the fight started.
“I never knew that many of these youths had guns in their possession. They were shooting guns and I had to hide myself and my family inside our room. I don’t want to die and I don’t want anything to happen to any member of my family. The fight was like a war. You could not come outside from your room if you are living in this
area.”
A resident who resides at Baale Street, Orile said, “The police tried as they were able to restore peace in the area. Over 20 people were injured. Some sustained bullet wounds while some sustained machete injuries. These hoodlums were robbing people of their money, cash and other valuables.
“People, who were returning from work, fell victim as they were dispossessed of their money, mobile phones and other valuables. My wife, Amina was a victim. They collected her mobile phone, N8,600 cash and jewelry valued at N15, 000. I heard that a politician was the cause of the problem. If a politician wants to give the youths money, he should share the money for them. It is wrong of the man to give somebody the cash to hold. That was what caused the
fight.”
Another resident, Christopher, believed that the hoodlums were fighting so as to use the opportunity of such a commotion created to rob people of their money and other valuables.
“Many people were injured. We saw many running to hospital with blood gushing out of their bodies. All I know is that these miscreants were robbing people. They burgled many people’s shops. Do you call that a fight? No. They fight so as to use the opportunity to rob innocent people. They are armed robbers. Didn’t they tell you that they were using guns and cutlasses freely? I want to commend the policemen. They tried their best to restore peace and sanity in the area,” he said.
