- 30 others injured, police patrol vehicle burnt
One person was feared killed, over 30 others injured and police patrol vehicle set ablaze as Ajegunle and Amukoko youths engaged in a fresh bloody clash.
The youths from both areas recently engaged one another in a violence that led to the death of nine people. The previous violence and the latest one took place on a bridge linking Layinka Street, Ajegunle and Olumokun Street, Amukoko.
The violent rivalry between the youths of both communities is gradually becoming a frequent occurrence. The previous violence was caused by a fight between two men over a woman.
It was gathered that the Amukoko youths were “not satisfied with their performance” in the previous violence and so decided to attack the people of Layinka area.
In the latest violence, it was learnt that youths from the various streets in the area collaborated to defend the people in their communities.
The youths from Amukoko were alleged to have armed themselves with guns, cutlasses, poisonous bones, and bottles, while their Ajegunle rivals wielded cutlasses, bottles and broken tiles.
They were said to have been firing gun shots and throwing missiles such as broken bottles and tiles at one another. The Amukoko youths, however, were said to have gained the upper hands this time round as many Ajegunle youths sustained bullet wounds, just as many were equally injured with cutlasses broken tiles and bottles.
Some of the youths who sustained bullet wounds were identified as Bala, John, Adekunle, Amoo, Jimoh, Timothy, among others.
Those who suffered machete injuries were Joseph, Ebi, Bose, Ada, Martins, Edafe, and others.
John said he was on his way from another street when he ran into a hail of bullets and was hit in the leg.
According to John, “I was not fighting but returning to my street from another street, when bullet hit me at Layinka Street, Ajegunle. I’m still in pains. They extracted the two bullets from my leg. I don’t know what caused the fight. I don’t know why Amukoko youths like to fight the people living at Layinka Street. Every small incident, they would gang up and attack Layinka Street youths. See as they set police patrol vehicle ablaze. Police should try and make use of their guns. During the previous fight, the people of Amukoko injured a police inspector on the face and chest. It was the soldiers that assisted to bring the situation in the area back to normalcy. People are now living in fear at Layinka Street and its environs.”
Ebi, who sustained machete injuries, alleged that a particular Baale (local traditional ruler) (names withheld) of a part of Amukoko was seen with a gun, firing at the people on Layinka Street.
But during a security meeting presided over by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, the traditional ruler debunked the allegation that he shot at people with a gun during the violence.
A top police source at the meeting, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said when the Baale from Amukoko was asked by the police commissioner why he was shooting at people, he denied the allegation.
The traditional ruler said he had no gun and would never do such a thing.
Ada, who sustained an injury on her hand, said, “I was returning from Orile when they attacked me around Olumokun Street area. They injured me with a cutlass before stealing my mobile phone. They also took my bag containing N7,000. They are thieves. They want to fight so that they would have the opportunity to steal. Now, it is a weekly affair. They fight almost every week. I don’t know the day the fight between Layinka and Olumokun will end. Police are not helping matters. They will be looking at them from behind without shooting.”
Another injured resident, Adekunle, said, “I was not among those fighting. I’m not living at Layinka. I live at Baale Street. I went to see somebody, but made a mistake to watch the fight from afar. Unfortunately, a bullet hit me on the left hand. The gun is a local gun and they removed three pellets from my hand. I’ve learnt my lesson. I will never go near where they are fighting again.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Muhammed Ali, was at the scene to ensure that normalcy was restored.
He also inspected the burnt police patrol vehicle belonging to the Ajegunle Police Station and called for more reinforcement.
Policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad came with their patrol vehicles and Armoured Personal Carrier. Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad operatives and policemen from the eight police stations under Area ‘B’ Apapa Command, were also drafted to the scene of the violence.
