No fewer than five persons were killed and many others injured on Saturday when hoodlums attacked the Igbokuta/Gberigbe community, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the hoodlums, who were suspected to be land grabbers, invaded the community around 1pm and attacked the land owners in the area with weapons.
According to the residents, the hoodlums, who were led by one Sir K and one Gbenga, stormed the community and attacked their perceived enemies. The deceased were identified as Lateef Ade, Mutiu Balogun, Hameed Idris and two others.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened after two suspected fake policemen placed in the community by Sir K were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.
He said, “Two fake policemen, who were impersonating the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, were among 15 people illegally stationed in the community since May 19, 2021, by Sir K.
“However, the fake policemen were arrested and this was what led to the Saturday attack. The Sir K gang members were angry that the policemen were arrested; the attack, which led to the death of five people, was part of a reprisal by the gang.”
A community leader, Chief Akorede Oluderu, lamented incessant attacks by the gang on residents and called on the police to intervene.
He said, “We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed due to the attacks on this community by the notorious land grabbers. We are calling on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to look into our ordeal and save us from these thugs. Many lives have been lost, yet the police have done nothing to bring the situation under control.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not pick his phone which rang out several times. He did not also reply to a text message sent to his phone as of the time of filing this report.
In a related development, two persons were injured on Saturday when some hoodlums suspected to be land grabbers invaded Obada-Oko community in Ogun State.
It was gathered that the hoodlums, who were armed with machetes, broken bottles and other weapons, stormed the community around 12pm.
It was learnt that a resident, Sikiru Kayode, was attacked with machetes and left for dead.
A witness, Taoheed Agbaje, said over 100 hoodlums attacked the community.
He said, “I have never witnessed anything like that in this area. There were about 50 motorcycles with each carrying at least three people; many of them were armed with cutlasses, broken bottles, sticks and iron rods. A pregnant woman fainted when she sighted them; she was revived by residents who quickly gathered around her.
“The hoodlums attacked Sikiru Kayode with machetes, iron and sticks, while other people ran for their lives. The hoodlums later escaped on their motorcycles when they noticed that Kayode was motionless, thinking that he was dead. But he survived.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said investigation was ongoing.
He said, “There are some people who claim to be land agents and said they had a court judgment concerning a portion of land in the community, but the other party who are in the community said the judgment that the land agents have does not cover their own portion of land and that was what led to the problem.
“The land agents were the ones that went to the Obada-Oko Police Station to report that they were attacked and two of their boys were injured and taken to the state hospital in Ijaye, but the CP has directed the SCIID to go into the matter and investigate the case. We will hear the two sides of the story and whoever is at fault will be charged to court.”
PUNCH