Three killed, many injured as youths clash in Lagos

Three young men were killed and many injured at the Ijora Badia area of Lagos State yesterday, after two factions of gangsters in the area engaged in a retaliatory fight. Police authourity have identified one of the deceased as Ade-Ojora, but the other two are yet unknown.

The fight which spilled over from Tuesday night, to yesterday morning, was said to have caused a traffic gridlock, grounding commercial activities, as the rampaging youths embarked on vandalism of several vehicles. It was gathered that the fight between two factions of youths in the area known as ‘Ogbana boys’ and ‘Matiminu boys,’ started last year and suddenly continued on Tuesday night, after two boys, belonging to Matiminu gang, were killed when they went to buy shirts at a market in the area.

Ogbana boys were said to have jumped the unsuspecting boys in the market and stabbed both to death before fleeing. When Matiminu boys heard of the death of their colleagues, they had gone to collect their dead. Grieving and chanting, they had carried the corpses to the palace of the Oba of Ijora, who refused to see the bodies. It was further gathered that aids to the Oba stopped the youths and reasoned with them.

But yesterday, the situation snowballed after Matiminu boys sighted a member of the Ogbana boy’s in a commercial bus and pursued the bus. They allegedly dragged the boy out of the bus and started stabbing him.The boy had attempted to run, but they had pursued and inflicted more stab wounds on him before they left him bleeding to death. Sympathisers later rushed him to Jim-Sam hospital, said to belong to the Local Government Chairman, Dr. Adedayo Samuel, but staff on duty rejected him because of his critical condition. He was being rushed to another hospital when he died on the way.

A resident in the area, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the troubles started last year after the brutal killing of two youngsters belonging Ogbana boys gang. His words: “This whole trouble started last year after two boys, Onome and Ololo were killed. Both were members of the Keke Marwa group at Ijora Oloye. The members of the Keke Marwa group are loyalists to Ogbana, who was the chairman of the Keke Marwa group. Ogbana was killed last year.

“On Tuesday, two boys from Matiminu boys’ gang came to railway line market to buy shirt. As they were there, they were sighted by loyalists to Ogbana, Ololo and Onome. They mobilized and attacked the two boys. They used dagger to stab them severally. This happened at about 7pm. They ran away after killing the boys. Matiminu boys later carried the corpses to the Oba’s palace. “This morning, the late Ogbana’s sister’s(Tawa) son was killed by the Matiminu boys. The boy was in a commercial bus, which was driving through the Gaskia College road, close to the abode of the Matiminu. They dragged him out of the bus, he even attempted to run and made it to Sango road, which is close to the Apapa Igamu Local Government Secretariat, there they attacked and killed him. This happened at about 10: am today. The death of Tawa’s son further heightened the fracas. We heard that the Ogbana boys invited thugs from Mushin to assist them in the fight, escalating the matter. The Mushin boys came with short guns and daggers.”

Yesterday at about 10:30am, the Area B Commander, Mr. Anene visited the area.

The Local Government Chairman also conveyed an emergency meeting, where the heated discussion was about security challenges in Ojora Badia. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), of Ijora Badia Police Station was represented by his Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), at the meeting.

The chairman declared that there should be no candle light for the dead to forestall further bloodletting.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, confirming the incident, said: “The incident started on Tuesday night. One Niyi Star, who had been charged to court by Ijora Police Station for murder three years ago, was suddenly seen in the streets. When he came for the attack, he came in the company of six other boys. They all came from Orile-Igamu. The said Niyi Star was born and brought up at Ijora, but relocated to Orile. He launched the attack on one Ade-Ojora. Ade-Ojora was a wanted criminal and had been on police wanted list. He lived at No. 5 Ijora Oloye Street and was 25 years old. Immediately Niyi Star stabbed Ade-Ojora, he fled, but people identified him.

“Youths came out today in retaliatory mood, but police stopped them. Security had been beefed up in the area. Ade-Ojora died in hospital, but his parents had not reported the matter to the police.”