Court jails 15, remands others over Mushin gang war

Fifteen suspects have pleaded guilty of involving in the clash between two gangs in Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos State, which claimed the life of a load carrier, identified only as Kayode.

The suspects were arraigned with 24 others on Thursday at the Lagos State Mobile Court on four counts bordering on breach of the peace and unlawful possession of cannabis.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the rival groups – Alamutu boys and Akala boys – clashed over the sharing of money collected from traders in a market in the community.

Apart from Kayode, who was killed by a stray bullet, a policeman was also shot in the leg, while about 10 shops were set on fire by the hoodlums.

It took a combined team of police and men of the Nigerian Army to restore normalcy to the area while 68 persons were arrested.

After the suspects were screened, 39 persons were brought before a magistrate, Mr. Tosin Ojuromi, on Thursday.

Fifteen of them, who pleaded guilty to the offences, were sentenced to between six and two years’ imprisonment with an option of fine ranging from N150,000 to N200,000.

Sixteen accused, who pleaded not guilty, were granted bail in the sum of N250,000 each, with two sureties in like sum, adding that the suspects should be remanded pending when their bail conditions would be perfected.

Ojuromi, however, discharged and acquitted eight accused after proper identification, and adjourned till May 25, 2017, for commencement of trial of the 16 defendants.

The court held that the six bags of cannabis recovered from the suspects should be immediately destroyed in public.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, said the suspects were arraigned after thorough investigation by the agency.

He said, “The prosecuted miscreants and hoodlums were gang members from Alamutu Street and Akala Elegba boys. They engaged one another in a free-for-all that resulted in loss of life with serious looting of valuables of innocent traders, which include food items like bags of rice, beans, palm oil, banana and burning of houses/shops around Idi Oro.

“Weapons recovered by security agencies during the fracas include machetes, axes, rods, cutlasses and charms with six bags of hemp.

“The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration is determined to provide a peaceful environment devoid of criminal activities. Parents and guidance should always monitor activities of their wards as the government would not spare anyone or group of persons caught breaching the peace being enjoyed by the citizens of the state.”

( Punch)