Two Feared Dead, Others Injured as Hoodlums Clash in Lagos

Police PRO, DSP Ngozi Braide

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Pandemonium yesterday erupted at Shomolu area of Lagos, when a violent clash between two opposing confraternities resulted to the death of two persons, ground business activities to a halt and left several others with varying degrees of injuries.

According to eyewitness account, the clash was hijacked by hoodlums who vandalised vehicles parked along the streets in Shomolu as well as shops.

Areas affected include Poopla, Oreofero, Adifase, Balogun, Anifowose and Fadipe streets which were littered with fragments of broken bottles and shattered vehicles windscreens after the gang fight.


It however, took effort by team of policemen from Alade and Pedro divisions to quell the situation which forced shop owners to close for the day.

THISDAY gathered that the clash was a spill over of the football competition organised by a politician at Odulami Street two weeks ago, where youths from Bariga area alleged to be members of Aiye Confraternity who participated were allegedly attacked by  the opposing faction, members of the Eiye confraternity.

Although there has been several reprisal attacks in which several people were injured, the clash for supremacy reached a head yesterday evening when the gang members armed with dangerous weapons like daggers,  broken bottles, axe, cutlasses, guns and even charms engaged each other in a free-for-all fight.

One of the traders in the area, Mrs. Medina Abdulazeez, lamented that the clash provided the hoodlums ample opportunity to  rob traders blind.

She said, “Around 11am, some hoodlums on motorcycle stormed Popoola Street and started fighting other youths. They came into my shop, seized my mobile phone as well as all my money. They attacked commercial motorcycle riders and seized their bikes after beating them up.

Another resident, Mr. Kene Mbanugo said the fight was a culmination of the clash which happened two weeks ago when one Tijanni, a member of the Aiye cult, was attacked and sustained injuries.

He disclosed that the next day, his colleagues retaliated spiralling off another reprisal attack by the Eiye boys who critically injured one Elede at Rufai Street.

When contacted on the telephone, the state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Chukwuma Ozoani,an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the divisional police officers in charge of Pedro and Alade divisions could not confirm the attack.