Area boys attack Igbo traders in Lagos Island for failing to vote for Buhari

LAGOS, Nigeria – Hundred of social miscreants popularly known as areaboys today descended on Igbo traders in Lagos Island, accusing them of not voting for President Muhammadu Buhari in the last Saturday election. The miscreants who were armed with dangerous weapons like cutlasses, broken bottles, wood and knives struck at about 9am at Oluwole, Nnamdi Azikwe, Tinubu, Bamgbose and Alli Streets.

Some Igbo traders who were just opening their respectful shops for business were beaten with instruction that all the shops should remain locked.

When our correspondent visited the affected areas, the armed hoodlums were seen parading the streets, shouting “Igbo should go back to their States to do business. This is Lagos”.

“We campaign for them to vote for Buhari, but they refused and voted for Atiku. They cannot come here to do business again. They must follow us to vote whoever we ask them to vote for. This is just a sample for them, if they ever vote for PDP again, that will be their end”, the hoodlums threatened.

This threats made the Igbo traders to quickly close their respective shops and stood nearby to witness what is going to happen to their shops. Some Yoruba men in the areas were also seen challenging the hoodlums not to cause problem because the Igbos have the right to vote for their choice and should not be intimidated and attack.

However, the coming of policemen to the areas on the order of the Area ‘A’ Commander, Bode Ojajuni who was informed about the situation saved the situation from escalating as the challenge by the Yoruba men, believed to be PDP members heat up the tension.

As at the time of this report, police vehicles were seen patrolling the areas, but the Igbo traders still gathered nearby and refused to open shops for the fear of another attack.

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations officer, Oti proved abortive as his GSM line was not reachable.