Admin l Saturday, January 30, 2021
LAGOS, Nigeria – A middle-aged man, identified as Sulaimon ‘ESCAPER’ has been brutally murdered in the early hours of Friday in a renewed bloody clash between youths from Onola and Agarawu areas of Lagos Island.
The deceased, we learnt was inflicted with heavy machete cuts on the neck leading to his death because his son, Sikiru is alleged to be among the Agarawu boys that attacked the Onola youths three days ago.
Also, another man identified as Goriola, who allegedly rescued some Hausa boy shot by the hoodlums, while returning from morning prayer is now in a state of coma after receiving several machete on the head.
His offence, we gathered was that he is the husband to the mother of one of the rivalry gang and for rescuing the Hausa boy shot by the warring faction.
Several vehicles parked along Agarawu and adjacent areas were vandalized, while innocent people and traders were robbed of their personal belongings later in the day. An eye witness revealed that the deceased was brushing his teeth around 4am in front of his house (Agboole Oya) at Agarawu street when the Onola youths invaded the area to revenge attack on their members few days ago.
“Escaper, while brushing his mouth with chewing stick saw the Onola boys coming and alerted the other boys bathing at a public water pump. He also dogged nearby for the Onola youths to pass but was unfortunate when one of the invaders saw and identified him as the father of one of the opponents called Sikiru”
“He was then matcheted on the neck, which led to his death on the spot. The invaders also attacked other people they saw around the area before they escaped”, a source revealed.
He added, “Goriola, after rescuing the shot Mallams went to Tinubu area to see a friend”, he said. We gathered that the Agarawu boys had earlier attacked some Onola boys two days ago leaving them maimed with several injuries. Another source revealed that youths from the two nearby areas have been at loggerhead for sometimes over power tussle in NURTW affairs.
“Each time elders of both sides tried to settle the crisis between the two groups, they shared tangible money but the warring youths still continue with the bloody fight and use the avenue to rob innocent people, particularly the traders along the areas”, the source revealed.
We gathered that when the Agarawu youths, armed with cutlasses and dane guns, were returning from burial ground on Friday afternoon, where the deceased was buried, they attacked passersby and traders at Tinubu area and forcefully stole their goods.
“After looting, they passed through Willoughby Street to escape the Police team stationed at Itafaji junction, thereby disturbing Muslims who gathered to observe Jumat service. When our correspondent visited, the area was deserted as traders. Most of the traders in the area have locked up their shops while residents locked themselves inside to escape any further attack.
At Onola area, stern-looking soldiers and a team of policemen were seen patrolling the vicinity. Residents however called for intervention of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to fish out the troublesome criminals. The PPRO, Lagos command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi could not be reached to speak on the incident.
