A
26-year-old student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dayo
Olaniyi, was killed in Ebute Meta, Lagos on Thursday by thugs who
invaded Moshood Abiola Way (Apapa Road) and neighboring streets.
The killing came less than 24 hours after one Hakeem Omisore was killed in Oto, near the same area.
Residents said the attack on Thursday was a reprisal by about 40 thugs.
PUNCH Metro learnt
that Olaniyi was with his friends on Iya Agan Street around 8am when
the thugs, clad in black T-shirt and black jeans, invaded the area and
started shooting indiscriminately.
A witness, who craved anonymity, said the thugs also vandalized some vehicles in the area before fleeing.
He
said, “Olaniyi was a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He just came
home briefly to see his aunt. He had just finished eating and we were
all talking when the thugs started shooting.
“We
all scampered to safety as the shooting continued. Some minutes later,
after the hoodlums left, I saw Olaniyi’s corpse. He was shot in the
face.”
Our
correspondent learnt that parts of Ebute Meta; particularly Moshood
Abiola Way and Oto, have become a hotbed for criminals who engage in
perennial supremacy battles.
About three weeks ago, four persons were injured and 28 vehicles vandalised in the same area.
An
Islamic cleric on Daudu Lane, who refused to give his name, said
violence continued to recur because of the lackadaisical attitude of law
enforcement agents.
He
said, “The feud can be traced back to 2009. Initially, the bone of
contention was the collection of money from commercial bus operators and
shop owners.
“However,
it has escalated from petty crimes to murder and armed robbery. One
wonders where they get these sophisticated weapons from.
“The
recent attack was carried out by combination of youths from Jones
Street and Oto on one hand and youths from other streets on Moshood
Abiola Way. Olaniyi was even in my house a few minutes before the
incident.”
Our correspondent observed that a commercial bus with number plate AK 442 EKY was vandalized by the hoodlums on Daudu Lane.
Scores of residents gathered around Olaniyi’s corpse and rained curses on his killers.
A
few minutes later, policemen in plain clothes, attached to the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad, besieged the area, shot into the air
indiscriminately and arrested some youths.
Also policemen from Iponri Division were seen in patrol vehicles combing the area.
As at the time our correspondent left the vicinity, the policemen were seen searching residents and bystanders.
When
contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide,
said she was unaware of the incident but promised to find out.
Punch Nigeria-SOURCE
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