19th August, 2011
The police in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, have arraigned nine persons arrested in connection with the turf war in Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area of the state before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Oyingbo, Lagos.
The turf war led to the death of Monsuru Ganiyu, a 22-year old 3-wheeler operator.
Those docked on an 11-count charge are Tope Tinuoye, Abayomi Ogunmuyi, Tunde Isiaka, Abdullahi Akanbi, Sulaiman Wahabi, Azeez Ibraheem, Sulaiman Ishola, Morufudeen Abubakar and Ismaila Akanbi.
The prosecutor alleged that the suspects on 27 July, 2011, at about 6 am, stormed the branch ‘A’ of the tricycle park of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),at 2, Adeponle Street, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Lagos State while armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, conducted themselves in a manner that led to a breach of the peace.
Police also said they maliciously damaged vehicles and injured some people.
The vehicles allegedly damaged by the suspects include two Volkswagen Faragon buses with registration numbers XF 366 GGE, GE 772 AAA, a Volkswagen bus marked XD 510 LUY, a Passat saloon car marked CY 844 KJA, a DAV lorry marked XM 48 KRD, belonging to Messrs. Sherrif Lawal, Adeloye Ikoshewo and Kabiru Aboderin.
They also allegedly inflicted injury on the left arm of Fatimoh Adebayo and robbed her of her valuables including N120,000.
The prosecuting police officer, Corporal Ishaku Babaji, told the court that the offences are punishable under Sections 517, 70,80, 294(d),516, 45(1)(b), 451(1)(b), 451(1)(b), 338, of the Criminal Code Cap. C17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003 and Sections 1(a)(b). of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R-11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).
They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges but their plea was not taken.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Joy Ugbomoiko, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and the prosecutor should duplicate the case file and send it to the office of Directorate of Public Prosecution for necessary advice.
The matter has been adjourned till 19 September, 2011 for mention.
The suspects were later moved to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.
Meanwhile, community leaders and landlords in the area have sent a save-our-souls message to Governor Babatunde Fashola over incessant invasion of the community by thugs and policemen.
The people staged a peaceful protest in the area against the chairman of the LCDA, Dr. Adedayo Adesola Samuel, popularly known as Jimsam, carrying placards with various inscriptions. They alleged that the hoodlums unleashing terror in the area were working for the council boss.
The residents were reacting to the violence that erupted in Sari–Iganmu on Saturday during which a three-wheeler operator, Monsuru Ganiyu, 22, was shot dead at close range by Alli–Iwo street gangs allegedly led by a policeman (name withheld), from Pako Police Station, Amukoko.
The late Monsuru’s wife, Mariam said when she tried to prevent the hoodlums and the policeman from entering their apartment, she was mercilessly beaten, before her husband was dragged out and shot in the abdomen at a close range.
She said that her husband had once been attacked and macheted by the same hoodlums.
Also reacting, the Chairman, Apapa–Elemu Community Development Association, CDA, Sari-Iganmu, Mr. I.O. Ayinde, decried the invasion of the community by hoodlums.
He said many people were injured in the area, while a two-month old baby girl, Almorak Hakeem, was abducted by the assailants and has not been seen.
Alhaja Ibidunni, Alhaji Sule Akanji and Alhaja Rafat Alamala, who are landlords in the area, alleged that the Alli-Iwo boys also shot Fatai Olanrewaju at close range on his left leg.
The Baale of Sari-Iganmu, High Chief J.A. Balogun and father of the deceased, Mr. Umoru Iyanda, appealed to the state governor and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, to intervene in the matter and ensure the culprits are bought to book.
The Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area’s Community Development Committee (CDC) had on 1 August, 2011 written a petition to the state Commissioner of Police titled Crisis In Community, expressing their dismay as the hoodlums have turned the community to a war zone, where children could not go to school, and traders could not open their shops.
The petition was signed by the CDC Chairman, Dr. Bamiyo Iliasu and the general secretary, Mr. I.O. Ayinde and copied to the area commanders of Area ‘B’, Apapa and Area ‘C’, Surulere as well as DPOs of Orile, Badia and Amukoko police stations.
The Chairman, Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Dr. Samuel, the Oba of Ojoraland, Baale of Sari-Iganmu and Baale of Oke-Oja were also copied.
When contacted, the chairman of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA said he had no comment as the police were already investigating the case.
—Paul Sanusi