Harbour Hoodlums, Lose Your House, Ijora Monarch Warns Landlords

As a measure to put an end to the ongoing gang war in Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, landlords have been warned to desist from harbouring hoodlums in their houses and also told to report any suspected hoodlum to relevant authorities.

The Ojora of Ijora, Oba Abdul Fatai Oyeyinka Aromire, gave the warning when some residents of the area staged a protest to his palace to seek his intervention in the on-going gang war that had enveloped the community for some time now.

Commenting on the crisis, the traditional ruler said “the clashes among the youths in the area are not new, it has been on for quite some time and there is no way we can remove politics from it. It has been on before the incumbent chairman came into power. We cannot say it is not politically motivated, but it is when the election is coming that it becomes more aggravated. We have intervened severally and shall continue to do that.”

The monarch absolved the council chairman, Dr. Adedayo Samuel Adesola, of being the sponsor of the warring youths, saying “the crisis has been on before the chairman was elected; it is usually between unions over the control of parks,”

The monarch warned that any landlord that keeps any of the hoodlums in his house stood the chance of losing the property. He also called on the police not to release any suspected hoodlum arrested for being part of the crisis, adding that such person should be immediately transferred to the state command for further interrogation and prosecution.

Some of the protesting residents that spoke with Lagos Bulletin on the crisis also absolved the council chairman of being the brain behind it.

According to Mrs. Modinat Kareem, a street sweeper, “leaders of Keke Marwa operators’ union are behind the crisis and this occurs any time they want to take over the park from one another and when they arm youths with dangerous weapons to unleash terror on the residents. This has been the tradition even before the council chairman was elected.

“The chairman had tried to broker peace among them but all to no avail. It is now very surprising to hear that the man is behind the crisis. This is the only chairman that has been able to bring what we can call unexpected development to this local government. Can someone then now destroy what he built?”

Another resident, Pastor Michael Adeoye appealed to all the warring youths to sheath their swords and come to round table to resolve their differences. He also called on parents to talk to their wards.

“The problem is that some parents refused to train their children and that is why these youths have become weapons in the hands of the union leaders,” he submitted.

— Paul Sanusi