How To Curb Gang War In Lagos

Following the incessant youth clashes and gang wars in Fadeyi, Jibowu and Moshalashi areas of Lagos State, during which lives and properties worth millions of naira are destroyed, residents have appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Commissioner of Police CP, Yakubu Alkali to come to their aid.

Residents of Lawani, Ogunjobi, Ereko, Adewusi Street and Idi-Oro area and its environs have thus called on the authorities concerned to ban the collection of illegal tolls from inter state vehicles, luxury buses and trailer drivers by youths at Fadeyi to bring sanity to the areas.

Some of the residents who spoke with P.M.NEWS said youth clashes and gang wars in Fadeyi and Jibowu were as a result of youth factions denying others from collecting the illegal tolls which they have all been sharing before one group got greedy and crisis broke out in 2010.

They also called on the Lagos State government and the police to warn luxury buses, interstate buses and trailers operators at Moshalashi, Jibowu and Fadeyi to henceforth stop giving out huge sums of money to the touts on Sundays and Mondays for peace to reign in the area.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS about the recent clash at Fadeyi and Jibowu during which many innocent people were injured, shops looted and about 20 vehicles vandalized, Mr. Olajumoke Adegoke, a resident of Adewusi Street, said the last crises occurred when youths from Lawani Street allegedly led by one Toheeb and armed with dangerous weapons invaded Ogunjobi and Adewusi Street through the railway line and attacked the youths, preventing them collecting the money which they had been collecting for years until a faction, assisted by some security operatives, took over the toll collection to the detriment of others.

“The youths who felt cheated have been behind the gang war and regular skirmishes being experienced in the area and we are now begging the government, police and NURTW to wade into the matter and ban the youths from collecting tolls in the area for peace to reign,” he added.

—Paul Iyoghojie