8th October, 2013
At least 15 armed youths from Igbokusu community in Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos State, southern Nigeria, went on the rampage Sunday at 3, Delano Conde Street, near the upscale NICON Town, attacking all the occupants of the flat.
Victims of the attack told P.M.NEWS that what started as a small argument snowballed into a vicious attack that left the victims severely injured and several property destroyed.
The irate youths from Igokusu, who were armed with broken bottles, knives, stones, sticks and cutlasses, stabbed the occupants of the flat who were held hostage for sometime and also robbed of valuable items.
According to one of the victims, Moses Osho, “my friend and flat mate, Michael Joshua, had an argument with two young men passing in front of our house. The exchange of words led to fisticuffs. One of them put a call across to some people and before we knew it several boys from the Igbokusu community arrived the scene of the argument with crates of empty bottles, stones, sticks, knives and cutlasses.”
He further to disclosed that “we sensed danger and ran inside our flat and locked the burglary proof at the main entrance. But to our dismay the rampaging boys kept pelting the building with broken bottles, stones and practically all they could lay their hands on and they eventually pulled down the burglary proof before they gained entry into our flat.”
P.M.NEWS gathered that when the youths entered the apartment, they damaged household items and stabbed Moses Osho, Michael Joshua and Moses Attah.
One of the victims, Joshua, said: “At about 3.45 p.m. on Sunday afternoon an Area Boy from Igbokusu Village came to our area threatning to break my car’s head lamp, while I was trying to park in front of my appartment. Then I noticed that two other Area Boys were heavily drunk. They had bottles in their hands and pointing them at my head lamp. I came out of the car and told them I will get them arrested and one of them said don’t I know him in this village? That nobody can arrest him, that they will kill me.
“All of a sudden, he held me by my shirth and started hitting me. I was furious and retaliated by hitting him back. He brought out his phone and made calls to some of his gang members. He then brought out a bottle and smashed it on the floor, and stabbed me and my colleague three times. My colleague ran into the house and locked the door while trying to prevent us from further harm. But the next thing I heard was that they should break the door. So they broke into the house, damaged lots of our properties and also stole Blackberry and Nokia phones. They also made away with about N300,800. They damaged the A/C, Plasma TV, and Ceiling Board, and escaped before the police came. It was Moses Osho who ran to the police station.”
Their leader was said to be a cousin to one of the councillors in Eti-Osa Local Government.
The incident was reported at the Ilasan Police Station but before the police team arrived the scene, the attackers had fled.
When P.M.NEWS visited the scene of the crime, an eyewitness who identified himself as Albert Onyenenuwe, said: “when the incident happened, my boys in the shop called to tell me that there was a problem going on within the vicinity, that our neighbours have been attacked by the village miscreants, who identified themselves as members Eiye Confraternity.
“They stormed the street with weapons like cutlasses which they used to inflict serious injuries on my neighbours and made away with their laptops, phones, LCD TV45” and wallet containing some money.
“They should be arrested to set an example because they think this is their community where they could do what they like. We want the community leaders to produce those misceants. Our stolen items should be returned to us. We are demanding for justice from the state government, because this is not the first time they will carry out this criminal act.”
Speaking on the incident, the Baale of Igbokusu Community said: “the matter was brought before me this morning (Monday). On Sunday evening at about 5p.m., the police officers from Ilasan Division also came to me. They explained all that happened and told me that they want to arrest those who perpetrated the act. I told them that they must see the parents of the suspects they wanted to arrest. I made them know that the people they said commited the crime had all fled. But they must be arrested.”
A police source confirmed that they met the baale over the incident and promised to arrest the suspects.
“And if we do not see them, we will pick their parents,” he vowed.
Also speaking, the Youth Chairman, Adeshina Ganiu said: “I don’t know anything that happened in that street. I have not been briefed.”
The councillor representing Ward A1 in Eti-Osa Local Government, Jamiu said: “I was called yesterday (Monday) on phone and I went to the scene of the incident. When I got there, I did not see anybody, though the information I’am hearing was that my cousin Sodiq was the leader of the gang. Fine, he is my cousin, I cannot deny him, but I did not send him to fight, let alone vandalise people’s property.
“The community leaders in Igbokusu and the youh are not speaking with one voice.
“I am a councillor representing Ward A1. Just about two or three weeks ago, some thugs were busy looting people’s items. I shouted at them to stop the act because I did not support them. But the community leaders and others pamper them so that the leaders will not be dethroned.”
Efforts to reach the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ilasan, proved abortive at press time.
—Ayodeji Dedeigbo