2 Shot Dead, Houses Razed, As Ajah, Ilaje Youths Clash

Two persons were shot dead and properties destroyed in Ilaje community in Lekki, Eti Osa, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Wednesday, when some youths from Ajah stormed the village with dangerous weapons including guns, knives, cutlass, bottles. The youths who also came with gallons of petrol set about  four houses ablaze and looted properties.

One of the victims  identified simply as Bariga was reportedly shot dead in  his apartment by the invading Ajah youths.

The identity of the second victim could not be ascertained as at press time.

The cause of the violence was not clear, but residents who were fleeing the community with their children and belongings  told P.M.NEWS that Ajah and Ilaje youths  have long been having disputes over the N500 tolls Ilaje youths were collecting from tipper drivers conveying sand from the Ilaje water side.

They were said to have been warned by Ajah youths to stop collecting the tolls since they are not indigenes of Ajah.

The insistence of the Ilaje youths that it was their right to collect the tolls since the sand dredgers were operating in their domain, was said to have infuriated the Ajah youths who mobilised and stormed the Ilaje community to take over the tolls collections.

The Ilaje youths were said to have resisted them, resulting in a fight during which dangerous weapons were used, with some residents sustaining gunshot wounds and machete cuts.

The Ajah youths were said to have overpowered the Ilaje youths and overrun the community.

A resident told P.M.NEWS that Ajah youths are being sponsored by a Baale.

According to him, the Baale is being used by influential people who want to take over Ilaje land, saying; “They are only using the toll collection dispute as a smokescreen”.

When P.M.NEWS visited the community, the village had been virtually deserted and policemen with their APC were stationed on the only street leading into the place.

Residents were seen fleeing the area with their loads and children, while others were loading their belongings into waiting trucks to flee the place for fear of being attacked over night by the hoodlums.

A resident, Mrs. Christiana Edem, who spoke with P.M.NEWS amid tears said the Ajah hoodlums have warned us to leave the village before nightfall and that anybody found in the village would be killed. “That is why everybody is parking out as we are not sure of our safety and the police are not assuring us of our safety.

“The police at Ajah and Op-Messa team responded to salvage the situation, but before they arrived the havoc had been done,” she stated.

When P.M.NEWS met with the DPO in charge of Ajah Police Division, CSP Ishola, he said he is not authorised to speak with the press. He directed our reporter to the Lagos State Police Command, Public Relation Officer, PPRO, for comments.

But efforts made to reach the PPRO, Mrs Ngozi Braide(DSP), proved abortive as at the time of filing in this report.

—Paul Iyoghojie