Hoodlums fighting over Lagos market levy unleash mayhem on residents
No fewer than six people were injured on Wednesday when some hoodlums clashed in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
Our correspondents gathered that the fight, which involved the Ikosi boys and the Ketu Fruit Market boys, started on Tuesday night.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the miscreants used the opportunity of the affray to loot shops and vandalise vehicles and tricycles in the area.
A witness, Yetunde Bawa-Allah, said the crisis began around 11pm on Tuesday.
She explained that trouble started when the traditional ruler of the community refused to give audience to the market boys, who attempted to discuss their concern with him over the market.
Scene of the incident
She said, “Around 7pm yesterday (Tuesday), I saw about 10 men standing in front of the palace, while some of them went inside to talk to the king. I don’t know what transpired between them and the king, but the king walked them out of the palace and they started threatening him; the Ikosi boys came out and ordered them to leave.
“Around 11pm, those guys came out of the market and started shooting. They went to the transformer that supplies electricity to the community and shot at it, which led to a temporary blackout. Before power was restored, they entered into the neighbourhood and continued shooting.
“This morning (Wednesday), the Ikosi boys retaliated; they came out with bottles, cutlasses and sticks, while the market boys came out with guns. Many shops on Ikosi Road were burgled yesterday night.
Read Also:
“There is a man that owns a boutique in front of the local government secretariat; they stole his mannequins and clothes. The market boys also attacked some people sleeping outside; about six people were injured and one was bleeding seriously this morning. They also attacked commuters at the BRT bus stop and robbed people who went out early in the morning.”
Bawa-Allah, who noted that the situation had been brought under control, expressed fear that the fight might resume if security was relaxed.
A commuter, who identified himself only as Segun, said he escaped being attacked by a whisker.
A burgled shop
He said, “I was in a queue at the BRT bus stop at Ketu waiting for the bus when the miscreants attacked commuters around 6.25am. They came with knives, guns, cutlasses to rob people.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said 15 suspected cultists were arrested in connection with the clash, which he said involved members of the Eiye, Aiye and Buccaneer cults.
According to him, the fight is a struggle for the revenue generated in the Ketu Fruit Market.
Adejobi said, “The Lagos State Police Command has restored normalcy in the Ikosi/Ketu area after a clash that occurred on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, around 6am among some suspected cults, Eiye, Aiye and Buccaneer, as 15 suspects were arrested. Two locally-made pistols, some live cartridges and assorted charms were recovered from the suspects.
READ ALSO: Police begin rescue as Jigawa gunmen kill son, abduct housewife, child
“The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who deployed policemen, including men of the Rapid Response Squad and task force to quench the crisis and restore normalcy in the area, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for discreet Investigation.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the crisis was connected to the revenue generation at the Ketu Fruit Market and efforts are in top gear to apprehend other fleeing members of the gangs that orchestrated the crisis in the area.”
