Three persons have been murdered by men believed to be political thugs in separate clashes which occurred in Akindele and Apata streets in Amukoko Ajegunle and Lagos Island, both in Lagos state.
One of the victims of the the Ajegunle clash was identified simply as Raimi, while the the Lagos Island victim was identified as Ahmed Igbagbo.
The assailants alleged to be members of a cult group known as ‘Campos boys’ engaged their opponent in a gun battle on Sunday, February 1, 2015 in Amukoko.
It was during the encounter that the deceased victim was shot in the chest while another woman was said to have escaped with a gunshot on the buttocks.
All attempts to restore calmness in the area by some police officials from the Amukoko division deployed to the scene proved abortive.
One of the residents of the Akindele Street, who didn’t want his name in print disclosed that about 12 other persons were injured during the clash.
He said, “Our street boiled throughout yesterday (Sunday). There was a clash between the Campos boys, and another group. They began to exchange gunfire on the street. Raimi was shot in the chest and he died. Twelve other persons were wounded and have been rushed to the hospital.
“When they left Akindele, they moved to Apata Street and killed two more persons. A woman who wanted to lock her shop was hit by bullets on the buttocks. The thugs are supporters of both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Speaking to Punch, another resident, simply identified as Lukman, said the fights between the groups was often spurred by money gotten from politicians in this period of politcal campaigns for the forthcoming election.
He said the deceased didn’t belong to any of the warring groups but was victimized during one of their usual clashes.
In a related development, the other victim, Igbagbo was killed on Friday, January 30, 2015 in the Isale Eko area of the state.
A source who lives in the area, Monsuru Sodiq, said, “We were all returning from the TBS. Around the Isale Eko area, they began to shoot at people. We all fled in different directions, but Igbagbo was not that lucky.
“They pursued him to a street and hacked him to death. They claimed he stole a mobile phone and they wanted to punish him.”
When contacted to confirm the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said, “There were skirmishes involving supporters of the same party in the area, and unconfirmed reports have it that two persons were killed in the skirmish. But we have no report of such at the police station.
“Normalcy has been restored in the area now. Meanwhile, visibility patrols and discreet surveillance have been activated.”
