Samson Folarin
There was chaos in the Ikorodu-North
Local Council Development Area of Lagos State after some armed hoodlums
opened fire on protesting residents of Isiu community.
While the manager of a block industry,
identified as Jelili Hassan, sustained bullet injuries, a yet-to-be
identified man from the Hausa community in the area, was shot dead.
The Lagos State Police Command said three suspects had already been arrested and investigations were ongoing.
It was gathered that the residents were
protesting against the forceful takeover of their farmlands by some
hoodlums when the incident happened on Friday.
Policemen from the Area N Command were said to have intervened.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the hoodlums were allegedly led by three men, identified as Jimoh, Alhaji Soro Alabi and Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye.
The Chairman, Isiu-Eweye Development
Association, Opeyemi Taiwo, explained that the community held the
protest to express their grievance over the activities of the hoodlums,
adding that the government had neglected them.
He said, “Last Friday, we got fed up
with the activities of the hoodlums and we embarked on a protest to call
for government’s help. The hoodlums came and attacked the protesters.
The police intervened and the hoodlums took to their heels. But in the
course of the fracas, Hassan, who moulds blocks in the community,
sustained gunshot injuries.
“That evening, the hoodlums returned and there was another confrontation. That was when the Hausa man was shot dead.”
A resident, Jobola Alagba, said the thugs had become very powerful.
He said, “We all are scared. We cannot
walk freely again. Many of us are not indigenes of this community; we
are only here to make ends meet. But we are scared. The earlier the
government intervenes, the better for us.”
A community leader, Alice Raji, said economic activities had been grounded in the community.
She said, “Their activities have
destroyed economic activities in this community. This community used to
be the largest producer of kolanuts, coconuts and oranges due to the
vast land we have. But now, we can no longer go to our farms because of
the thugs. Everybody is afraid and people have started fleeing their
homes.”
Another resident and community leader,
Ibrahim Mustapha, claimed that two of his children – Deji Buraimoh and
Kayode – were unjustly arrested, calling for a thorough investigation
and the release of the suspects.
“The police would sometime enter the
community and start arresting innocent people, who they will put in
detention without any evidence. But the main perpetrators of the crime
are left off the hook. We can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed
in this community,” he added.
When contacted, Owoeye denied the allegation, saying he was in South Africa.
He said, “There is nothing like that. I
am in South Africa as I speak with you and I have been there since
Thursday, last week. I went there to visit one of my children. The
people are only out to destroy my name and reputation.”
Another alleged leader of the attackers, Alabi, said he was bereaved and had been staying indoors for over one month.
“I just lost my wife and I have been
indoors for the past 40 days. I don’t know anything about the
allegation. You can call my accusers and let us meet eye-to-eye and let
them say it in my presence,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Bamdos, confirmed the death, adding that the police had arrested three suspects.
She said, “The case has been transferred
to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, with three
suspects for further investigation.”
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