were vandalised and many
injured when urchins,
otherwise known as "Area
boys" on reprisal invaded
four streets in Akoka and
Pedro in Somolu Local
Government Area of Lagos
State.
The hoodlums were said to
have arrived the area
through the Somolu
Market pretending to be
holding a candlelight
procession for a man,
identified simply as Old
Skool.
The man was allegedly
stabbed repeatedly by some
youths during a rally
organised by the Somolu
LG Chairman, Mr.
Gbolahan Bago-Stowe to
mark the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ on Solanke
Street.
Old Skool died on Easter
Sunday, thus creating
tension in the Akoka part
of the LG.
Our correspondent learnt
that more than 70
hoodlums stormed the
streets between 10pm on
Sunday and 1am on
Monday, destroying
vehicles parked on the
streets and inflicting
injuries on many
residents.
A resident, Mr. Ernest
Molokwu, said he was
beaten up by the hoodlums
while his commercial bus
was vandalised.
He said, "I was at the
balcony of my house when I
saw the hoodlums. Knowing
what they can do, I tried to
drive my bus away from
my street, but they caught
up with me and beat me up.
They also broke the
windscreen of my bus. As it
is now, I cannot work
today(Monday)."
Our correspondents who
visited the affected streets-
Solanke, Ibukun Olu, Ojo
Square/Ojo Street and
Kajero- in Akoka saw
many of the vandalised
vehicles. Some residents
said many whose vehicles
were affected had taken
them away from the
streets.
On Solanke Street for
instance, our
correspondents counted 25
damaged vehicles,
including one belonging
to the Supervising
Councilor for works,
Somolu LG, Mr. Segun
Adebiyi.
Another resident, Adekunle
Ogunkoya, said, "On
March 29, 2013, the
Chairman of Somolu LG,
Mr Bagostowe, along with
some members of his
cabinet, held a rally to
mark the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ.
"The rally was also a part
of an annual carnival
known as Humani Street
Day Carnival. This
attracted many youths
who marched through the
streets.
Some of the youths, Rasaki
Oseni (aka Elewure); Kunle
Eyin Bouncing and
Olumide Ogbor, who are
members of a gang known
as EFCC boys in company
with their members from
Somolu, marched down to
Akoka which is the
stronghold of another cult
known as Alora boys
"At Akoka, the EFCC boys
taunted the Alora boys. On
getting to Solanke Street,
the hoodlums clashed and
Old Skool, who is a
member of the EFCC boys,
was stabbed. He was rushed
to a hospital where he
died two days after."
Ogunkoya said after the
incident, some of the
hoodlums were arrested
but were later released.
He said, " At about 10pm on
Sunday, some friends of
Old Skool held a
candlelight procession in
his honour. But it was a
decoy because after
sometime, they dropped
their candles and started
vandalising the vehicles
parked on the streets. They
also beat up some of us."
A vulcaniser on Ojo
Square, who tried to
protect his machine was
stabbed but was later
rushed to hospital.
A woman, who identified
herself only as Bisi, said
the hoodlums collected her
two phones.
Bisi alleged that a
community centre in the
area which was built by
the LG had become a
hideout for criminals.
"We know them (suspects)
but anytime we report
them to the police, they are
only arrested for a while
and later released. That
community centre on Ojo
Street is a den of robbers,"
she said.
The LG boss while
addressing aggrieved
residents, promised to
make sure that the suspects
were brought to book.
Bagostowe said, "The
residents are not helping
at all. They know these
hoodlums and where they
live. If these hoodlums are
arrested, I promise to
make sure that they are
prosecuted. I will hold a
meeting with OP MESA, the
police and the Community
Development Association to
make sure that we put an
end to this problem.
"As regards the community
centre, I don't believe it is
a criminals' hideout.
There are many of such in
various parts of the state.
Ours was built for
recreational purposes."
As of 5pm on Monday, a
resident, who declined to
give his name, claimed
that some of the urchins
had started reappearing
in the area and that he
heard gunshots.
When contacted on the
telephone, the spokesperson
for the state police
command, Ngozi Braide,
confirmed the incident.
"While I cannot confirm
the numbers of the vehicles
that were vandalised, I can
tell you that efforts are on
to get the hoodlums,"
Braide said.
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