Two persons have been reported killed and several others injured after armed men invaded Ijegun Egba community in the Ori Ade Local Community Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.
The gunmen were said to have attacked the community on Monday and Tuesday from a neighbouring riverine village over a dispute that began last Thursday.
The deceased were identified as a sickler, Gbenga Areagbo, 40, and one Oladapo Olukoya.
A short video posted on social media showed one of the victims lying lifeless on the ground with his head smashed and bloodied.
Reports said the attackers carted away the body of Olukoya through the jetty to Ibasa, a nearby riverine village.
Although the cause of the armed invasion was yet to be ascertained, sources said the gunmen started harassing and robbing locals last Thursday.
Reports said that land grabbing, cultism, pipeline vandalism and illegal levies from miscreants have been known to trigger violence in that part of the State.
A native of Ijegun Egba, Kudus Fadiku, who confirmed the incident to reporters, alleged the gunmen are thugs from Ibasa.
“They identified an indigene of our town, Wasiu Ademola, and they attacked him. He was seriously injured and they wanted to take him to Ibasa through the river when he lied to them that he is not from Ijegun Egba and that he is a policeman. That was when they released him.”
Another resident, Kazeem, said they reported the case at Satellite Town Police Station that Thursday but were assured by the police that the community was peaceful.
“The armed men came again on Friday to Zone 2 area of the town and started harassing people. They were trying to identify members of our community. One of them, Sodiq, was the one pointing at people.
“They took that advantage to rob and attack residents and passers-by in the area, when they did not see any of their targets,” he said.
“The issues however escalated on Monday as the hoodlums, led by Evico, Teslim, Ligali and Jamiu, allegedly stormed the jetty and shot Oladapo Adekoya dead.
“They shot him and also used cutlasses and axes on him before taking his corpse to Ibasa through the river,” said a resident.
A community leader, Saeed Ayinde, while mourning Adeagbo, said: “I had gone to FCID, Alagbon for a matter, when I got the news of his killing.
“He was sitting with one of his friends, Lateef Arowolo at Ade Oshodi junction, Ijegun Egba, when the hoodlums invaded the area with arms and ammunition.
“They came in about three vehicles and motorcycles, brandishing guns and cutlasses. Lateef only narrowly escaped death but they attacked Gbenga, who could not run.
“They asked if he was Lateef and when he told them that he was not, they shot him at very close range and also used axes to cut him.
“We have also reported at the Area E Police Command in FESTAC Town but till now, nobody has been arrested in connection with the killings and attacks.”
* Media Report