Two people have been killed and no fewer than six others injured as suspected hoodlums from the Okepopo area of Lagos Island in Lagos State went on rampage to avenge an earlier attack on one of them from their counterparts from Onola.
One of the deceased persons, Small Shakiru, was killed around Agarawu on Monday night, while another unidentified person was also macheted to death by the rampaging Okepopo Boys.
The hoodlums also reportedly took advantage of the pandemonium created by their activities to rob unsuspecting residents and loot shops around Onola, Hafiner and Andrew.
Six others, including a tricycle operator, Saheed Obiripo, who was shot around Hafiner, an unidentified Igbo trader, who was shot around Andrew area, and an unidentified woman were also injured in the attacks from the hoodlums.
Two others, Sunday and Tandom, who were accused of harbouring rival members, were also injured by the rampaging Okepopo area boys.
The Metro gathered that hoodlums from Okepopo had last Saturday invaded Onala area of the Lagos Island and shot sporadically.
A resident of Lagos Island, who simply identified himself as Adeshina, told the Metro: “The clash had been on for about two weeks now but it took a new turn since last Saturday, when the boys from Okepopo went on rampage.
“About two weeks ago, an area boy from Okepopo, who was returning from a social engagement in Luther, was attacked by suspected hoodlums from Onola.
“Last Saturday, the boys from Okepopo mobilized themselves and invaded Onala with guns and other dangerous weapons but they met a stiff resistance from the Onala boys, leading to more of them being injured.”
The boys from Okepopo, led by a popular hoodlum, Falapar, were said to have reinforced and re-invaded Onola, where two people were shot and no fewer than six others injured.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, while reacting to the menace of the hoodlums on the Lagos Island, denied that shops had been under lock and key as a result of the clashes.
Owoseni said “Police is now using a pro-active measure to curb the activities of the notorious boys, but you people are to be blame because when you parents indulge your children in bad acts and hoard them from being apprehended by the Police, what do you expect to occur.
“The Police are making efforts to deal with them adequately.”
. Nigerian Tribune.
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