Two persons were feared dead and 10 injured on Sunday at Patey Street, Lagos Island as some youths clashed during a Sallah party.
Eyewitness accounts said that youths on Patey Street gathered at the community square, celebrating the Sallah festival, when some armed youths from Lafiaji Community stormed the venue and for reasons yet unknown, started shooting sporadically and chasing people with dangerous weapons.
“When the youths from Lafiaji community started chasing people, two people lost their lives and several others were injured. In fact, more than 10 people were injured,” said a resident, who refused to disclose his name.
Another resident, Babatunde Aremu, explained that the incident started around 12am.
Aremu said: “We were celebrating the Sallah festival in our community square when some boys from Lafiaji attacked us. We were surprised at their action. When we tried to resist, two people died and many others sustained injuries.”
Lawal Ajao said: “The reason for Lafiaji’s youths attacking us is still a mystery to us. We’re not quarreling with them. When we could not control the Lafiaji boys any longer, one Alhaji Olohuntoyin Akindele put a call to the Adeniji Adele Divisional Police Officer. The DPO immediately deployed his men to Patey Street to maintain law and order.”
Ajoa said that immediately the Lafiaji boys sighted the approaching police van, they started throwing bottles and sachets water at them.
Some of them were eventually arrested.