Two people were killed and over 80 vehicles vandalised after two factions of street urchins, otherwise known as area boys, clashed in the Oshodi area of Lagos State.
The clash started on Monday and continued until Tuesday.
The warring factions inflicted machete cuts, not just on one another, but also on residents, traders and commuters around the area.
Police authorities said five persons have been arrested in connection with the killings and vandalisation.
There was panic as gunshots rented the air, forcing people to scamper for safety.
Windows of houses were also damaged.
A commuter, who was heading to the office, but caught in the fray, said she was frightened beyond belief when the rampaging youths appeared from nowhere around9am.
The woman, who appeared and sounded still shaken, said: “They were armed with machetes, axes and they were many.
“They were so young.
“Their appearance on the Oshodi Expressway forced many vehicles to halt, including ours.
“Their appearances were menacing.
“We all started jumping down from our bus.
“Some of us even jumped through the window.
“They held a young man going with a LAWMA truck and inflicted machete cut on his head.
“He ran to where we were hiding, bleeding profusely.”
The clashing factions were identified as Orile Street and Sadiku Street boys.
Residents said the leader of the Orile faction, Kamoru, was killed on Tuesday, while another yet to be identified youngster from Sadiku faction was killed on Monday.
The Tuesday clash was a reprisal and spill over from Monday.
A visit to different streets around Mafoluku-Oshodi area showed that over 80 vehicles were smashed.
Buildings located at Sadiku, Femi Akinsola, Jubril, Agbole Afariogun and Orile Streets were all vandalised and some residents robbed of their valuables.
An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Tunde, said it was a party at Sadiku Street turned violent.
Tunde explained: “The fight started over unknown reasons, leading to the death of one of the boys.
“They started smashing cars, buses and trucks parked along the streets.
“They entered homes of people, smashing windows, doors and gates.
“This morning (Tuesday) at about 8am, another faction armed with guns and dangerous weapons started moving from street to street, vandalising peoples properties and causing breach of peace.”
Another resident said his shop was vandalised on Tuesday.
A lawyer who lives in one of the vandalised houses, was robbed of his phones and laptop.
The streets soon became deserted as resident hid in homes.
Broken bottles littered the streets.
Around 11am, over 50 policemen from Area F Police Command, Shogunle Police Station, Rapid Responds Squad and Operation Mesa took over the area.
The police cordoned off Orile Street down to the house of Kamoru.
Police spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the incident, said that a fight broke out between a group of area boys at Orile and Sadiku areas of Oshodi.
Nwosu’s words: “This occurred during a naming ceremony of one Jimoh Odekunle at Okeleye Street, Aforiogun on Monday.
“The rival groups destroyed cars parked around the area.
“One Kamoru Hassan was seriously wounded and died early this morning.
“Orile Oshodi boys embarked on reprisal attack this morning.
“They suspected that the killer of Kamoru is one Sunday Anajonu.
“Policemen from Akinpelu, Area F Police Command and Shogunle responded swiftly.
“Anajonu was rescued from his assailants and taken to the hospital.
“Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and are undergoing interrogation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the matter.”