Protesting group of hoodlums around Ijaniki area of Lagos, Thursday went on the rampage following an alleged attack on a member of the Awori community by a masquerade from rival group.
BASIC FACTS
- Hoodlums Thursday disrupted activities around Ijaniki in Lagos State.
- The hoodlums reacted to a masquerade attack on a member of the community.
WHAT WE KNOW
The Ijaniki area of Lagos, Thursday saw a disruption of it’s peace as hoodlums popularly called “area boys” were on rampage following an attack on a member of the Awori community Lagos.
The attack by the area boys, characteristically left many people injured and disrupted activities at the Shoe, Bag and Textile market, forcing traders and residents to run for safety.
The Lagos State police command has confirmed the incident, but added that its personnel were quickly mobilised to the scene to restore peace.
Clariform Newsdesk confirmed that the area boys, suspected to be cultists, blocked the Lagos-Badagry expressway, causing a heavy traffic.
Trouble started as supporters of rival monarchs in Ijaniki attacked each other as they carried out an ongoing anniversary celebration. A masquerade from one of the two monarchs had attacked a man who was said to be loyal to the other monarch.
This angered supporters of the rival group, who armed with Dane guns, charms, machetes and other weapons, barricaded the Badagry express way as they protested the attack.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, while reacting to the incident, said officers and men of the Ijanikin Division were already on ground, just as he added that reinforcements had been dispatched to the area.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Police PPRO for Lagos State, while speaking on the incident said, “Meanwhile, the road has since been reopened. We are closely monitoring the situation,”
COMMENTARY
The menace of area boys in Lagos cannot be over emphasized. Anyone who has been in Lagos for any reasonable length of time, will agree that the question of “area boys” or agbero is the singular most frightening security concerns for Lagosians.
These street urchins seem at liberty to pick any time they deem convenient to harass hapless citizens. They can without qualms pick on any victim of their choice.
In most cases, the security operatives seem helpless or look the other way. Hardly has arrest been made and lead to a complete prosecution. They are weapons in the hands of politicians, rival groups of any kind.
Always available for trouble, only needing the right excuse or motivation. For them, motivation for trouble comes cheap.
It’s high time the Lagos State Government thought of a permanent solution to the menace of hoodlums, especially as we approach an election year. Their negative contribution to disrupting 2019 election in parts of Lagos is still fresh in the mind of many.
