Terror was unleashed by a suspected cult gang in the Onipanu
area of Lagos resulting in the burning of a house, six shops and
destruction of vehicles.
The Nation reports that the attack was carried out by suspected members of Aiye confraternity at Shosanya Street during the day on Wednesday, January 20.
It was reported that the cultists, numbering about 30 were armed with guns, cutlasses and knives when they stormed the street in a reprisal attack after a member of their gang was initially attacked by a rival group.
The cultists went to the house of a member of the rival group, Idris and set the house which belonged to his father on fire. Idris had reportedly suspected the reprisal and had warned occupants to pack their valuables and flee.
A tailor whose house was affected by the fire said she had to hid behind her fridge and almost put her baby in the fridge out of panic.
“I almost fainted in my shop when the boys arrived in their numbers. I was discussing with a customer and suddenly, I saw people running in different directions. I quickly carried my baby and hid behind my fridge. They were shooting and throwing bottles.
“When they got here, they shot in different direction. I wanted to lock my baby in the freezer, but I did not know what stopped me. They locked the front door and splashed petrol on the house. They threatened to shoot anyone, who attempted to run out before setting the house on fire. They waited for another 30 minutes to ensure the house got burnt. I ran out with my baby when they left the street to other streets.”
The cultists then proceeded to smash vehicles parked in the street and shot sporadically into the air as they left.
Wole Alimi, a resident in the area accused the police of not responding to their distress call even though the attack lasted for about two hours.
“I personally called the Ilupeju Divisional Police Officer (DPO) on telephone to give him the direction of movement of the cultists after they left Shosanya Street and he told me his officers were moving close to them.
“I was shocked when I saw the policemen driving to the Shosanya Street where the cultists had left several minutes before I called the DPO. The cult gang terrorised us for more than two hours and we did not see any policeman while they were here. What kind of country is this?”
Dolapo Badmos, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police however denied that there was a gang confrontation but acknowledged there was arson.
She said: “There is no gang war but an incident of arson was ascertained. There is no cause for alarm, because police have been deployed to the area.”
The Nation reports that the attack was carried out by suspected members of Aiye confraternity at Shosanya Street during the day on Wednesday, January 20.
It was reported that the cultists, numbering about 30 were armed with guns, cutlasses and knives when they stormed the street in a reprisal attack after a member of their gang was initially attacked by a rival group.
The cultists went to the house of a member of the rival group, Idris and set the house which belonged to his father on fire. Idris had reportedly suspected the reprisal and had warned occupants to pack their valuables and flee.
A tailor whose house was affected by the fire said she had to hid behind her fridge and almost put her baby in the fridge out of panic.
“I almost fainted in my shop when the boys arrived in their numbers. I was discussing with a customer and suddenly, I saw people running in different directions. I quickly carried my baby and hid behind my fridge. They were shooting and throwing bottles.
“When they got here, they shot in different direction. I wanted to lock my baby in the freezer, but I did not know what stopped me. They locked the front door and splashed petrol on the house. They threatened to shoot anyone, who attempted to run out before setting the house on fire. They waited for another 30 minutes to ensure the house got burnt. I ran out with my baby when they left the street to other streets.”
The cultists then proceeded to smash vehicles parked in the street and shot sporadically into the air as they left.
Wole Alimi, a resident in the area accused the police of not responding to their distress call even though the attack lasted for about two hours.
“I personally called the Ilupeju Divisional Police Officer (DPO) on telephone to give him the direction of movement of the cultists after they left Shosanya Street and he told me his officers were moving close to them.
“I was shocked when I saw the policemen driving to the Shosanya Street where the cultists had left several minutes before I called the DPO. The cult gang terrorised us for more than two hours and we did not see any policeman while they were here. What kind of country is this?”
Dolapo Badmos, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police however denied that there was a gang confrontation but acknowledged there was arson.
She said: “There is no gang war but an incident of arson was ascertained. There is no cause for alarm, because police have been deployed to the area.”
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