The streets affected include Brickfield, Moshood Abiola Road (formerly Apapa Road), Daudu Lane and Olokodana. Those who sustained injuries in the attack are Mrs. Ronke Sofoluwe, Mr. Nurudeen Ladega and another resident identified as Baba Khadijat.
Shops were also reportedly broken into and goods looted, while commuters were attacked. Those affected, were returning from a viewing centre in the area.
We learnt that the incident was the continuation of a long drawn battle between two youth groups in the area. One of the groups was said to have attacked the other after a ceasefire since February.
Sources alleged that at least 20 hoodlums reportedly stormed the area at midnight and started shooting sporadically. In the process, vehicles were reportedly vandalised.
It was also gathered that they reportedly exchanged gunshots from 12 midnight till 2 a.m. before policemen from Iponri stormed the scene.
Our correspondent learnt that after the police left, the hoodlums reportedly returned to the area at 8 a.m, to continue the fight during which Baba Khadijat, was shot in the mouth, while Mrs. Sofoluwe, was reportedly bathed with hot water by the hoodlums.
Mrs. Sofoluwe, who sustained injuries on her arm, said she was selling food by the roadside when the hoodlums attacked her.
According to the food vendor, “I was cooking noodles for my customers when hoodlums attacked me. The soup I prepared was poured away while the hot water I was boiling to cook noodles was poured on me.
“I know these hoodlums usually wreak havoc on people but it has never reached this level before. I think it is about time the police beefed up security here,” she said.
Mrs. Sade Ajani, who sells recharge cards and operates a call centre, lamented that all her recharge cards worth N40,000, telephone and other items were stolen by the rampaging hoodlums.
A resident, Tunji Olaosebikan, said: “It was around 12:20 a.m., after a football match that we started hearing gunshots; many of us ran into our houses. When I looked through the window of my room, I saw the hoodlums shoot one man known as Baba Khadija. They also robbed some recharge card vendors on Apapa Road.
“Afterwards, they went to Olokodana and then Brickfield streets, where they vandalised all the vehicles parked on the roads. They also ransacked some shops and beat up some residents. Another man, Mr. Nurudeen Ladega, was injured in the arm with a machete.”
Speaking on the development, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mrs. Ngozi Braide, said six persons were arrested by the police, adding that they would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Meanwhile, police patrol vans, including those of the Rapid Response Squad, were sighted patrolling the area yesterday, while an Armoured Personnel Carrier was stationed at Abule-Nla, apparently to prevent a reprisal attack.
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