20 injured, properties destroyed in Badia factional clash

No fewer than twenty people were severely injured and millions of naira worth of property destroyed as factions of a cult group clashed in Ijora, Badia area of Lagos State.
Crime and Security gathered that though the warring factions had severally clashed over which of them was superior but the latest clash started from the sharing formula to be used in the distribution of the largesse from a popular fuji musician

The clash involved a group of miscreants from Oniyanrin and their counterparts from Alli Iwo area of Ijora with both factions, freely using all sorts of dangerous weapons, which included guns, broken bottles, iron rod, charms and amulets.
A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Raheem, stated that the hoodlums took advantage of the chaos created by their actions to loot and to rob unsuspecting passersby, who were caught in their midst .
“At a time, we didn’t know if they were fighting or robbing. They ran into some shops and began to steal. They attacked people on the road and collected their money, phones and other valuables,” the resident said.

Crime and Security gathered that the two factions mobilised their members and stormed the venue of the performance by the Ebute Metta based fuji musician, who is said to be enjoying the patronage of miscreants and street urchins.
The fuji musician (names withheld) was said to have been recently arrested and detained for months by the police in connection with a stolen mobile phone but was released after it was found that one of his fans gave him the phone, while performing.

The musician, while leaving after the performance, gave an unspecified amount of money to a member of one of the warring factions, before leaving with his band members.
A fierce clash broke out immediately as the group, which had the money, gave what was regarded as peanut to their bitter rival in the area. This reportedly led to a serious argument and an instant clash between members of the two groups

Another resident , who also pleaded anonymity, narrated that “the musician came to Bobland Hotel and performed but when he wanted to go, he gave some money to the area boys but one group got the money and the other faction was not comfortable .
“Over 20 innocent people sustained severe injuries during the clash, many were robbed and several vehicles were vandalised at Obale Street and other adjacent streets by the boys before the police came to disperse them with teargas.”
He added that “You will think that they were prepared before coming there. Before you know it, they have brought out guns, loads of broken bottles, machetes and even charms and everywhere became unsafe.”

The residents urged the police and the Lagos State government to comb Ijora Badia and rid the area of hoodlums, who are a constant thorn in the flesh of the people.
When contacted, the image maker in charge of the state police command, Kenneth Nwosu claimed not to have been properly briefed on the incident but promised to find out but could not do so as at the time of filing this report.

Source: Tribune