Gunmen kill bricklayer working to pay for father’s treatment
 |
| Daodu Street |
Olokodana and Iya Agan streets on the Old Apapa Road in
Lagos, during which they shot dead a 28-year-old bricklayer and
injured other residents.
Our correspondent learnt that the bricklayer, identified simply as
Wahab, who hailed from Ilorin, Kwara State, had come to the
area to work and save money to pay for his ailing father’s
treatment.
It was gathered that the gunmen, who struck at about 8pm in
the area, shot Wahab in the neck and also robbed residents and
passersby of their valuables.
It was also learnt that Wahab died instantly, while policemen
from the Iponri division, who received a distress call, mobilised
to apprehend the gunmen.
Our correspondent learnt that none of the fleeing gunmen was
arrested, but the police recovered Wahab’s corpse, which had
been deposited in a morgue.
When PUNCH Metro visited the streets on Wednesday, there was
palpable tension as most houses and shops were locked. The
few people sighted were not willing to talk about the attack.
A member of the vigilance group in the area, identified only as
Ishola, however, told our correspondent that the gunmen were
hoodlums from Fagbayimu, led by one John Ibafo . He added that
the Fagbayimu gunmen came to attack Railway Line boys, led by
Dagbe Ahmed.
He noted that Wahab was a victim of sporadic gunshots as he
was not a member of either faction.
He said, “Wahab was not married. He lived in the Ibafo area of
Ogun State, and sometimes came to Oyingbo to work. It was
two days ago that he came again for some bricklaying work, and
stayed with friends on Daodu Lane.
“The gunmen invaded the streets yesterday (Tuesday) at about
8pm in search of rival gang members. They also used the
opportunity to rob passersby and residents. They were shooting
sporadically to scare people. It was in the process that Wahab
was shot in the neck. He had just finished eating dinner when he
was shot.
“The friends he was staying with quickly called the vigilance
group and the police that one of them had been killed by the
rampaging gunmen. But by the time the police arrived, the
gunmen had escaped.”
One of Wahab’s friends, identified only as Wale, who spoke on
the telephone, said Wahab’s father was down with sickness in
Ilorin, adding that the news of his son’s death would be a bigger
blow.
He said, “He was working to get money to take to his ailing
father for his treatment. His mother is late. The old man has
been sick for several years, and it was Wahab who worked to
finance his treatment. He would have travelled to his hometown
today (Wednesday) had he not been killed.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the cult gangs also went on the
rampage on Sallah day, and looted houses along the Railway
Line, during which a policeman shot himself in the leg.
It was learnt that the officer, identified only as Ugor, who was
attached to the Iponri Police Division, had been hospitalised
since last Thursday.
Our correspondent gathered that about 10 persons sustained
gunshot injuries and were being treated at some local health
centres in the area. A source, who visited some of the injured
persons, said none of them was willing to talk for fear of being
traced.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor,
said the police removed Wahab’s corpse, noting that the injured
officer was recuperating in the hospital.
He said, “The dead body was found when the police arrived at
the scene. There was no exchange of fire as the hoodlums
immediately fled the area.
“On the Sallah day incident, we were able to recover some
ammunition abandoned by the fleeing cultists. Unfortunately,
one of our men mistakenly shot himself in the leg during the
operation. He is still recovering in a hospital I cannot disclose.”
Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other
digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior
express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments......