IrateYouths Clash in Lekki, Destroy Properties
A clash occurred between Yoruba and Egun youths on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, and over 200 properties were destroyed, reports say.
According to Punch,
the Yoruba youths allegedly attempted to force members of the Egun
community to vacate their residents and an argument ensued.
What
triggered the clash that saw two people injured, was that the Yoruba
youths burnt the properties of the Egun people living in Otodo Gbame
area of Lekki, in a bid to have their way.
An eyewitness who gave an account of the incident said “The
crisis started on Sunday. Some people came and said they had bought our
land and we should relocate. We did not know that the hoodlums would go
to this extent.
“The crisis escalated on
Wednesday when they invaded the community and set fire to our property.
All my belongings are gone. My wife and children are homeless."
The situation was however brought under control by the prompt response of the police Rapid Response Squad.
A policeman who spoke to Punch said “When
the structures were set ablaze, the mother and the father of the baby
fled. It was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of policemen to
that room. The baby was locked inside the house. The baby was rescued
and reunited with her parents.
“Nobody was killed, but about three persons were injured. The entire community was razed.”
When the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos was contacted, she confirmed the incident.
Badmos also said “The
command received a report that the Egun and Yoruba communities were
engaged in a serious brawl over land issue. Upon receipt of the
information, the command operatives from the RRS and men of the Area J
Command moved in. Some shanties being occupied by the residents were set
ablaze by the warring factions.
“A baby
was rescued from the one of the houses. Five suspects were also arrested
in connection with the fracas. The CP visited the scene and promised
that everyone involved in the clash would be duly prosecuted.”
Some sources allege that the youths who came to force the Egun people out of their community are land grabbers.
The Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode recently approved the Lagos State Properties Protection Law, which stipulates a 21 year jail term for land grabbers.
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