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Friday, February 12, 2021

Shootout in Lagos as rival NURTW groups clash

“Avoid Obalende right now. Thugs are heavily armed with guns shooting here and there,” DE-COMMUNICATOR said.

• February 11, 2021
Babajide-Sanwo
Lagos State governor, Babajide-Sanwo-Olu (Photo Credit: Twitter)

Sporadic gunshots on Thursday sent scared Obalende residents and passersby scampering for safety.

Peoples Gazette learnt the shootout was a clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Obalende. 

The Gazette could not immediately confirm the cause of the clash.

But a video circulating on social media showed people on and under Obalende bridge scampering for safety.

The individual who shared the video, @DE_COMMUNICATOR, tweeted and urged Lagosians to take an alternative route.

“Avoid Obalende right now. Thugs are heavily armed with guns shooting here and there,” DE-COMMUNICATOR said.

The police said they were currently at the scene to restore peace. 

The police complaint unit had replied to the video poster, saying, “DPOs and other policemen are on the ground addressing the situation. Thank you for contacting NPF-CRU.”

No death was recorded as of the time of filing this report.

On Wednesday, the Gazette reported that the Lagos police command arrested 58 people in the Agarawu, Ita Faaji, Igbosere, and other areas.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, had said the suspects comprised four elderly persons, five females and 39 males.

He said Lagos Island was under the siege of miscreants and gangsters, which led the command to dispatch a team comprising the police and other security outfits to the area.

“The team comprises Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Taskforce, Police Mobile Force, and the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps under ACP Bode Ojajuni, the Area Commander, Area A, and Lion Building.

“They went after the bad boys in the areas which eventually led to the arrest of 58 suspects on Monday.

“The miscreants and gangsters in the areas have severally attacked and damaged people’s properties while some have allegedly lost their lives to their various criminal activities,” the police boss said.

Mr. Odumosu said the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for “proper investigation” and prosecution.

He also assured that the command would not rest on its laurels to make sure that Lagos Island and the state were generally rid of gangsterism, hooliganism, and crimes. 

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