There was panic in Lagos Mainland area of (Lagos State, on Wednesday following a clash among some suspected political party thugs in the area over pasting of posters.
The clash was said to have occured in the morning and degenerated till afternoon at Oko-Baba area.
It was gathered that extended to some adjourning streets like Odunfa and Ondo where dangerous weapons were freely used.
Unconfirmed sources said five people have lost their lives to the clash while many others were injured including the driver of the council chairman and his relative.
Eye witnesses’ account said problem started when some loyalists of the incumbent chairman of Lagos Mainland Council Development Area (LCDA), Honourable Essien Rashidat went to Oko-Baba to paste posters in readiness for the July 2021 local government elections.
The chairman was said to be vying for her second term under the umbrella of All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, some loyalists to another chairmanship aspirants under the same political party were said to have intercepted the loyalists of the incumbent chairman thereby removing the posters and replacing it with their principal’s.
An witness Mrs Lola Awoyokun said this led to a fight where two of the Chairman’s loyalists were allegedly shot dead while many others including her driver and his relatives sustained gunshot injuries. She said, “it was a clash between members of the same political party and the internal crisis was was left unattended to. As we speak, two loyalists of the council chairman are dead, her driver and relative are hospitalised,” she said.
Another eye witness, Mr. Adeniregun Odede said a reprisal attack occured in the afternoon where three others were shot dead.
It was gathered that a team of Policemen rushed to the scene to maintain law and order but were repelled.
At press time, eye witnesses account said the number of fatalities have increased.
The suspected thugs were said to have taken advantage of the fight to obtain passerby, loot and vandalised property in the area.
Contacted, Honourable Essien confirmed that two of her loyalists were shot dead as a result of the incident while her driver and his relative were injured.
She said the fight had escalated but Policemen have been deployed to the scene. “I can’t give the accurate figure of those dead or injured because the fight has escalated. We lost two people in the morning while my driver and his relative were injured.
“Four pellets have been removed so far and the doctors are still operating the fellow. Look at what the loyalists of my opponent have caused!” she said.
As at the time of filing this report, the Spokesperson, Lagos State Command, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said he was yet to be briefed about the incident at press time.
