There
was tension in the Yaba and Bariga areas of Lagos State on Tuesday after the
murder of a 36-year-old man, Segun Ogbere, who was killed by members of a gang
known as Downtown Boys.
It was
learnt that Ogbere, who went by the pseudonym, Shaggy, was also alleged to be
the leader of a gang known as Shaggy Boys.
According
to Police sources, the victim is the key witness in a murder case against a
former leader of the Ilajes in the state.
It was
said that Ogbere was trailed from the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court by Downtown
Boys led by one Balogun, aka Small Jaypron, and hacked to death.
A
police source said, “The former leader is facing a murder charge at the Ebute
Meta Magistrate’s court for the death of one James Areomiye, who was slain last
year. Ogbere was our only witness in the case.
“We
were told that as Ogbere was about leaving the court, he saw some Downtown Boys
around the court so he sneaked out of the premises, entered a commercial
tricycle and fled. The hoodlums saw him and chased him.
“Ogbere
saw his friend driving a tipper so he alighted from the tricycle, entered the
passenger seat of the tipper, thinking the thugs were no longer on his trail.
However, the assailants soon caught up with him.”
It was
learnt that around 3pm, Small Jaypron, in company with three others in a
vehicle, crossed the tipper around Adeshina Street, off University Road, Abule
Oja, and dragged Ogbere out of the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses
said that the hoodlums, who were wielding guns and knives, stabbed the deceased
many times before fleeing.
“About
four guys alighted from a red Volkswagen Gulf car and dragged the guy (Ogbere)
out of the passenger seat and started stabbing the guy repeatedly and ripped
out his intestines.
“Probably
because this is a residential area and it’s always quiet, the guys did not fire
a shot so as not to attract the attention of men of the Rapid Response Squad
who are stationed on University Road.”
It was
learnt that the incident caused a traffic snarl from University of Lagos gate
down to Onike as loyalists of Shaggy were said to have protested his murder.
A
landlady in the area, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of
the case, said policemen attached to Sabo Police Division did not respond to
the distress call until an hour after the incident.
She
said, “After the killing, about five of Shaggy’s boys, who were wielding guns,
stormed the scene. As RRS men attempted to recover the corpse, the boys protested
and beat up one Sergeant Innocent and vandalised the patrol vehicle.
“When
we saw that the police were being overwhelmed, we alerted the Divisional Police
Officer, Sabo, SP Anthony Aruna, but his men did not arrive until an hour
later. It was members of the Odua Peoples Congress that were able to subdue
them and arrest one of them.”
Meanwhile,
it was learnt that Shaggy’s boys have threatened to carry out reprisals for
their leader’s murder
Our
correspondent, who visited Ilaje, Bariga area, on Wednesday, observed six
police patrol vehicles in the area.
A
senior police officer attached to Bariga Police Division, said, “We are here to
ensure that the area remains peaceful. Ilaje is Shaggy’s stronghold and we want
to forestall any reprisal.”
Police
Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told our correspondent that the police
had commenced investigations into the murder.
It had reported that Balogun was arrested and charged with
the murder of five people and was remanded in Ikoyi Prison but was released
under controversial circumstances.
It had
also been reported that many others had been killed in Bariga, Akoka, Yaba and
Abule Ijesa areas due to the rivalry between the two gangs.
Braide
said, “I am aware of the killing and the matter is now being investigated at
the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba. We are also on the trail of
the suspects.”
Courtesy: CKN
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