At least two persons were on Sunday evening feared killed after street boys went on rampage around Ijesha area of Lagos State.
The clash said to be between thugs loyal to warring factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) was a continuation of the supremacy tussle that had engulfed the axis since last year.
Several persons have been killed, others injured and properties destroyed since the transport unionist began the struggle over control of parks.
It was gathered Sunday’s fight was between boys of Coker-Aguda and Itire and was a reprisal attack by Itire hoodlums.
According to a source, many persons, including innocent passersby, sustained injury in the fight that lasted over an hour.
Commercial activities were said to have been paralysed Sunday night and Monday morning despite heavy presence of security operatives in the area.
He said: “The fight occurred on Sunday evening. It is still on the low now but we are begging the police to act fast before it gets out of hands like last year. Two persons were killed and many others injured.
“Our fear is that they will continue like this. Something has to be done quickly.
“Those are street boys who are loyal to different factions of the NURTW. The NURTW leaders use them to fight their war and intimidate others. Something needs to be done fast.”
But the police denied any death was recorded in the clash, insisting that only one person was injured and rushed to the hospital.
Police spokesman Bala Elkana told newsmen that calm was restored to the area the same night, adding that Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu held a meeting with the council chairmen on Monday for lasting peace.
“It is true there was a clash at Ijesha Pako area on Sunday but no one died.
“The man who was attacked is from Aguda and the other side descended on him when he crossed into their domain. At first, they thought he had died but he was discovered to still be alive and rushed to the hospital.
“There was no fight there today (Tuesday). What happened in that area is that the police arrested a thug nicknamed Schoolboy who has been on the run,” he said.
Confirming that the council chairmen met with the police boss yesterday, Lanre Oguntoyinbo, media aide to chairperson Coker-Aguda LCDA Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe said Odumosu advised them to warn community and opinion leaders in their domains to caution youths.
He said: “The Executive Chairman of Coker/Aguda LCDA Hon. Omobolanle Medinat Adetutu Akinyemi-Obe with her Itire/Ikate counterpart Hon. Ahmed Apatira were received by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu.
“The meeting was a swift response to unruly incident that involved thugs from Itire-Ijesha and Aguda community of both Itire/Ikate and Coker/Aguda LCDAs.
“The CP advised the two chairmen to warn CDCs, CDAs, traditional rulers, Residents Associations and landlords to warn youths who have taken it upon themselves to take laws into their hands.
“CP Odumosu further stressed that he has huge interest in the two LCDAs and shall be deploying high profile crime fighting officers to keep peace and anyone caught in the act or caught doing illegal parade will not only be arrested but also charged to court.
“Parents are advised to warn their wards as the fight against hooliganism, cultism, armed robbery and other anti-social vices within the two LCDAs are now personal fight of the commissioner.
“The meeting is going to be a continuous meeting and within days ahead the Commissioner of Police will be visiting the two LCDA(Surulere Constituency 2) for a joint town hall meeting.”