Tension as hoodlums destroy 40 cars

There was tension on Wednesday morning as suspected hoodlums who destroyed no fewer than 40 cars in Mile 12 area of Lagos wanted to unleash more mayhem.

Our correspondent, who was caught in the fray, observed that one of them threatened to kill a resident who was taking PUNCH Metro round to see the devastation.

Soon, he was joined by three other boys, who began advancing menacingly towards the resident and our correspondent.

One of them held a broken bottle in his right hand and pointed it at PUNCH Metro.

In the heat of the tension, this reporter overheard him saying, “I will personally lead the squad that will terminate you. We will butcher you. Did I damage your car? I don’t live in this place. I stay at Ikorodu, so don’t think anyone can lay hand on me.”

Our correspondent quickly hid in a shop, while the resident, who is a military officer, dared the gang.

As the two sides neared a face off, three other soldiers surfaced with a policeman.

The gang took to their heels as excited residents came out of their houses to talk about the activities of the hoodlums in the area.

A source told PUNCH Metro that the residents had suffered heavy losses due to several cult clashes in the area.

The warring groups were identified as Eiye boys and OPC members.

The source said, “The military man taking you round had had his two cars damaged during one of the clashes just few weeks back. He decided to bear the cost of repair after people pleaded with him.

“But the one that happened on Monday night and Tuesday morning was terrible. The Eiye cult members came to Oniyanrin and Obanta streets on a reprisal and damaged over 40 vehicles. We heard the OPC members started the fight at Idera in Ikorodu during a party and the Eiye boys came here to retaliate.”

Our correspondent learnt that residents’ vehicles were damaged in the reprisal, while car batteries and other valuables were stolen.

PUNCH Metro saw some of the damaged vehicles, while splinters of shattered windscreens also littered the roads on the two streets.

A car owner, Mrs Bimpe Sote, who lives in Maidan community, said she did not know her car had been vandalised until she sent her driver to do something for her.

She said, “Those of us in this community usually park our vehicles on the sides of the roads. There is no access road into the community. We only have a pedestrian bridge.

“I woke up on Tuesday morning and asked my driver to get something for me. That was when I heard that my vehicle had been vandalised. The hoodlums also took the battery away.”

Another resident, who equally lost his car windscreens to the havoc, said while the destruction was on, he was informed and he called the state’s emergency numbers.

“It was after the damage had been done that they called back, apologising that the Rapid Response Squad could not make it,” he added.

A commercial bus driver, Segun Oladimeji, said he had not been able to work because he could not raise money to repair his bus.

A man whose two cars were vandalised, pleaded with the police authorities to give protection to the residents, adding that they were helpless because those who usually perpetrated the havoc were not from the area.

He said, “This madness has stop. We cannot continue to live in fear in our own area. We are not the ones fighting them, so why should they smash our vehicles and steal our property?”

The matter was said to have been reported at the Ketu Police Station.

Our correspondent contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, but her telephone line rang out.

A text message sent to her had also yet to be replied as of the time of filing this report.