By Patience Ogbo/
Wednesday, October 17, 2018, will go down in the diaries of residents of Shomolu and Bariga communities in Lagos after they witnessed the end of what they’ve known as a reign of terror in the hands of a notorious gangster, Ibrahim Balogun aka Small Jpron.
Described by the police as one of Shomolu’s most dreaded cultists and leader of the Eiye confraternity, Small Jpron was murdered on Wednesday night by a rival gang at a political gathering organised by Hon. Ademorin Kuye, a Lagos State House of Representative aspirant, at a place called Home Touch, at House Number 228, Ikorodu Road, by Obanikoro Way.
Following the murder of Small Jpron, his gang members mobilized themselves and stormed the venue of the political gathering where they shot a young man identified as Solomon.
NewsmakersNG learnt that they went ahead to smash stones on his head, as he bled to death.
Eyewitnesses said Small Jpron’s gang members killed Solomon as they believed that he was the one who lured their leader to the political rally.
According to a statement from the Lagos State commissioner of police (CP), Mr Imohimi Edgal, Small Jrpon had been involved in several cult clashes, and had been on the police wanted list with Solomon for leading several cult fights in the Shomolu, Bariga, Fadeyi and Ojuelegba areas of the state.
The statement says, “They were trailed to the gathering by a rival cult group that invaded the arena and began to attack people. The fight was, however, brought to an end by the police who arrived quickly at the scene and made some arrests. Unfortunately for the notorious cultists, Ibrahim (a.k.a Jpron) and Solo, they died as a result of injuries sustained during the fight.
A community member, who was at the scene said, “I don’t think I can get the incident out of my head. I don’t understand; it was like a film show; we heard Ibrahim, aka Small Jpron who was not at the gathering, was sent for by the House of Representative aspirant and fight broke out between the deceased who happened to be the Eiye cult leader and another cult group during which he was shot and he died at the hospital.’’
Meanwhile, 21 persons have been arrested in connection with the crime and are being questioned by homicide detectives at the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba.
The police have also invited Kuye.
Edgal said, “I have ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators of this dastardly act. The Command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the authors of the crime are prosecuted. Politicians should inform the police before gathering in public places and until the INEC gives the go-ahead, political campaign at this time is illegal and those in breach of the electoral law will be made to face the full wrath of the law.’’
When our correspondent visited Shomolu community on Thursday, the residents were seen speaking in hush tones about the killing of Small Jpron and Solomon. They said they were afraid as their killings could reignite the cult war in Shomolu and Bariga areas.
It was observed that traders did not open their shops for business, while those who did hurriedly closed before nightfall as the atmosphere appeared tense.
A shop owner who identified herself as Mrs Ige said, “I had to sleep in my shop on Wednesday night when the news filtered in that Small Jpron has been shot dead. I was scared because we know that his gang members would want to launch reprisal attack.’’
A resident on Bajuilaye Street said, “My family and I are living in fear since we heard about the killings. We have had relative peace from cult clashes, but these deaths will reawaken old rivalries, especially during this election period.”
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