Youths in Bloody Clash in Lagos, Scores Injured

Segun Atanda/

Rival youth gangs armed with guns and other weapons engaged in a bloody clash in Idimu area of Lagos on Monday night.

The rampaging youths in their hundreds threw the entire area into pandemonium forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles, while shops owners hurriedly locked up and fled.

Eyewitnesses told NewsmakersNG the clash involving rival youths from Idimu and their counterparts from neighbouring Ejigbo community started around 9pm.

The youths from Ejigbo reportedly marched from their community to Idimu shooting into the air and vandalising vehicles parked by the side of the road.

They were however confronted by youths from Idimu along the way resulting in a free-for-all.

Another eyewitness who identified herself simply as Dupe told NewsmakersNG: “We ran into the youths a few minutes to 8pm. Hurriedly turned back on the Shasha – Orisunmbare – Idimu road. Some even abandoned their cars and fled as we saw a large number of youths approaching.”

Several of the youths were injured in the clash but there was no confirmed report of casualty.

NewsmakersNG could also not ascertain the cause of the clash.

Residents who spoke with NewsmakersNG commended the timely intervention of the police, which prevented what could have been a bloodbath.

NewsmakersNG learned that scores of policemen from the surrounding police divisions and men of the Rapid Response Squad immediately mobilised to the scene to dislodge the combatants and bring the situation under control.

An eyewitness said he counted no fewer than five RRS patrol vehicles at the scene aside several other police operational vehicles.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Chike Oti, told NewsmakersNG a large number of suspects had been arrested.

Eyewitnesses said they saw dozens of youths being marched into police vans at the scene.

He confirmed that the clash was between youths of the beighbouring communities of Ejigbo and Idimu but said calm had been restored in the affected areas.

He said policemen will be on ground in the area to monitor the situation while further steps would be taken to prevent possible recurrence.

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