Four die as rival groups clash in Lagos

Four people were killed in cold blood yesterday morning during a gun battle between rival Ajah youths and another group believed to be loyal to Chief Abiodun Fatai, the Olumegbon of Lagos.
Sunday Mirror also learnt that one of the people who died in the fight was a member of staff of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area assigned to monitor the environmental sanitation exercise in the area.
For over 10 years, the hoodlums whose popular slogan is Ti Oba la se (the king’s word is final) and the Olumegbon loyalists had engaged Ajah indigenes in series of bloody communal, land-related clashes, terrorising residents of the area.
With the issue of who controls the land determined by the Lagos State Government, youths purportedly working for the Olumegbon took control of the Ajah Motor Park and other titles usually enjoyed by Ajah indigenes called Omo onile; and that had given rise to intermittent breakout of clashes between the rival groups.
Protesting the situation while speaking with our reporter, a resident wondered if the situation in the Ajah axis has not proved to be beyond the powers of the Lagos State Government. According to the respondent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “The Lagos State Government appears to be powerless over the Olumegbon and Ajah indigenes that that launch regular attacks against each other.”
A commercial bus driver in Ajah Motor Park, described yesterday’s gun battle as very bloody and tactical retaliation by the ‘Ajah Boys’ who he said suffered much injuries and humiliation in the hands of the ‘Ti Oba la se boys’ during a similar rival fight that took place two weeks ago. According to the bus driver, an Ajah man was attacked mercilessly by the ‘Ti Oba la se boys’ who disappeared only when they thought that the felled man was dead.
“The man however got up and escaped mysteriously,” he explained; adding that yesterday’s bloody clash was carefully orchestrated to take vengeance on the other side.
The fight which began in the early hours of the day not only disrupted the monthly environmental exercise in Ajah town, many early risers who were caught up in the crossfire were also traumatized, while some sustained gun shot injuries.
Sunday Mirror gathered that from time to time, residents have been caught up in such bloody fight between the rival groups and have been dispossessed of valuables, while women had been raped and goods in shops looted. Reliable sources told our reporter that the worst hit are traders in Ajah who are mostly Igbo.
“Both Ajah and Olumegbon boys have made it a habit to cause fracas, kill innocent people whenever they want to loot our shops,” Mr. Emeka Nnaji, an Igbo trader lamented. Two weeks ago, Association of Igbo traders in Ajah and environs matched to the palace of Ajah Baale (native head) and the Olumegbo palace to register their displeasure over unprovoked and incessant looting of their goods. Meanwhile, a combined team of riot policemen and soldiers have taken control of the situation.
However, residents complain that the security agents would disperse when night comes as usual; after which the rampaging miscreants would continue the harassment of innocent residents in the area. All efforts to contact the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, proved abortive as her cellphone was switched off.