A number of armed militants suspected to be pipeline vandals on Friday invaded the Ogijo community in Ogun state and attacked residents of the area supposedly as a reprisal for a raid carried out earlier by security agents.
The militants numbering over 100, attacked the community at about 11pm on Friday wielding guns and machetes, and sporadically shot at residents. The assailants also specifically attacked two hotels, a mosque within the community and looted up to 25 shops.
According to The Punch, a visit to the community on Saturday revealed that there were 15 bodies recovered after the attack being prepared for burial. One of the victims was a technician, Waheed Buhari, aka Yah Alau who was shot in front of his house while another victim, Oladele Ogundare, a travel agent was killed in his car.
A resident of the community told newsmen on Saturday that a raid carried out by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to fish out suspected Ijaw militants on Friday during which two suspected militants died may have provoked the attack on the community.
She said, “The whole thing began around 4pm on Friday. I was at the backyard of the hotel, cutting some weed when some SARS officers came in. They were shooting and ordering people to stop moving. There was confusion in the hotel.
“The SARS officials did not leave until after three hours. They killed two of the vandals and took away the owner of the hotel, a woman.”
Ogun state police public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the attack, but said only three people were killed. He said:
“Around 11pm at Ereko Community, Ogijo, some hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded the community and started shooting sporadically. Bullets hit one Waheed Buhari and his daughter, Mariam. While Buhari died, the daughter is still at the hospital. Two other unidentified corpses were found, making a total of three deaths.
“Information from eyewitnesses showed that the hoodlums were militants and they came from the riverine area. But we have not confirmed this, as investigations are ongoing. We are particularly interested in why they came in such a large number.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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