Gunmen numbering over 100, invaded a riverine community in
Egan Oriomi Otto Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo, at the early
hours of today, setting several houses on fire.
A 15-month-old baby, who was sleeping, was burnt beyond
recognition.
Also, no fewer than 15 houses were burnt, with property
worth millions destroyed.
Ten persons were shot by the gunmen, while others, among whom is a 90-year-old man sustained deep matchet cuts in parts of their bodies.Vanguard reports that on arriving at the riverine community yesterday, the father of the burnt one-year-old child was seen carrying the charred remains of his son, crying.
I went in search of
daily bread — Burnt baby’s father
Explaining in tears, he said: “My baby’s name is Emmanuel. I
went out yesterday (Friday) for our daily bread, leaving my wife with my two
children.
“By 9.30 p.m., she called me on the phone to inform me that
some cultists were shooting. I told her to go inside with the children.
“At about 1 a.m., she called again to inform me that the
cultists had set our building on fire. She added that she ran out without
carrying our baby who was sleeping.
“My father-in-law, who went inside to rescue the baby, was
attacked with a cutlass. He is still in the hospital.
“When I came back this morning (Saturday), I met my baby
burnt to death. He was our second child. The first one managed to escape.”
It was gathered that the affected community would stage a
protest with the burnt baby tomorrow (Sunday), at the governor’s office, in
Alausa, Ikeja.
Cause of invasion
Meanwhile, the affected residents blamed the gunmen attack
on the position taken by the local government and some politicians in the area
over the installation of a traditional ruler.
They alleged that a stranger was wrongfully installed as the
traditional ruler. They said he should be from a family they described as
“indigene of the community”.
Besides, it was also gathered that there had been a
lingering tussle between two families in the community over who rules.
Explaining, one of the indigenes, Lawal Adesegun, who
claimed to be a crown prince of the community, said: “The cause of this fight
is ownership dispute.
“These people (invaders) are not indigenes of this
community. We went to the tribunal set up by the Lagos State Government to
fight for who would be the oba of this community and we won.
“There are documents from the tribunal, including judgments
and clearance from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Attorney General of the
State. These confirm us as the Oba of
Egan, Ori Omi Atto Awori of Ojo Local Government.
“However, some politicians of the leading political party,
the Otto Awori Local Government wrongfully installed our opponent as our king.
They did it in a hotel, not in the community.
“The politicians brought the man that was wrongfully
installed to the community on Thursday, to force him on us. But the Police
restrained them because they knew a fight would break out.
“This isn’t the first time they would be attacking us. A
similar incident occurred on June 15, 2018. Some of our people were also
killed.
“The local government intervened then and the case was
dropped in court, frustrating our efforts to seek justice.
‘How politicians
frustrate us’
“The House of Assembly deliberated on the matter for two
years. It set up a committee that recommended justice. They also emphasised the
need to install the right person in the chieftaincy position
“But the recommendation was not implemented because these
same politicians scuttled the process.
“Our king is Olarewaju Moshood Lawal. Yet they replaced him
with a non-indigene. He left the community in 2018 due to insecurity.
“We are, therefore, calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
to intervene before they wipe everyone out of this community.
“We have all our documents from the government. Yet, these
politicians are blocking all our efforts to meet the governor, to hear us out.”
One of those shot in
the neck was a 22-year-old farmer, Joel Babatunde.
He said: “I was sleeping in my house when I heard gunshots.
I ran out in confusion, unaware of where the gunshots were coming from.
Immediately I stepped outside, the gunmen shot me.”
Also, another resident, who gave his name simply as Moheed,
said over 20 houses were burnt.
He stated that most of the affected houses belong to members
of the Oba Moshood Olarewaju’s family.
According to Moheed, “One of the houses burnt belongs to the
oldest woman in our community.
“She was lucky to have been taken out immediately the house
was set on fire. She too could have died inside.
“Oba Moshood Olarewaju ought to be the rightful Oba of this
community and we still regard him as our leader.”
Residents flee
community
Many residents whose houses were spared were seen carrying
their belongings, preparing to leave the riverine community.
Also, others who had become homeless were preparing to leave
the community for fear of another attack.
However, armed policemen were sighted in the community to
forestall further invasion by the gunmen.
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