Four people lost their lives while a stray bullet injured a 14-year-old boy after gunmen launched an attack on a busy snooker spot near a military barracks in the Ojo area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Saturday night at Onireke bus-stop, where the snooker centre is located.
According to findings on Sunday, the assailants stormed the location at about 9 pm, headed directly to the spot, and began shooting at people gathered there. Among those killed was a noodles vendor who reportedly died instantly.
Residents told our correspondent on Sunday that panic spread across the community as people fled at the sound of gunfire.
One witness, who identified himself only as Akogun, said the gunmen, about five in number, opened fire indiscriminately as soon as they arrived.
He said, “The men came to the snooker spot around 9pm. The spot is right opposite the Ojo military barracks, and being a crowded place, the men walked in like regular fun-seekers, wearing native attire. They pretended to be looking for where to sit, but suddenly pulled out what looked like AK-47 rifles and began shooting indiscriminately. Everyone started running for safety, while some were hit by bullets. The mallam selling noodles just beside the snooker spot was the first to die. No one even knew when or how they left because everyone had already fled for their lives.”
It was gathered that three other fun seekers who initially escaped the scene later died from gunshot wounds.
A police source in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to address the matter, confirmed that the additional deaths were reported on Sunday morning.
The source said, “One person was found dead on the spot after the incident, while about two others with gunshot wounds, including a teenager, about 14 years old, who had probably come to buy noodles, were taken to the hospital for treatment. But this morning, some people came to report the deaths of their relatives who were caught up in the shooting. We now have three additional deaths, making four in total.”
Speculations have since spread that the attackers may have been either robbers or suspected cultists.
Another resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told wizopa that the gunmen robbed people of their belongings during and after the shooting.
“There are claims that they were cultists because of some slang they were heard chanting before the shooting. Others said they also robbed people of their phones and cash, both at the snooker spot and while leaving the community.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the arrest of five suspected cultists in connection with the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, described the attack as a cult clash in a statement issued on Sunday night. She noted that tactical squad commanders and the Divisional Police Officer led a team of operatives and detectives to the scene.
She said three victims were rushed to hospital, but one was later confirmed dead at Badagry General Hospital.
The spokesperson revealed the names of those arrested as Victor Christian, 43; Samuel Success, 29; Balogun Emmanuel, 43; Wisdom Chukwuemeka, 28; and Oche Job, 39. They were apprehended during a coordinated raid led by tactical units of the command.
“An immediate raid of the entire area by the joint police team comprising the conventional police team, the tactical squad units, and other detectives led to the arrest of five of the suspects directly responsible for the attack and death of the victim at a hotel in the locality.
“A thorough search of the premises and the operational vehicle of the arrested cultists led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and other dangerous weapons used in cult clashes. Exhibits recovered include one (1) locally-made pistol, two (2) pump-action guns, fifty-two (52) live cartridges, two (2) expended cartridges, one (1) Toyota Avalon with registration number KTU 610 JB, one (1) HP laptop, one (1) computer mouse, one (1) car key, one (1) cutlass, one (1) Federal Republic of Nigeria passport bearing the name Ekomafe Gregory Dickson, two (2) Samsung Android phones, two (2) iPhones, one (1) additional Android phone, and one (1) small Nokia phone. All recovered items have been properly documented and registered as exhibits for ongoing investigation,” the statement partly read.
She added that efforts are underway to arrest other fleeing members of the group, while police patrols and tactical units have been deployed to prevent possible reprisals.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, praised the operatives for their swift intervention and reassured residents of the command’s determination to eliminate cult-related violence across the state.
He urged citizens to remain law-abiding and promptly report any suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
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