Four drown, hundreds displaced as Yoruba, Egun clash in Lagos

Over 200 structures in Otodogbami Community, Ikate, Lekki Phase1, Lagos were burnt and hundreds of residents displaced when Yoruba and Egun ethnic groups clashed within the community.

Residents argued that four persons, including a child drowned while trying to escape through the river behind the community during the clash. But Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command, Dolapo Badmos said that no death was recorded, saying “the effort of the police helped ensure that no death was recorded.”

A source that pleaded anonymity, however, identified one of the four residents alleged to have drowned yesterday, as Whefa Agonhu, a female, adding that efforts were on to recover their bodies. He added that a 55-year-old woman, identified as Iya Abdulrahman, escaped the tragedy by swimming to the shore.

It was gathered that the clash actually started last Monday between two men from the  ethnic groups when one resident of Egun extraction was said to have assaulted a Yoruba indigene for beating up his fiancé. In retaliation, the sources said that the Yorubas, armed with machetes and other weapons, allegedly attacked the community, blocking its entrance and vandalizing the community shrine.

Another resident, identified simply as Wale, told Vanguard that as the fight intensified, the Yoruba allegedly set structures within the community ablaze. And that efforts to get officials of the Lagos State fire service to put out the fire proved abortive.

It was learned that while the clash escalated, some shops were looted and goods worth thousands of Naira carted away. Sources alleged that the policemen attached to Jakande Police division, in Lekki who were alerted immediately the clash started, could not restore peace to the community; rather they were accused of taking side with one ethnic group.

A resident told Vanguard that Baale of the Community, Hunpe Dansu and one Remi Adedoyin, were arrested for their inability to forestall the clash from escalating on Monday. It was learned that Dansu was arrested when he visited the police station to complain over the issue.

And theyare to be charged to court. There had been animosity between both ethnic groups within the community for sometime. The animosity, sources said had earlier led to one ethnic group setting the structures of other group ablaze.

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