Violence escalates in Lagos Community

Several houses were burnt on Thursday morning as the feud between Ajah and Ilaje residents escalated over the collection of levies from Ilaje tipper drivers.

 

As at Friday, the community was deserted as scores of residents had fled the area following Thursday’s violence which was said to have lasted over six hours.

 

A violent clash on Monday, between rival groups belonging to both communities at Ajah. The clash was attributed to a feud over the collection of levies from Keke Napep operators.

 

A resident named Seyi Olatuga told newsmen that her mother’s house was burnt in the ensuing violence. “Since the problem between Ilaje and Ajah indigenes started on Monday, some of the Iljae residents abandoned their homes. I wasn’t at home at the time and advised my mother to move out of her house for a while at least until peace had returned to the area.

 

“On Thursday morning, I accompanied my mother to her house; she wanted to pick up a few things. This was between 8 am and 9 am. To our surprise when we got to Ilaje, there were many youths from Ajah already there. They were armed with guns and had kegs of fuel. They started attacking Ilaje residents and although the youths tried to fight back, there was little they could really do because they did not have guns.

 

“These boys were just moving from house to house, dousing them with fuel before setting them ablaze. They didn’t just set the houses ablaze; they would wait behind and make sure the house got burnt completely before leaving. Over eight houses were burned that morning on White House Road and Ilaje Road,” Olatuda said.