2 die in reprisal over Hamburger’s death

One more person identified as Desokan Baba Owo has been killed in a reprisal attack by suspected loyalists of late Rasak Bello a.k.a Hamburger, the chairman of the Lagos State Motorcycles Owners Association of Lagos State, while another man who was hit by bullet during the attack also lost his life.

This brings the number of people killed since the crisis started over the disagreement on the choice of councillorship candidate for Sogunle and Ladipo under the All Progressives Congress to three.

Metro learnt that the mother of the slain okada union chief fainted early Tuesday when the news of her son’s death was broken to her at her residence on Odalume Street, Ladipo area.

While the late Hamburger and another man identified as Biola Jimoh a.k.a   Ijoba Small were hit by bullets during the attack on Monday, Desokan was reportedly killed in a reprisal attack by suspected loyalists of Hamburger.

A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Lateef while speaking with Metro, said that “Hamburger and Ijoba Small were shot at the same time at the venue of the primaries, but Ijoba Small initially survived the attack.

“He was rushed to the hospital and was there till early today (Tuesday) before he died.”

Since Monday when the incident occurred, tension has enveloped Sogunle and Ladipo area, as loyalists of the slain Hamburger went on rampage, attacking known supporters of the rival faction.

Some hoodlums had allegedly been hovering around the Majekodunmi residence of Samsondeen Golden, who was accused of leading the gang that shot Hamburger and Ijoba Small.

Golden was said to be a transport union boss in Oshodi, but alleged to be a member of a rival group to the deceased Hamburger. He was said to have joined the clash that led to the okada union’s boss’s death.

A source around the Majekodunmi home of the Oshodi transport union boss said that his parents had relocated to an unnamed Air Force Base since Monday evening.

Metro noted during a visit to the troubled area that more policemen had been drafted to the community, as residents remained indoors and businesses under lock and keys.

There were also fears among residents of the area that more reprisal attacks might be launched by loyalists of late Hamburger who would be buried today (Wednesday).

Metro also gathered that the wife and children of the slain transport union boss, who travelled overseas for vacation, were as at Tuesday evening still being expected in Nigeria.

Efforts to get the reaction of the image maker in charge of the state police command, Olarinde Famous-Cole on the number of arrest so far failed, as calls to his mobile phone lines were not answered.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has called on the Lagos State Police Command to unearth Hamburger’s killers who was one of the leaders of MOALS.

MOALS is said to be an affiliate of the NURTW.

Reacting to the incident while speaking with Metro, Agbede condemned the killing, saying it was sad that people would just take someone’s life with no reason.

He appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni and those that would be saddled with the responsibility of investigating the murder case, saying that they should ensure thorough investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

“It is almost becoming tradition in Oshodi that a popular figure must die whenever a major election is approaching. So, we are calling on police authorities to get to the roots of this murder case to put end to the occurrence of ugly incident,” the NURTW chairman stated further.

He also appealed to members of the union in the area to remain calm and allow the police to do thorough investigation in the matter.