One killed, 48 arrested following renewed Mile 12 crisis

One person has been killed and many others injured in the renewed clash between two groups of hoodlums in Gengere area of Mile 12, Lagos State on Thursday.

48 persons suspected to be members of the two groups have been arrested as the police in the state have deployed more personnel to ensure 24-hour surveillance of the community.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the whole problem started last weekend when a man, Alidu Muhammed was accused of blaspheming the name of the holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW).

A resident who simply identified himself as Abdullah told the Nigerian Tribune that, in response to calls for his removal, “Alidu boasted that nobody, not even Prophet Muhammed (SAW), could remove him as the head of the security group”.

It was gathered that some youths in the area had last week kicked against the continuation of Alidu’s tenure as the head of the security group in Gengere following the collection of what they described as “illegal security fee”.

The resident added that “his utterances angered the youth, who accused him of blaspheming the name of the prophet and they set his office and two vehicles ablaze.”

It was gathered that the car of Alhaji Memuda, who was perceived as a supporter of embattled Alidu was also burnt by the youth.

Another resident, Muhammed said, “early today, a boy from the Niger Republic, Aliyu Shuaibu stabbed a Yoruba boy to death in order to cause crisis between us and the Yoruba people.”

He added that “when we heard, we went to where he was hiding and picked him before handing him over to the policemen at Mile 12 under bridge.”

The image-maker in charge of the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the death of one person in a statement signed by him on Thursday.

Adejobi said “in furtherance of the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in Gengere Community, Mile 12, Lagos State, the Command has again arrested forty-eight (48) suspects in connection with the crisis that broke out between some hoodlums at about 1 am today, Thursday 6th May 2021.”

He also added that “in the course of the investigation, it has been discovered that one Aliyu Shuaibu, m, stabbed one Sadiq Oloyo, m, both of Gengere Community, and lost his life before any medical attention could be given to him.”

Adejobi also said “as a result of the incident, some hoodlums, on reprisal attack, went on a rampage and caused a commotion in the area.

“On the strength of this development, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, directed that additional men be deployed to the area to restore normalcy while forty-eight (48) of them were arrested. Police boss has ordered that the hoodlums should be made to face the full wrath of the law and serve as a deterrent to others who might want to foment troubles in the state.”

It will be recalled that Odumosu, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, ordered the arrest of 13 leaders of warring groups in the area who were fingered in the lingering crisis that rocked Gengere Community, Mile 12, Ketu, Lagos on April 30, 2021.

Odumosu also affirmed that the command and other security agencies will adopt 24-hour patrol and surveillance in the area until the culprits involved in the crises are brought to book and total law and order is restored in the entire area.

The Commissioner of Police, however, warned that the command will not tolerate any act of violence and lawlessness in any part of the state as all hands are on deck to suppress any criminal activity within the ambit of the law.

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