Tension as police shoot youths in a bid to arrest kidnapper

There was tension in Ejigbo area of Lagos State, on Wednesday evening, as an unidentified youth was hit by stray bullets during a clash between operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the state police command and some suspected cult members.

It was gathered that the policemen had gone to the area to apprehend some suspected kidnappers when the cult members confronted them.

The incident, which happened at Obote Street, created panic around neighbouring Ejigbo community as residents ran in different directions.

Metro gathered that the policemen had traced some suspected kidnappers, who were reportedly hiding in a building to Ejigbo and were trying to arrest them when some armed hoodlums came out to attack them.

The armed hoodlums, who were said to be members of Eiye Confraternity, reportedly converged in front of the building and blocked the entrance of the building.

It was further gathered that the armed youth claimed that the suspected kidnappers were their members and that they were not going to allow them to be taken away.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity while speaking with Metro, said: “The policemen sensed that the cultists might injure or kill any of them, so they opened fire and dispersed the cult members.

One of the armed boys was reportedly injured in the process and the policemen eventually arrested the suspected kidnappers.

The resident added that “the police operatives arrested Eiye striker, the Number Two man, a woman that sells local gin and another man popularly called Pastor.”

The situationwas said to have become more chaotic after the policemen left, as the hoodlums made attempts to protest violently, but were prevented by some elders in the community.

The news of the death of the injured youth also sparked further protest until it was dispelled, with the information that he was recuperating in the hospital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous Cole, while confirming the incident, said that the policemen were from the anti-kidnapping unit.

He also stated that the injured youth was responding to treatment and recuperating at the hospital.