Lagos PRO Officer: Abimbola Adebisi
Residents and business owners along LASU Road in the Ojo area of Lagos State were thrown into panic after a gang of armed men invaded the community, attacking shops and robbing passersby of their valuables.
The incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday, reportedly took place between the Iyana School and First Gate areas. Eyewitnesses said the assailants, numbering about 15, were armed with guns and machetes, and dressed in black outfits, with some wearing face masks.
According to a resident, the gang appeared suddenly and began targeting individuals at random, forcing many people to flee for safety while others were robbed in the chaos.
“They came out of nowhere, armed with guns and machetes, and started approaching people. Everyone was running. Some were not lucky and got robbed,” the resident recounted.
Another eyewitness disclosed that the attackers also broke into several shops, including a supermarket, carting away goods and cash. Many traders were forced to shut down their businesses abruptly, while others abandoned their shops to escape the violence.
Residents expressed concern that the operation lasted several minutes without any immediate intervention from security operatives, despite a police station being located just a few minutes away from the scene.
“It was shocking that such an attack could happen in broad daylight and go on for that long without any response from the police,” another resident said, adding that business owners now fear a possible return of the gang.
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A video circulating on social media showed one of the attackers wielding a machete and threatening passersby while attempting to intercept a commercial bus.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, explained that the situation originated from a clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over control of a bus park in the area.
She noted that hoodlums later took advantage of the chaos to carry out the robbery.
The police confirmed that the situation has since been brought under control and that one suspect has been arrested and handed over to the Command Special Squad for further investigation.
The incident has heightened concerns over security in the area, with residents calling for increased police presence to prevent future occurrences.
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