Residents and traders of Nosamu Street and Boundary Market, Ajegunle, Lagos, yesterday, took to the streets, protesting the killing of a father of three by some hoodlums known as ‘One Million Boys’, weekend.
The protesters, who raised alarm on activities of the thugs and called on the state government and security agents to come to their aid, also expressed fears that their lives were in danger .
Vanguard gathered that the deceased, identified as Yusuf Ademola, was stabbed to death by the rampaging thugs, who attempted to unseat the chairman of Nosamu tricycle union.
Explaining how life was snuffed out of Ademola, 28,
who was a night guard at Boundary Market, one of the protesters who identified himself as Nurudeen Shoyega said: “The incident happened in broad daylight, when the ‘One Million Boys’ armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, stormed Nosamu Street and started shooting indiscriminately, in their bid to take over Keke Napep park.
“We all ran away and when we returned, we saw Yusuf in the pool of his blood. He had been stabbed severally.
“Our lives are no longer safe because they threatened to come back. Our pain is that not even the Ajeromi Ifelodun local council, which is aware of this feud, is taking any action to solve it.”
The deceased’s elder brother, Sakiru Ademola, claimed his brother was killed because he knew the invaders.
According to him, “I believe they killed my brother because he knew most of them. He was a guard at Boundary Market. They eliminated him in order to gain access into the area and also to prevent him from revealing their identities to the Police.
“I urge the Police to provide us adequate security in Ajegunle, because those ‘One Million Boys’were arrested and paraded by the Lagos State Police Command, yet we don’t know how they got back to the streets.”
The deceased’s widow, Kemi, told Vanguard that she was with her husband in their one-room apartment when the thugs invaded the area.
According to her, “he left the room when he heard gunshots, saying he was going to see what was happening. I tried to stop him but he refused. Barely had the dust settled than I saw my husband walking slowly towards our apartment, in pain.
“I rushed to him only to discover that he was soaked in blood. He held on to his chest where blood was gushing out from. I tried to ask him what the matter was but he could not say a word. Rather, he collapsed in the arms of his elder brother’s wife who was also with us.
“I immediately raised alarm which attracted other neighbours who rushed him to Island General Hospital. Unfortunately, he died on the way to the hospital, thereby saddling me with the responsibility of caring for our three children alone.
“All I want is justice. I want his killers to be brought to book.”
The deceased’s father, Pa Soliu Ademola, who is yet to come to terms with the reality of his son’s demise, described the tragedy as a serious blow. He said he saw the thugs descending on someone he later discovered to be his son.
He said: “I thought the fight was between factions of area boys, not knowing it was my son that was being attacked.”
Police sources, however, said the incident was being investigated.
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