BREAKING: Hoodlums clash, block Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Residents of Oto-Awori and Ijanikin communities have abandoned their homes, following an unrest in the area caused by hoodlums.

WesternPost learnt that the unrest started on Wednesday night when the hoodlums from the neighbouring communities launched sporadic attacks on each other.

The hoodlums reportedly blocked the busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway, with commuters sleeping on the road.

According to eyewitnesses, the hoodlums invaded a textile market in the area, destroying properties worth millions of naira.

One of the eyewitnesses, who gave his name as Sikiru told WesternPost that Oto-Awori and Ijanikin communities had been at loggerheads for almost three days over masquerades from one of the communities which allegedly assaulted one of the indigenes.

Sikiru said that the hoodlums, who wielded cutlasses, dane guns and charms cordoned off the road and ordered commercial buses to turn back, adding that vehicles who resisted them were attacked and vandalised.

It was learnt that stranded commuters who attempted to seek refuge at the Ijanikin police station were turned back by the station guard who said he was not authorized to open the gate for anybody.

Reacting to the incident, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, said the command was aware of the clashes, adding that reinforcement had been dispatched to complement the efforts of the officers of Ijanikin police station.

Hundeyin said: “We are fully aware of the ongoing trouble at Ijanikin area of Lagos State. While officers and men of Ijanikin Division are fully on ground, reinforcement has been dispatched. Meanwhile, the road has since been reopened. We are closely monitoring the situation.”

However, as at the time of filing this report, the road was still blocked by the hoodlums who defied all treaties made to them by commercial bus drivers plying Iyana Iba- Ijanikin-Agbara axis.