Thugs storm Lagos communities, injure 50, loot shops

TRACKING____At least 50 people were injured while property believed to worth millions of Naira destroyed after suspected thugs yesterday invaded Finniger and Abule-Ado areas of Satellite Town, Lagos State.

The attackers allegedly looted shops and trucks. They also burnt some trucks and shops.

The attack grounded commercial activities, with some banks hurriedly shutting down for the day. Petrified residents scampered in different directions.

A witness said trouble started in the morning of Tuesday, after armed thugs, believed to have been recruited from Benin Republic by an alleged a gang based at Oguntade village on old Ojo Road, Satellite Town, invaded shops and residential areas, demanding money from people.

The witness added that the thugs, who were armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons, shot sporadically to scare people, especially truck drivers.

“The thugs succeeded in breaking into homes and carting away valuables after which they subjected people to beatings. People, who tried to confront them, were shot and others wounded. The thugs wore masks and during the attack made bon-fires. They attacked truck drivers, who refused to give them money and damaged their vehicles,” another witness said.

A truck driver, Ibrahim Muhammed, explained that the thugs attacked them at their park midnight on Tuesday, demanding money.

He said: “They are members of a notorious gang that had been unleashing mayhem on Finniger, Abule-Ado and Mile 2 areas for long. They attacked truck drivers carrying out their legitimate businesses at Finniger last week and wounded many of us. Some of our members were also killed during the clash when we resisted their attempt to extort us.

“They have been doing this for long and all efforts to make the police help us have failed. Their major targets are members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPPENG) and they have made life very difficult for us all. We have lost millions of Naira and many trucks each time they attack. They attack with all kinds of dangerous weapons, including stones and bottles, which they carried in wheelbarrows.”

Yesterday, the communities were deserted and commercial activities remained grounded. Truck drivers abandoned their vehicles and took to their heels while major roads were blocked with bon-fires.

It was, however, learnt that a team of policemen from Satellite Police Station had earlier visited the scene, but allegedly left because of superior gun power from the thugs.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, denied knowledge of the attack.

He said: “I am not aware of the attack.”

Elkana, however, promised to find out the facts of the case and get back to our correspondent.

But he was yet to do that at press time.