Hoodlums attack Ikorodu community, kill five, injure many

A journalist, who visited the community on a fact-finding mission was reported to have narrowly escaped death following the invasion.

Five persons have been reportedly killed and several others seriously injured by some hoodlums during a violent attack on Igbokuta/Gberigbe community, Ikorodu Area, Lagos State.

Residents say a gang of notorious land grabbers wielding dangerous and sophisticated weapons invaded their community at about 1 pm on Saturday, attacking legitimate landowners in the area in what they believe is a desperate attempt to scare them away from their possession and steal all their property from them.

The attack, StarMedia Renaissance reliably gathered, is coming barely a few months after residents and community leaders cried out to the Lagos State Government, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following the incessant invasion of their land reportedly by a notorious cultist cum land grabber nicknamed Sir K Oluwo and others.

The vicious attack however led to the death of Lateef Ade (M), Mutiu Balogun (M), Hameed Idris (M) and two others.

A journalist, who visited the community on a fact-finding mission was reported to have narrowly escaped death following the invasion.

According to information received, the tension broke out on Saturday when some gang of land grabbers allegedly led by one Kamarudeen Lamina, popularly known as Sir K Oluwo and one Chief Gbenga Daraloun Mayan stormed the community, attacking their perceived enemies and killing five people in the process.

Residents say the attack was after the arrest of two suspected fake police officers in the Igbokuta/Gberigbe community by a team of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) drafted from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja yesterday.

The two officers, suspected to be impersonating the Special Force Unit of Nigeria Police Force, are alleged to be among over 15 others who were illegally stationed in the community since 19th of May 2021 by Kamarudeen Lamina and are believed to be the brain behind the crisis leaving many families and residents homeless in the community.

Residents and community leaders believe the Saturday invasion of the community was part of a reprisal move by the Sir K led gang who they say were angered by the arrest of the two fake police officers who are alleged to be part of his gang members.

Condemning the attack, Mr Sunday Jato, a resident in the community, says this is just one of many such terrifying encounters the community have had in the hands of the hoodlums.

“A similar incident occurred on May 19 this year when the Sir K Oluwo boys armed with dangerous weapons including machete, knives, guns, etc. stormed our community in Igbokuta, attacking residents and inflicting life-threatening injuries on several people. A lot of us had to flee our homes for safety,” he lamented.

According to a community head in Gberigbe, Chief Akorede Oluderu, “We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed due to the many attacks on this community by the notorious land grabbers.

“We are calling on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate our ordeal and save us from these Sir K Oluwo thugs. So many lives have been lost, yet the police have done nothing to bring the situation under control.”