The police in Lagos State have launched a
manhunt for a suspect, identified only as Olaiya, who allegedly led
about 25 hoodlums to torture a landlord in the Makoko, Yaba area of the
state.
Our correspondent learnt that Olaiya and
the hoodlums went to Rafiu Street last Wednesday to construct a fence
on a portion of the road and the landlord, Rafiu Ogundele, reported to
the police that the construction was illegal.
The landlord’s phones, money and jewellery were also said to have been carted away.
It was gathered that the landlord was
brutalised by Olaiya, because he had gone to report the latter to the
police at the Adekunle division.
It was gathered that the hoodlums caused
panic in the area, as they harassed residents, saying that they had
sold the road linking the street and the fence would be built.
Our correspondent learnt that Olaiya, an ex-convict, fled the area after Ogundele was injured.
The landlord is said to be receiving treatment in a private hospital in the area.
When our correspondent visited Ogundele
on Tuesday, a younger brother, identified only as Oladimeji, said the
hoodlums smashed his brother’s skull and also damaged one of his eyes.
He said, “Our street is directly behind
the Celestial Church of Christ headquarters, Makoko. Olaiya brought the
blocks for the fence on Tuesday. He said he had sold the road serving
the residents of the street, and my brother said that was not possible.
“When Olaiya did not listen, my brother
and I went to report to the police at the Adekunle division on
Wednesday. I am surprised that on Thursday, around 11am, the man brought
hoodlums to my brother’s apartment and beat him up.
“The area boys were armed with cutlasses
and bottles. My brother’s offence was that he told Olaiya not to sell
the access road and construct a fence on it.
“They smashed his skull and stole his
phones, wallet and jewellery. He is still in the hospital. The torture
was also reported at the Adekunle division. Olaiya and his hoodlums have
fled the area since the day of the incident. I also contacted the Rapid
Response Squad. The hoodlums injured my brother’s eyes.”
A landlord, who is also the
Vice-Chairman of the Akorede Community Development Association, Nureni
Adejumo, said constructing on the road serving the street was
unacceptable and the CDA had written a petition to the police.
He said, “The hoodlums took everyone by
surprise. The leader is a son of a land owner here. But he sold the road
serving the street. He is the son of a land owner. When I asked him why
he did that, he said I should not meddle in his affairs.
“The road serves as a link to
Igbeyinadun and other streets. The hoodlums came on Thursday and beat up
one of the landlords. It was God’s intervention that he did not die.”
Efforts to speak with Olaiya as of the time of the visit were not successful as he was said to be unavailable.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, had yet to reply to a text message sent to
her phone on the incident.
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