Over 100 Suspected Militants Invade Ogun Community, Kill 15, Leave Many Injured
A number of
armed militants suspected to be pipeline vandals on Friday invaded the Ogijo
community in Ogun state and attacked residents of the area supposedly as a
reprisal for a raid carried out earlier by security agents.
The militants
numbering over 100, attacked the community at about 11pm on Friday wielding
guns and machetes, and sporadically shot at residents. The assailants also
specifically attacked two hotels, a mosque within the community and looted up
to 25 shops.
According to The
Punch, a visit to the community on Saturday revealed that there were 15 bodies
recovered after the attack being prepared for burial. One of the victims was a
technician, Waheed Buhari, aka Yah Alau who was shot in front of his house
while another victim, Oladele Ogundare, a travel agent was killed in his car.
A resident of
the community told newsmen on Saturday that a raid carried out by men of the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to fish out suspected Ijaw militants on
Friday during which two suspected militants died may have provoked the attack
on the community.
She said, “The
whole thing began around 4pm on Friday. I was at the backyard of the hotel,
cutting some weed when some SARS officers came in. They were shooting and
ordering people to stop moving. There was confusion in the hotel.
“The SARS
officials did not leave until after three hours. They killed two of the vandals
and took away the owner of the hotel, a woman.”
Ogun state police
public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the attack, but said only
three people were killed. He said:
“Around 11pm at Ereko Community, Ogijo, some hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded the community and started shooting sporadically. Bullets hit one Waheed Buhari and his daughter, Mariam. While Buhari died, the daughter is still at the hospital. Two other unidentified corpses were found, making a total of three deaths.
“Information from eyewitnesses showed that the hoodlums were militants and they came from the riverine area. But we have not confirmed this, as investigations are ongoing. We are particularly interested in why they came in such a large number.”
OJPals, what
do you think? Sound off below!
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