By Christopher Oji
Many were feared killed and several others injured when two communities in Ibeshe, Lagos engaged in a fight that lasted more than 30 hours.
The battle was between the people of Riverside and Seaside of Ibeshe beach.
Although the cause of the fight was not known at the time of filing this report, a police source said that, “people have been killed. We can see people carrying some dead bodies. We are presently at the scene. People were armed with guns, iron rod, bottles, daggers, acid and other dangerous weapons. I can also see that many were injured. The war is bloody. We are asking what caused the fight, but nobody is willing to talk. They are busy killing themselves.
“The fight, according to preliminary investigation, started Monday night and escalated till today (Tuesday). You know that it is a riverine area, so many of them have been fleeing with boats. But the number of boats were too small to carry most of them, that is why there are still people in the communities. We can observe that many of them are stranded. We can see old people, especially women looking helpless. If we have not come, the communities would have finished themselves”.
It was gathered that some houses were set ablaze while many boats and vehicles were destroyed. Commercial activities were grounded as fishermen, other workers did not go for their businesses, while schools in the communities remained closed.
As of the time of filing this report, policemen, military and naval personnel were at the communities, maintaining law and order.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundyin, said: “The situation is under control. I can’t say the cause of the fight and I can’t say whether anybody died. But I want to assure you that the situation is under control. We sought the assistance of the army and navy and they obliged. As we are speaking, the police and sister agencies are on the ground maintaining law and order. The police deployed their personnel, as did the army and navy”.