Armed gang sparks panic in Ojo, shops looted as NURTW clash turns violent

Residents and business owners along LASU Road in the Ojo area of Lagos were thrown into chaos after a group of armed men stormed the neighbourhood, attacking shops and robbing passersby in broad daylight.

The incident, which occurred around 11 a.m., last Friday  affected the Iyana School and First Gate corridors, disrupting commercial activities and forcing traders to shut down operations abruptly as commuters and pedestrians fled for safety.

Eyewitness accounts described a tense and fast-moving situation, with about 15 assailants reportedly wielding guns and machetes as they advanced through the area. Many residents said the attackers appeared suddenly, leaving little room for escape.

A resident, who identified herself as Omowunmi, recounted the moment panic broke out. She said the group, dressed in black and some wearing face masks, moved aggressively from First Gate towards Iyana School, targeting individuals at random.

“We didn’t see where they came from. They just appeared with guns and cutlasses, and people started running. Everyone was trying to find a safe place,” she said.

Another eyewitness disclosed that the attackers went beyond street-level assaults, breaking into several shops, including a supermarket, and carting away goods and cash.

According to the source, while some traders managed to lock their stores, others abandoned their businesses entirely in a desperate bid to escape harm.

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The brazen nature of the attack has raised concerns among residents, particularly due to the duration of the incident and the apparent absence of immediate law enforcement response despite the proximity of a police station.

A local resident, Pius Oleme, expressed alarm at the development, noting that the attackers operated for several minutes without interruption. “It was shocking that something like this could happen in broad daylight. Even more worrying is that there was no police presence while it lasted, despite a station being just minutes away,” he said.

Although calm has gradually returned to the area, many business owners have resumed operations cautiously, amid lingering fears of a possible recurrence.

Responding to the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, clarified that the violence stemmed from a clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers over control of a bus park in the area.

According to her, while police intervened to contain the confrontation, hoodlums exploited the situation to carry out robberies and attacks, particularly around the First Gate axis.

“It was a dispute within the union, with one faction attempting to take over the park and the other resisting. We moved in to restore order, but some hoodlums took advantage of the unrest to commit criminal acts,” she explained, adding that one suspect had been arrested and transferred to the Command Special Squad for further investigation.

Authorities say efforts are ongoing to maintain security in the area and prevent a recurrence, as residents continue to call for increased police presence along the busy corridor.