…residents and commuters were seen running for cover
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Residents of Meiran were gripped by fear on Wednesday as suspected hoodlums reportedly chased one another with axes in parts of the community.
Multiple eyewitnesses told iNews Times that no deaths were recorded during the disturbance, which occurred around 1pm at the Kabowei Bus Stop area of Meiran. The incident, however, sparked widespread panic, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles and seek safety.
As the violence escalated, residents and commuters were seen running for cover while groups of young men, some allegedly armed with axes, moved aggressively along the road.
One resident, Segun, said he had no choice but to leave his car and hide in a nearby house until the situation was brought under control.
“The trouble started in front of an Amala joint at Meiran Bus Stop. When I saw about five men holding axes and chasing another group, I immediately got out of my car and looked for a safe place,” he said.
“I didn’t want to risk driving through the scene. Many other drivers also parked their vehicles and waited for things to calm down. I went back to pick up my car after a few minutes when normalcy returned.”
Another resident, Moses, explained that the clash allegedly began after some youths collected ice cream from a vendor without paying.
“After taking the ice cream, the seller asked for his money, but they refused and threatened him,” Moses recounted.
“He then called his friends to confront them. Before long, about five of the youths brought out axes, and that was when the chaos broke out.”
The iNews Times could not independently verify whether anyone sustained injuries during the incident.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent on Wednesday received no response.
While it is unclear if the disturbance was cult-related, similar incidents involving youths wielding dangerous weapons such as cutlasses and firearms have been reported in other parts of Lagos.
In a related incident last year, suspected cultists reportedly invaded a masquerade festival in Orile Iganmu, where at least three people were shot dead.
