Butchers and Cultists Clash Inside Popular Market

Adewale Fakunle

 

Report reaching us as A clash between butchers and cultists at the Alayabiagba Market in Ajegunle part of Lagos, have disrupted activities in the area.

 

It is gathered that the fight which got hot yesterday, left several persons with severe injuries. 

 

The fracas, which started Tuesday night, during which a butcher was killed, escalated yesterday afternoon and disrupted commercial activities for the better part of the day.

 

Fresh report according to Vanguard, the crisis was not unconnected with weekend’s killing of a commercial bus driver, Adewale Fakunle, by suspected cultists in Tolu area of Lagos.

 

The deceased, who was returning from a friend’s place at 10p.m., reportedly walked into the cultists, who were just smarting from a defeat from a rival group.

 

They were said to have attacked the helpless commercial bus driver with cutlasses and abandoned him in a pool of his blood to die. He, however, managed to get to his 14, Baale Aiyetoro home, from where he was rushed to the hospital, only to be confirmed dead.

 

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, yesterday, told Vanguard: “The fight was between some eleran (butchers) and Alayabiagba boys. One of the eleran was returning from a party at the weekend, but was ambushed by Alayabiagba boys.

 

“They collected his phone and money, beat him to coma, leading to his death.

 

“The eleran boys confronted the Alayabiagba boys on why they killed their colleague. This resulted in a reprisal attack on Tuesday night during which one Alayabiagba boys was killed.

 

“The fight continued today (yesterday) with dangerous weapons freely used. They attacked anyone in sight. Hoodlums used the opportunity to rob innocent persons and also looted shops.”

 

Expended bullets from locally-made weapons used by the warring factions littered the area, with bloodstains everywhere.

 

Policemen, led by Area ‘B’ Apapa Commander, Mohammed Nuru, and soldiers attached to OP MESA eventually contained the situation.

 

However, residents and traders said they were still afraid of possible reprisals. Some of the traders refused to open even with the presence of the security operatives.