Three reportedly killed during Hausa-Yoruba clash in Lagos

Three persons were reportedly killed in a clash between
the Hausa and Yoruba community at Ijora Badia area of
Lagos state yesterday July 26th. According to Vanguard,
trouble started when a man named Ojo was allegedly
attacked and stabbed to death by some Hausa boys in
the area. The Yoruba youths in the area staged a protest
that became violent.
"For long, these Hausa boys have been attacking people
here. They waylay people, dispose them of cash and
belongings. Even rulers of both ethnic groups are aware
of the issue.”Tajudeen Shamsudeen, a resident in the
community said The demolition of shanties in the
community yesterday increased the tension in the area.
While the Hausa community claim the demolition is one-
sided as its only their houses that were demolished, the
Yoruba community deny the claim saying it was on the
order of the state government.
In the course of the demolition, some Customs officers,
who residents of the area claim were invited by the
Seriki Hausa, the leader of the Hausa community,
stormed the community in three patrol vehicles at about
2.30p.m. They were alleged to have shot into the air to
scare off hoodlums in the area. The hoodlums were said
to have resisted the Customs officers who allegedly
attempted to stop the demolition, an action that led to a
shootout, during which three persons sustained gunshot
wounds. One of the bullets from the hoodlums hit a
Customs officer who was later rushed to the hospital.
One of those hit by a stray bullet was identified to be
Azeez Tajudeen. Eyewitnesses said he was first taken to
the police station for a police report, before being
rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos
state Police command, Dolapo Badmus, said contrary to
eyewitnesses, only one person died during the attack
"The community and the police were on a joint operation
of raiding black spots within the community and
arresting suspected criminals yesterday. In the process,
some officers of the Nigerian Customs Service officers,
who were with officials of the National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, had an encounter with
some of the hoodlums. They fired some shots and three
people were hit. As a result, one death was recorded,
while two others are receiving treatment in the hospital.
Policemen are not involved.”she said