Commotion as Robbers Storm Popular Market In Lagos Early In the Morning

A gang of armed robbers have caused serious
commotion in a popular Lagos market after storming the
area to cause severe havoc.
Balogun Market, a popular market on the Lagos Island,
has been attacked by armed robbers.
The armed robbers attacked the market in the morning,
H@cking three security men with machetes, in a failed
attempt to burgle some shops there.
According to Punch Metro, in the attack on Friday at
about 5am, one of the robbers, a Nigerien identified only
as Saidu, was also H@cked to death by a mob.
It was gathered that the robbers, whose number had yet
to be ascertained, were armed with cutlasses and
attempted to open some shops.
Punch Metro reports that a distress call was put across
to the Ebute Ero Police Division, after which policemen
went to the scene. The robbers, except Saidu,
reportedly fled.
When the market was visited on Monday, most traders
refused to comment on the incident, saying business
activities had not started as of the time of the incident.
However, a night guard, who did not want his name in
print, revealed to Punch Metro that the injured security
men were rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital.
He said, “It was around 5.30am on Friday. We were the
only ones on the market premises, except for some
Muslims praying in nearby mosques. We observed that
the robbers were armed with cutlasses. They wanted to
break into some shops. We confronted them and they
attacked us.
“They injured three security men with cutlasses. Some
people called the police at the Ebute Ero division. Two
policemen were also on patrol around the market. They
assisted us in confronting the robbers.
“The injured security men were quickly rushed to a
hospital on the Lagos Island. When the robbers sighted
the police, they fled. But we made sure that all of them
did not escape. One of them was caught, and he turned
out to be a Nigerien. He was beaten up by a mob. I
don’t know his fate.”
A police source at the Ebute Ero division revealed that
the injured robbery suspect was rushed to a hospital,
but he did not survive.
“The robber was H@cked with machetes. He was also
beaten up. He was later rushed to a hospital where he
died,” he added.
According to Punch Metro, it was gathered that the case
had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad,
Ikeja, for further investigation.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP
Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.
She said, “The robbery suspect, Saidu, of Niger
Republic died on Friday at about 3pm. Some robbers,
including Saidu, had attempted to burgle some shops in
Balogun Market, before the police repelled them. Saidu’s
corpse had been taken to a morgue. The case has been
referred to SARS where further investigation is ongoing.”