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Traditional Stool: Gunmen Invade Lagos Community, Kill One-yr-old Baby, 10 Others, Burn Houses [PHOTOS]

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Gunmen numbering over 100, invaded a riverine community in Egan Oriomi Otto Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo, at the early hours of today, setting several houses on fire.

A 15-month-old baby, who was sleeping, was burnt beyond recognition.

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Also, no fewer than 15 houses were burnt, with property worth millions destroyed.

Ten persons were shot by the gunmen, while others, among whom is a 90-year-old man sustained deep matchet cuts in parts of their bodies.

According to Vanguard, when its correspondent visited the riverine community today, Saturday, the burnt baby’s father, Taiwo Israel, was seen carrying the charred remains.

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Explaining in tears, he said: “My baby’s name is Emmanuel. I went out yesterday (Friday) for our daily bread, leaving my wife with my two children.

“By 9.30 p.m., she called me on the phone to inform me that some cultists were shooting. I told her to go inside with the children.

“At about 1 a.m., she called again to inform me that the cultists had set our building on fire. She added that she ran out without carrying our baby who was sleeping.

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READ ALSO: Yoruba Nation Activists, Igboho, Akintoye React To Agitators’ Invasion In Oyo Govt Secretariat

“My father-in-law, who went inside to rescue the baby, was attacked with a cutlass. He is still in the hospital.

“When I came back this morning (Saturday), I met my baby burnt to death. He was our second child. The first one managed to escape.”

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It was gathered that the affected community would stage a protest with the burnt baby tomorrow (Sunday), at the governor’s office, in Alausa, Ikeja.

Meanwhile, the affected residents blamed the gunmen attack on the position taken by the local government and some politicians in the area over the installation of a traditional ruler.

They alleged that a stranger was wrongfully installed as the traditional ruler. They said he should be from a family they described as “indigene of the community”.

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Besides, Vanguard gathered that there had been a lingering tussle between two families in the community over who rules.

Explaining, one of the indigenes, Lawal Adesegun, who claimed to be a crown prince of the community, said: “The cause of this fight is ownership dispute.

“These people (invaders) are not indigenes of this community. We went to the tribunal set up by the Lagos State Government to fight for who would be the oba of this community and we won.

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READ ALSO: 20 Suspected Yoruba Nation Agitators In Police Net For Invading Oyo Assembly Complex

“There are documents from the tribunal, including judgments and clearance from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Attorney General of the State. These confirm us as the Oba of Egan, Ori Omi Atto Awori of Ojo Local Government.

“However, some politicians of the leading political party, the Otto Awori Local Government wrongfully installed our opponent as our king. They did it in a hotel, not in the community.

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“The politicians brought the man that was wrongfully installed to the community on Thursday, to force him on us. But the police restrained them because they knew a fight would break out.

“This isn’t the first time they would be attacking us. A similar incident occurred on June 15, 2018. Some of our people were also killed.

“The local government intervened then and the case was dropped in court, frustrating our efforts to seek justice.

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‘How politicians frustrate us’

“The House of Assembly deliberated on the matter for two years. It set up a committee that recommended justice. They also emphasised the need to install the right person in the chieftaincy position.

READ ALSO: How Abducted Channels TV Reporter Regains Freedom

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“But the recommendation was not implemented because these same politicians scuttled the process.

“Our king is Olarewaju Moshood Lawal. Yet they replaced him with a non-indigene. He left the community in 2018 due to insecurity.

“We are, therefore, calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene before they wipe everyone out of this community.

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“We have all our documents from the government. Yet, these politicians are blocking all our efforts to meet the governor, to hear us out.”

One of those shot in the neck was a 22-year-old farmer, Joel Babatunde.
He said: “I was sleeping in my house when I heard gunshots. I ran out in confusion, unaware of where the gunshots were coming from. Immediately I stepped outside, the gunmen shot me.”

Also, another resident, who gave his name simply as Moheed, said over 20 houses were burnt.

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He stated that most of the affected houses belong to members of the Oba Moshood Olarewaju’s family.

READ ALSO: World’s Oldest Conjoined Twins Die

According to Moheed, “One of the houses burnt belongs to the oldest woman in our community.

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“She was lucky to have been taken out immediately the house was set on fire. She too could have died inside.

“Oba Moshood Olarewaju ought to be the rightful Oba of this community and we still regard him as our leader.”

Residents flee community

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Many residents whose houses were spared were seen carrying their belongings, preparing to leave the riverine community.

Also, others who had become homeless were preparing to leave the community for fear of another attack.

However, armed policemen were sighted in the community to forestall further invasion by the gunmen.

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Below are more photos from the scene courtesy Vanguard:

 

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Metro

Tension As Civilian Task Force Member Opens Fire Inside Kebbi Mosque

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Residents of Faransi village in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State were thrown into shock after a member of the civilian Joint Task Force, popularly known as Yansakai, allegedly opened fire inside a mosque.

According to a report on Sunday by security analyst Zagazola Makama via his X handle, the incident left one youth, identified as Bawa Kiri, with gunshot injuries. His father, Kiri Nyako, reported the case to troops of 1 Brigade at Unashi.

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Military sources said efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the suspected Yansakai member behind the attack.

READ ALSO:Police Rescue Two Kidnapped Victims In Kebbi

Meanwhile, the injured victim has been evacuated to Ribah General Hospital in Zuru Local Government Area, where he is receiving treatment.

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Details of the incident remain sketchy as investigations continue.

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Bandits Leader Who Allegedly Killed 34 Katsina Worshippers Seen In Peace Meeting

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A picture has surfaced showing Babaro, a notorious bandit leader, at a peace dialogue held on Sunday in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Security analyst, Zagazola Makama shared the photo on X, noting that Babaro has been terrorising the Kankara and Malumfashi areas.

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Makama said Babaro is alleged to have led the recent attack on worshippers in Mantau, Malumfashi LGA, where 32 people were killed and many others injured during Isha prayers.

READ ALSO:NAF Kills 35 Terrorists In Border Airstrikes Near Cameroon

The development comes as security analyst Bakatsine also confirmed on Sunday that Faskari residents and bandits agreed on a peace deal that included mutual forgiveness, unarmed entry into towns, safe farming, grazing, and the release of captives without ransom.

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Peace deal in Faskari LGA, Katsina State as residents and bandits agree on unarmed entry into town by bandits, safe farming/grazing, mutual forgiveness, captives freed without ransom. Notorious figures like Ado Aleru, Babaro and Kwashen-garwa attended,” Bakatsine wrote.

Authorities were yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, DAILY POST reports.

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NAF Air Raids Kill Three Boko Haram Commanders In Borno

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Boko Haram fighters are reportedly in disarray following sustained airstrikes by the Nigerian military on their hideouts in Borno State.

According to a report on Sunday by security analyst, Zagazola Makama via his X handle, the air raids targeted insurgent camps in Gobara and Balangaje, near Sambisa Forest in Gwoza Local Government Area, destroying several structures.

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At least three senior commanders, identified as Mustafa, Ba Bunu, and Awana Kura, were said to have been killed in the operation.

The development has heightened anxiety among fighters, women, and children in the affected enclaves. A senior commander, Modu Kunduli, was reported to have informed another top leader, Bakura (alias Weeze), that the group’s ranks were unsettled by the bombardments.

READ ALSO:NAF Kills 35 Terrorists In Border Airstrikes Near Cameroon

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Bakura, who operates around Kwajaffa–Ngabur village in Hawul LGA, was also quoted as expressing concern after sighting Nigerian Air Force jets over Garkida and Gombi areas.

Intelligence reports further indicate that the insurgents are considering retreating to their hideouts in Ngulde, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, pending further directives from their leaders.

Security sources said troops have been placed on alert to monitor possible movement of fighters as they attempt to evade additional air raids.

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