Police beef up security in Ijora-Badia to prevent cultists’ reprisal attack

Soldiers and policemen have been deployed to beef up security in the Ijora-Badia/Ajegunle community of Lagos following the bloody strife between two rival cult gangs in the area, amidst fear of reprisal attack from other cult groups. The development was connected with the death of one Lekan Eje, who was killed in Olufiditi Street in […]

Soldiers and policemen have been deployed to beef up security in the Ijora-Badia/Ajegunle community of Lagos following the bloody strife between two rival cult gangs in the area, amidst fear of reprisal attack from other cult groups.
The development was connected with the death of one Lekan Eje, who was killed in Olufiditi Street in Alaba Oro area recently. It was gathered that the soldiers and policemen were deployed to the area last week to prevent attacks from the opposing cult factions at both Alaba and Jamaica Streets.
A 7.00p.m. to 5.00a.m. daily curfew had also been imposed on the community by the security operatives, while commercial activities in the area are now skeletal. The confectionery shop where the deceased was shot had also remained shut.
Some of the residents said the deployment of the security operatives to the area was welcome as it would safeguard them from attacks from the rival cult groups. They alleged that with the killing of Eje, some cult boys from Alaba, Moshalashi, Coker and Jamaican Streets were planning reprisal attacks.
One of the residents who spoke under the condition of anonymity said: “All these boys have joined forces to look for and kill the men behind Eje’s assassination. The problem is that in their quest to revenge the death of their friend, innocent people like us may be caught in the fray.”
Eje, a father of one, was allegedly killed by a five-man gang of cultists. He died few minutes after he was shot and taken to MC Joe Hospital.
Although he had since been buried according to Muslim rites at Amukoko graveyard, the police said the joint effort of the army and the police in the Ijora-Badia/Ajegunle community was geared at restoring and maintaining peace in the area.