» Cultists Set Buildings On Fire In Lagos ( Photo) «

No fewer than 25 persons have been rendered homeless
after suspected cultists invaded two buildings on
Sholanke Street in the Akoka, Yaba area of Lagos State
and set fire to them.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the hoodlums, who came at
about 7.30am on Wednesday, did not allow their victims
to take any property from the buildings.
It was learnt that rival cultists had clashed on Ibukunolu
Street on Tuesday at about 7pm, and had stabbed a 17-
year-old student, identified only as Rilwan, to death.
Two of the attackers were said to be identified as Lolade,
also known as
Makayoko , and Ororo .
Our correspondent learnt that the victim, who worked as
a printer on the street, was from a family of three, and
had just gained admission to the Yaba College of
Technology.
PUNCH Metro gathered that angry rival cultists had
thereafter stormed Sholanke Street in the night, and
threatened that they would raze Makayoko ’s father’s
apartment as a reprisal for the killing of Rilwan.
It was learnt that some residents alerted the policemen
from the Bariga division to the unrest and the police came
on patrol during the night.
Our correspondent gathered that the cultists, however,
stormed the street at about 7am on Wednesday, locked
the street gates and set fire to Makayoko ’s father’s
house.
The landlord of the building was identified simply as
Oyedele.
When PUNCH Metro arrived at about 9.30am, there were
people in front of the buildings trying to salvage property
from the fire.
Our correspondent observed two police vans from the
Bariga division patrolling the street, and two fire service
trucks driving out.
One of the occupants of the building, a father of five, Abu
Abdullahi, said the hoodlums did not allow the firefighters
to enter the area as they had locked the two gates.
He said, “The hoodlums came around 7.30am. The anger
of the cultists was that one boy was killed on the
neighbouring street. We later heard that our landlord’s
son was seen where the boy was killed.
“The police came last night on a patrol in a van, but they
left in the morning. Around 7am, we noticed a tall guy
standing in front of the house and making calls. In a few
minutes, the hoodlums stormed the buildings and set
them on fire.
“We began to run out with the property we could carry. I
have five children. Only the last born of my children stays
with me. I was working with the University of Lagos
before I retired. The police were aware of yesterday’s
killing, and they should have strengthened security in the
area.
“We also called the firefighters. It was later that we learnt
that they were around for 15 minutes after we called, but
the hoodlums did not allow them to enter.”
Another occupant, Stephen Okisor, said he could not pick
any property from the fire.
He said, “We are about four families in the first building.
The Boys Quarters houses about three families. I could
not pick any item from the fire, except this clothes I am
wearing.”
A resident, who identified himself simply as Micah, said
the policemen did not come promptly to arrest the
hoodlums.
He said, “It was around 8am that I noticed the fire. When
the firefighters came, they were barred by the hoodlums
from coming into the street. Twenty minutes after, the
police arrived in the area, but everything had died down.”
Our correspondent noticed the Rapid Response Squad car
driving into the area at about 11am when most of the
crowds had dispersed.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the police in Bariga had yet to
arrest any of the suspected cultists.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe
Offor, said he was at a meeting and he would get back to
our correspondent on the matter.
He, however, had yet to get back as of press time.