Niger Delta Militants Kill 50 In Lagos,Ogun

Over 50 people were feared killed, while unspecified number also sustained varying degrees of injuries when gunmen suspected to be members of the restive Niger Delta militants late Thursday night invaded two Ogijo borderline communities of Ogun and Lagos states.

The Niger Delta militants, who have in recent time, laid siege on Ijebu Imushin in the Ogijo axis of Sagamu local government area of Ogun state were said to have swooped on residents of the Igbo Olomu and Elepete communities in the latest attack.


Saturday Mirror reliably gathered that residents of the communities had formed themselves into several vigilance groups and keeping security watch in and around the communities due to incessant armed robbery attacks against them.

An anonymous source in one of the affected communities told our correspondent that the vigilance groups, substantially made up of landlords in Igbo Olomu and Elepete communities, had made bonfires with disused tyres in strategic points, apparently to ward off any intruder.

But the militants, who were desperately coming from where they had gone to perpetrate their illegal bunkering business, allegedly mistook them for law enforcement agents, thereby opened fire at them in a shooting spree.

“They attacked our communities around 11p.m Thursday night. We were outside keeping vigil over incessant armed robbery attacks. We had bonfires in some areas and the militants, having sighted the bonfires, they opened fire on anyone on sight.

“They came out from the creek. The whole communities have already been deserted. We need the presence of the Nigerian Army, Airforce and Navy to curtail the excesses of these militants”.

 The source further told Saturday Mirror that about 30 dead bodies have been accounted for from various points of the attack.

While many residents have been forced to flee from the communities for safety elsewhere, Saturday Mirror further gathered that schools in the areas had been closed down, while business activities have also been paralyzed thereby making the whole areas deserted.

When contacted, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the attack however, denied the rumour that over 50 persons were killed in the attack. Adejobi, who emphasised that only two people were killed by the suspected militants however, challenged those claiming that over 50 people were killed to come out with photograph evidences to support such claim.

Adejobi, who emphasised that the militants usually come from the creek to attack innocent residents and run back, further assured the police would fish out the criminals and bring them to justice. While appealing for calm, the PPRO also assured that the collaborative efforts of all security agencies would beef up security of lives and properties in the affected communities.

 Findings by Saturday Mirror also indicates that the vandals targeted landlords and local vigilantes in the community, killing them with members of their families. It was gathered that the vandals made away with the corpses as they escaped into the creeks.

This killing is coming despite the presence of policemen from the Lagos police command and the Ogun state command working in a joint operation with men of Operation AWATSE, a military joint task force deployed to the area.

Saturday Mirror gathered that the communities had been deserted as residents that survived the attack have fled their homes with heavily armed police men and military personnel patrolling the area to restore peace and calm fray nerves.

A community leader who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal attack said the vandals targeted landlords, vigilante groups and community leaders perceived by the vandals as enemies assisting the police to stop pipeline vandals from operating in the area He said “There was blood bath at our community today.

 I reside at Igbolomo but I have fled my home with my family. Ijaw vandals stormed our community with sophisticated weapons and they went on to shoot anybody at sight. They targeted Landlords. We were fast asleep when they came. They killed many people.

I counted 18 corpses before I fled my house. I have never seen such killing. They fled with the corpses. We are appealing to the security agencies to come to our rescue “. Another source who also requested anonymity said, “There was chaos in Igbolomo community in Ikorodu West.

There was Killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties. Over 18 people were killed last night. The Ijaw vandals were on rampage displaying sophisticated weapons. We call for reinforcement of soldiers. The community is in disarray”.

Saturday Mirror gathered that the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatia Owoseni has visited the community and assured the residents that the police will ensure safety of lives and properties.

Sources: nationalmirror