Lagos – Six persons feared dead at 24 Road, in the Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, when suspected cult members attacked a native doctor and members of his family for allegedly disturbing the group activities in the area.
Also, about twelve residents of the area suffered series of injuries through the gun shot and in their bid to escape the indiscriminate shooting of the invaders.
According to source, the six-man cult gang who arrived in the community on Friday around 8pm on two motorcycles went straight to the native doctor’s house and shot dead the 63-year-old native doctor, identified as Rasheed Yusuf, aka Low Banger.
The native doctor’s wife, Falilat and a two-year-old girl, Kehinde were not left out in the shooting, but the duo, however, survived the attack.
The cultists further reportedly ambushed and shot dead two men, identified as Yusuf Cisco and Lukman Apetu, who were returning from work on a motorcycle, while a yet-to-be-identified resident was also reportedly killed during the shooting spree which left many residents injured.
Policemen from the Ikorodu division and members of a vigilance group in the area were said to have arrived at the area to remove the corpses after the attackers left.
Most shops and houses on Tobalase and Olubuse streets, as well as Awotunde Lane, were locked were under lock as many of the residents and traders in the areas have fled.
However, Cisco, another victim, was buried on Saturday in accordance with Islamic rites.
A relation, who did not want his name in print, said the gunmen were on a reprisal on Baba Rasheed for disturbing them in their operations, adding that they decided to pass their aggression to residents when they didn’t meet their targets.
He said, “Baba Rasheed, a well known native doctor in this area, was walking to his son’s shop on Tobalase Street when he heard the gunshots. He was about warning his children to lock the doors, when the gunmen shot him.
“They also shot at his wife and a little girl. We rushed the woman and the child to a public hospital where they are still receiving treatments. After leaving that spot, they shot at three young men returning from work. Two of them died that evening, while the third died in a hospital later. People were injured by the sporadic shooting. A man, Baba Ogo, was injured in the stomach.”
He said, “The cult guys are from Ikorodu town. They came in from the Ebute area. We do not know the gang they belong to. Some Onyabo (vigilance group) members have been patrolling this area, but they are arresting innocent residents. When we went to bury one of the deceased today (Saturday), the gunmen still shot at someone in the cemetery”.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos command, SP Dolapo Badmos said the police had arrested three suspects, saying “Three suspects have been arrested. They will soon be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. The command is on the trail of other suspects.”
