Stray Bullets k*ll pregnant woman, Six Others injured as hoodlums clash in Lagos

Jebba Street

A deadly gang led by one Itakun, has shot dead a pregnant woman, identified only as Iya Abdulsalam, while six others sustained gunshot injuries after hoodlums stormed Jebba Street in the Oyingbo area of Lagos State in the past weekend at about 9pm during an attack to members of a factional group at a drinking joint.

According to a report by Punch Metro, the hoodlums were said to have shot into the air to announce their presence during which a stray bullet hit Iya Abdulsalam, two siblings – Gbenga and Olaoluwa – and four others.

It was learnt that the woman who had visited her husband’s brother in the area when the bullet hit her, other victims, were rushed to a health centre in the community, where she was confirmed dead, while others were said to be responding to treatment.

Speaking to a news reporter, an eyewitness, Toba Kamoru, said the incident created panic in the neighbourhood as people scampered to safety, adding that one of the hoodlums was arrested by the police on Friday.

“There is a woman, who sells herbs and local gins at Cemetery, by Jebba Street; a lot of people usually gather around her in the evening. We were there when we suddenly heard gunshots. We all fled in different directions.

“It was when the dust had settled that I learnt that Iya Abdulsalam was shot dead. She sold paint on Lagos Island. She was pregnant. Her husband’s brother she came to visit is called Emir.”

Also speaking, another resident, identified only as Henric, said he was returning from work when the incident happened. He said he could not explain how he got home in the ensuing chaos.

“I later learnt the hoodlums came for rival gang members. They thought their targets were at the joint. Unfortunately, it was innocent people who were trapped, especially the pregnant woman,” he added.

A trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged the police to intensify raids on black spots in Oyingbo, saying residents were disturbed by incessant gang wars in the community.

The Lagos state police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the armourer of the gang, one Baba Jara, had been apprehended by the Denton Police Division.

She said, “At about 3pm on Friday, clues led the DPO, SP Saheed Quadri, to a notorious member of the gang and he was arrested.  The suspect, known as Baba Jara, is the armourer of the gang.

“He confessed to being a member of late Sunday Terror gang. He said the new gang, led by one Itakun, shot five persons on Jebba Street on Thursday, killing a woman. We shall flush all the hoodlums out.”