Many Feared Dead, Houses Burnt Over Land Ownership Battle In Lagos

Many Feared Dead, Houses Burnt Over Land Ownership Battle In Lagos

By Funsho Adeyemi, Lagos

Many people were reportedly killed between Monday night and early Tuesday as armed hoodlums invaded Ibeshe Beach in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.

Millions of naira worth of goods and beach houses were. also destroyed and burned in the bloody clash.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the clash was a result of a battle for ownership of a vast expanse of land that covers the beach.

The state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, while confirming the clash, stated that the police had deployed adequate personnel to the troubled area.

Sources at the beach told the Nigerian Tribune that the disputed land is already the subject of litigation in court.

It was gathered that trouble started on Monday when one of the parties in the ongoing suit demanded a share of tolls and levies collected at the beach.

The situation became more serious as the group reportedly mobilised armed hoodlums and began to attack people at the beach.

A resident who pleaded anonymity while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune said that the clash continued until late in the night.

He said, ” There was heavy shooting, and the beach houses were set on fire. It was a very serious battle .”

” Again this morning, they came and set the remaining beach houses on fire and killed more people.”

It was gathered that three bodies were recovered on Tuesday by security agencies that were deployed to the scene.

Lagos police image maker Benjamin Hundeyin could not confirm the total number of deaths at the time of filling out this report.

He said, ” I don’t have the figures yet, but I bet we have deployed our personnel there. The place is under control now.”