POST ELECTION VIOLENCE: Death toll rises to 3 in Lagos

Fear and intimidation has spread through the Ogudu Ojota area of Lagos
State after some hoodlums, suspected to be working for a political
party, went on the rampage.
Its now confirmed that three people have now been reported dead in the
mayhem which started on Sunday evening.
Shops and stalls were under lock and key on Monday as residents feared
the possibility of a reprisal.
Arguments and discussions relating to the elections were discouraged
at newsstands in Ojota due to the volatility of the area.
It was also learnt that property was destroyed by the hoodlums who
trooped out as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission
announced the results of the elections in the state.
Investigations by a source on Monday showed that the death toll had
increased to three.
Firstclass newsline learnt that among the dead was a tailor at the
Ojota bus stop, identified simply as Femi, who was shot dead after he
rushed out of a viewing centre where he was watching a football match.
The identities of the two other persons, who lost their lives, had not
been ascertained as of press time.
It was gathered that many residents were attacked with machetes by
the hoodlums, who also entered into houses, searching for targets.
A resident, Jimoh Isaiah, said some of the hoodlums used sophisticated weapons.
He said, "The guns were sophisticated. Femi was killed beside my
house. He was watching a football match when he received a call that
there was a fight.
"People asked him not to go, but he rushed out. The hoodlums saw him
and opened fire on him."
Isaiah also told the source that he sustained injuries while running
from danger.
Another eye witness, who did not give his name, said the hoodlums
descended on a house where members of a rival political party were
living.
"They destroyed everything there. They damaged people's shops and that
is why people are afraid and have refused to open their shops," he
said.
It was learnt from a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity
that the chaos started after the hoodlums felt that their candidate
was losing out to his opponent.
He added that the hoodlums subsequently went on the rampage.
At a newsstand in the area, a reader raised a discussion about the
elections,but a resident shouted him down.
He said, "Please we don't want any argument here. In fact, just buy
newspaper and leave this place.
"The house opposite this place was attacked on Sunday because of this election.
"We don't want any more trouble here. They killed three people and
injured many others."
Firstclass newsline crew visited the workshop of one of the deceased,
Femi, and met the place locked.
Other shops in the area were equally shut.
The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Taofik Gani, said
the party was aware of the development.
He said, "I was called yesterday that our candidate in the area was
leading at the polls and that the INEC officials were being prevented
from reading the final results.
"The caller told me that the PDP team was attacked by some hoodlums.
These hoodlums attacked only the PDP members."
The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,
Biodun Suleiman, said,"The PDP candidate thought he had won, but when
the INEC announced, he lost.
"His supporters attacked our members before going on the rampage. They
killed three members of our party."
The Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said one person
was shot dead.
Firstclassnewsline.net