Jobless youths,touts loot shops, destroy vehicles in Lagos......SEE PHOTO

Firstclass newsline learnt that the onslaught, which started on Sunday
at about 10pm, has left residents of Apollo and Erejuwa streets in
apprehension.
Firstclass newsline gathered that the hoodlums continued unleashing
terror on the streets, predominantly occupied by the Ilajes, till
Wednesday.
They reportedly attacked at evenings, breaking into shops and looting property.
It was learnt that some victims alerted the Yaba Police Division to
the incident, but they claimed little had been done to curtail the
onslaughts.
When firstclass newsline visited the streets on Thursday, some of the
vandalised vehicles were observed. Also, shards of broken bottles
reportedly used by the hoodlums and a bonfire were seen on the street.
A resident, who gave his name simply as Hammed, and spoke in Yoruba,
said five cars were vandalised in the attack carried out on Monday.
He said, "The cause of this violence is simply reprisal by gangs of
hoodlums in the Makoko and Ebute-Meta areas. On that Sunday, some
hoodlums, who claimed we did not support them to fight their
opponents, attacked Apollo and Erejuwa steets. We started hearing
gunshots at about 9pm, and everyone rushed inside their houses.
"They looted several shops and made fire on the street. They beat up
anyone they saw. In the morning when everyone came out, we found about
five cars destroyed and pieces of broken bottles on the streets. We
alerted the police, but there was no effective response."
Speaking with firstclass newsline crew, a leader of theOoduaPeople's
Congress in the area, Samuel Erejuwa, said the OPC were able to
apprehend four members of the gang, and had handed them over to the
police at the Area C Command, Surulere.
He said, "One of their gang leaders is calledEgolo.He was the one who
led the hoodlums into our area on Sunday. He broke into people's
houses, and stole phones and money. They were about 40 persons.
"I was also a victim of one of their attacks. About seven of the
hoodlums surrounded and attacked me. I was badly injured. They did not
spare my car too. Since Sunday, we have not had rest. But as of today,
we have caught four of them, and they are already with the Area C. I
learnt they would be transferred to the Department of Criminal
Investigation, Yaba."
A woman, whose shop was looted, but who did not want her name in
print, said the police should save residents from the hoodlums'
incessant attacks.
She said, "Some of these hoodlums are known faces. They looted my
shop, but I have committed them into the hands of God."
When firstclass newsline left the streets, residents and shop owners
were seen going about their activities as life returned gradually to
the area.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu,
confirmed that there was trouble in the area.
He said, "There was a skirmish which involved some hoodlums in the area.
"The police responded proactively, and efforts are on to arrest the
hoodlums involved in the skirmish."
Firstclassnewsline.net