…Killers were robbers, says GOC
Some uniformed men have shot dead two persons and injured three others in Lagos.
The incident occurred between 9.15pm and 9.45pm last Wednesday at Majidun near Ikorodu, Lagos.
Two of the victims, who are in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASAUTH) in Ikeja, said the gunmen were in military uniform.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division in Lagos Maj. Gen. Tanmi Dibi, told The Nation yesterday that the gunmen were not soldiers.
He said: “There is no way such thing would happen and I will not know. Moreso, I have just inquired now and they told me none of our men was involved in that act.”
Alhaji Aminu Salis, an engineer and his wife, Toyibah, who were alone in their car, said they were flagged down at Majidun Bus stop, and before they knew what was happening, one of the men opened fire on them.
About five bullets pierced through his arm and legs, his wife was hit on her left leg.
Their car was also riddled with bullets.
Three other vehicles coming behind them were attacked.
Two of the victims have died; others are in hospitals.
Salis described the incident as traumatic.
“We saw two men; one dressed in military uniform, another in mufti, checking vehicles. From a distance, we could see them flagging down motorists, looking into their cars and allowing them to move on. This led to traffic snarl around Majidun Bus stop. On getting to them, the one holding a gun asked me to come down, I thought they were on a routine check, as I opened the door, placed one leg on the floor, he cocked the gun and opened fire on us. I quickly told my wife awon ole leleyi, awon ole leleyi, (These are thieves, these are thieves); before I could put my leg back into the car, five bullets have hit us; I managed to drive and he pointed the gun at us. After driving past him, he faced back and opened fire at the vehicles behind us. By the time we reached Ogolonto where some Naval officers are stationed, I stopped and they (Naval officers) told me to keep going,” he said.
“I had to come down to inform them of what happened,” Mrs Salis said.
“But they were not ready to listen to us, saying they do not want to have any issue with the military men over there. It was after some drivers and passengers of other vehicles coming behind mounted pressure on them that we have been attacked that they decided to allow us stay there.
“When their boss arrived and was told of the incident, he asked my husband to drive himself to the General Hospital, after all he drove the car up till that point. My husband told him he could no longer continue driving. I had to call some of our friends that left the place not quite long for help,” Mrs Salis, whose left leg was bandaged, said.
Mr Sanni Kabir, an engineer, said he saw the two uniformed men between Itowolo and Majidun shooting sporadically, forcing motorists to slow down for checking.
Kabir said five minutes after passing the gunmen, he got a distress call from Mrs Salis.
“She told me that armed robbers have shot at them; I quickly turned back and met them at the place where the Naval men were stationed. From there, we took them to General Hospital; the medical personnel demanded for police report, I rushed down to the nearest police station where I saw other victims with their vehicles at Ipakodo Police Station. Later on, after first aid, the hospital referred us to LASUTH. We got here (LASUTH) some minutes past 12 in the midnight,” he said.
According to Salis, one of the policemen who saw some of the bullets in my car said they belonged to the military and not the police.
Salis said the incident was first reported at Ipakodo Police Station where they met six other victims. Officers at the station, he said, directed them to Owode-Onirin Police Station.
When contacted, Lagos State police spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent, promised to check and get back.
