A male trader identified as Abiodun Taye was on Tuesday, January 6, 2014 hit by a stray bullet at the Sura Market area of Lagos Island following a clash between some area boys over money given to them by a governorship aspirant.
Taye was reportedly rushed to a hospital within the axis by some sympathisers.
Some of the sympathisers went straight to his wife and told her that her husband had been shot and killed by the hoodlums.
On hearing the sad news, the woman immediately slumped and died at the spot.
A witness said that the clash between the two factions – youths from Oke-Suna and Sura Market – started on Sunday and spilled over to Tuesday morning, according to New Telegraph reports.
The witness said, “The trouble started over the sharing of money given to them by a governorship candidate who visited the area on Sunday.”
Furthermore, another anonymous trader in the market said that after the victim was shot, some of his friends thought he had been killed and went straight to his house to inform his wife.
“The woman had been sick. When she was told her husband had been killed, she slumped immediately. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but later pronounced dead by the doctor,” he said.
At the scene of the clash, about 30 vehicles parked inside the mechanic village were vandalised by the hoodlums.
Lamenting the ugly incident, the Chairman, Automobile Mechanic and Technicians Association, Mr Ifarinu Muraina, said, “We are just in the beginning of the year and already some of the vehicles kept in our custody for repair had been damaged. We are law-abiding technicians in this area; we have been at Oke-Suna for a long time.
“The Lagos State Government and Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, should come to our aid and stop these clashes.”
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), spokesman, Kenneth Nwosu, said, “Three people have been arrested in connection with the clash. We urged the residents to go about their normal businesses as adequate security is guaranteed.”
