Kazeem Ugbodaga

There was pandemonium in Oshodi area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday evening as factions of hoodlums engaged in a gun battle for supremacy.

There were several sporadic gunshots by the hoodlums for several minutes as passers-by ran helter and skelter to avoid being caught by stray bullets.

The mayhem started from Oshodi Under the Bridge where the hoodlums were said to have engaged in a battle culminating in a riot.

It was gathered that the riot broke out over fees being collected from commercial bus drivers as they disagreed on who to collect the fees.

Spirited efforts by policemen from Mosafejo Division to quell the riot by shooting several canisters of teargas to disperse the rampaging hoodlums proved abortive as the hoodlums refused to back off.

It was also learnt that the street urchins even engaged the police in a shootout.

Motorists and pedestrians deserted the area as the gun fire continued.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, but noted that the police were able to curtail the unrest and restore peace to the area.

According to him, hoodlums actually went on rampage in Oshodi, saying that the police had mobilised and restored peace to the area.