Society Gists

An Ifako Ijaiye socio-political group, De-Oak Youth Association, on Friday raised concern over bloody violence, burning and looting in Ifako-Ijaiye area under the guise of #EndSARS protests.

The group which seeks youth inclusion in decision-making as regards their local government said in a statement that scores had been killed in Fagba, Iju and Abattoir areas in the clashes which had assumed ethnic dimensions.

The unfortunate hijack of the #EndSARS protest has taken a regrettable turn in Ifako-ijaiye as several people are feared dead with many others sustaining various degrees of injuries. Property is not spared as dozens of tricycles and two trucks were burnt.

The violence has spread to other communities within Ifako-Ijaiye, such as, Oja Oba, Agric, Panada, Elere, Iju, Station, Akute, Alamutu, Obawole among others, and residents feel unsafe.

“We welcome help – welfare support, LASEMA and security agencies need to be deployed to Fagba especially.”

According to a member of the group, “The Fagba crisis almost turned into a big ethnic clash between some Yoruba youths and Hausa community at a time Lagos State is yet to come to terms with the unjustifiable shooting incident at the Lekki toll gate and wanton destruction of public infrastructure by hoodlums. To say the least, this unnecessary strife is detestable, given the fact that our local government area is noted to have consistently enjoyed harmonious and peaceful coexistence among the inhabitants regardless of ethnicity.”

De-Oak Youth Association said that it had repeatedly called for peace and reached out to the Seriki Hausawa, Fulani and others in the affected communities as well as the three Baales in the area.

While the Serikis and Baales have reassured them of peace, the group said; “that is not enough, We need more presence of security agents here “.

In conclusion, the group revealed that efforts are being made to restore peace to the community.

“Let us also assure our members, the teeming youths across Ifako-Ijaiye that in no distant time, we shall sit together to fashion out meaningful Youth Empowerment Programmes to accommodate their interest in our march to reducing the unemployment rate in our local government area”.