Area boys clash again in Lagos -over who controls 'Keke Napep' tolls collection

Four feared dead, two kids kidnapped as groups of miscreants  in Lagos clash over who controls tricycles

EARLY this month, Lagosians were  shocked about the violent clashes in Mushin , Lagos mainland.

Again,  groups of miscreants and street urchins are battling each other for supremacy.  Although no one has  confirmed rumours that four people were killed , private cars and tricycles popularly called Keke Marwa or Keke Napep  have been damged , shops looted and two young children kidnapped. 

The nerve -centre of the clashes is Sari Iganmu Street where the confrontation between the groups over who collects tolls from commercial tricycle operators in Orile  bus stop has been most violent.


Since Friday, residents have been under a siege of sorts as the miscreants’ activities have all but paralysed  the area. The worst of the clashes so far took place on Saturday when around 9.am,  pandemonium  suddenly broke out. One group of miscreants, the Aluwa from Badiya  and another,  the Mosolashi from Orile took over Sari Iganmu Street as well as other streets in the area. For fear of being maimed, residents locked their shops and offices while those who work outside the area ensured they return home before dusk.

Dangerous weapons such as bottles, machetes, knives and guns were freely used, which forced passers-by to flee for their lives. Today, an uneasy calm enveloped the area, as stern-looking riot policemen were  almost everywhere while the troublemakers had retreated to their hideouts. A resident of the area said the trouble has been simmering for one about one month.

“But on Saturday,  it was like a war as numerous gunshots were heard. “The hoodlums acted as if they had gone mad as they destroyed vehicles and tricycles owned by peace-loving Nigerians.” He called on the state government to look for alternative ways to bring under control the excesses of miscreants and urchins in the state.

Another  resident, a trader said: “Nobody really knew  that the struggle to control the money paid by Keke Marwa operators would blow up that Saturday. “When, it nearly erupted some weeks ago, some people intervened  and we thought everything had been settled. “ We just went to the market that morning and while we were opening our shops, we suddenly saw people running up and down.

“It was such a big commotion that all of us immediately locked our shops and ran in different directions. “As we ran , I looked towards the other side of the road and 10 men were chasing  another man. “They caught up with him and began to beat and stab him with all sorts of weapons until the man lay in a pool of his own blood.

“On the bridge two shots rang out , but I could not tell if it was from the police or the  Area boys . “The police also  fired  canisters  of tears gas which affected innocent passers-by. ” On Sunday, tear gas canisters, abandoned foot-wears and other personal items littered the area, left behind by people fleeing for safety while, even till yesterday, shops still remained closed.

An eyewitness says that what may have set-off the ticking time bomb was an incident involving a boy at Roundabout Bus Stop  who had gone to see off  a friend around 8 am when he was attacked by Mosolashi boys. The boy was said to have escaped from his attackers and returned to his base to inform his group who allegedly reinforced and launched a revenge-attack at Sari Bridge, using knives, machetes and broken bottles. Though, this has not been confirmed, there has been rumours that two persons  died on each side  while  passers-by caught unawares suffered various degrees of injury.

A resident of Sari Street, said: “I have two three -wheelers, which were parked in front of my compound. “The windscreens of both were smashed, one of them was  damaged  beyond repair. “ I was helpless as I watched them from the safety of my room destroying my hard-earned belongings.” He called on the Lagos State Government to check the increasing number of social miscreants, saying: “I am using this opportunity to draw the attention of government and the police to the activities of some miscreants in the area.
“If government ignores these touts and miscreants, maintaining  law and order would soon be rather more tasking than at present.

The Baale of Sari Iganmu,  Chief Aliu Tiwaloye, said  several efforts have been made by traditional leaders to bring the situation and the aggrieved groups under control but without any success. He blamed the unrest on the increase in the number of unemployed youths who resort to  extortion and strong-arm measures to survive.

“These people are not ready to work as they make so much money from intimidating motorcycle and tricycle operators. “If they did not, they would  not be ready to die in order to remain in control . “I am begging the Federal and state governments to find a lasting solution to the reoccurrence of violence.”

Another unconfirmed report said  two children belonging to the chairman of Mosolashi group were abducted since Saturday. A senior police officer at Orile Police Station, however said the situation has been brought under control and that residents could now resume their normal activities without fear of any molestation.