The seemingly unending violence in the Mushin area of Lagos State has left at least seven people injured and 15 vehicles vandalised in another clash that occurred on Tuesday.PUNCH METRO learnt that at least 40 shops were also ransacked in the violence, which lasted for over two hours.Cartons of beer were stolen from some of the shops while some goats being reared in the community were also stolen by the hoodlums.Tuesdays incident was the second within a week. On Saturday, hoodlums took over the area in a supremacy battle. At the end of the mayhem, five persons were injured, while six vehicles were vandalised. Our correspondent, who visited the area on Wednesday, reported that the violence began around 5pm and ended at 7pm.A witness, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the perpetrators were thugs from Ereko and Ogunjobi streets.He said, "I was on the Railway Line when thugs numbering over 50, wielding machetes and broken bottles, came from Ereko and Ogunjobi streets and ran towards me."I immediately ran but was stabbed in the leg with a broken bottle by one of them. The thugs subsequently ransacked almost all the shops along Railway Line, making away with goats, cartons of beer and other goods in the respective shops."Our correspondent observed that pieces of broken bottles and louvres littered the entire vicinity.Also, stalls were demolished and the entrance gate of Alakara Primary School was locked for fear of attack. A trader on Adewusi Street, who craved anonymity, said two policemen stood less than four metres away from her when the hoodlums attacked her.She said, "Around 5:30pm I saw the hoodlums approach Adewusi Street. So, I attempted to lock myself inside my shop. Unfortunately, I wasnt fast enough as four of the hoodlums wielding machetes, threatened to kill me if I did not hand over my valuables."They made away with all the sales I had made for the day including N9,000 and my mobile phone. The sad thing is that two riot policemen who stood less than four metres away from me, watched as the hoodlums attacked me."Our correspondent reported that four vehicles: a blue Mercedes Benz with number plate, BF147FST, a red Mazda with number plate, Niger AA500 SRP; a grey Mercedes Benz with number plate Lagos BW932KTU; and a gold-coloured Honda Accord with number plate, Lagos ES436 parked on Adewusi Street were vandalised by the hoodlums.It was also learnt that five vehicles were vandalised on Ogunjobi Street.A carpenter, Kunle, who owns a workshop on Railway Line, Alakara, said all his tools were stolen while some of his furniture were also damaged during the mayhem.A resident of Railway Line, who identified himself simply as Ade, said the hoodlums were angry because they were prevented from extorting money from business owners in the area.He said, "For about 14 years, these thugs from Ereko and Fadeyi have been extorting money from people in the area."After they lost control, they got angry and decided to be violent. But now, they also rob innocent residents."The recurring area boys clashes and crimes in the area have compounded the level of insecurity in Mushin as parents have now become frantic.A woman, who identified herself as Iya Lasisi, blamed the violence on the failure of the government to address the problem.She said, "I have sent my children to my mothers house because this year alone, at least four children were killed on their way to or from school."Unfortunately, the problem has persisted because of the lackadaisical attitude of the state government. The police know the culprits but they are never arrested."A source told our correspondent that a senior officer in operations had taken sides with a faction of the warring parties."This is one of the reasons why the problem has persisted. I dont think the state police command can do anything anymore," the source said.When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, said, "No policeman is siding with any faction."
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