One missing after Ikorodu attack

One of the victims of the attack.

Four days after gunmen invaded Ayetoro, a community in Ikorodu last Thursday, police operatives are searching for a 32-year-old farmer, Emmanuel Dada, who went missing after the shootout.

Over 20 armed men were said to have invaded the community, shooting indiscriminately at people in the village square.

Two persons were reportedly killed in the shootout while several more were wounded.

The attack was said to have been caused by a land dispute between a prominent family in Ikorodu and the Ayetoro community.

A husband and father of two, Dada, was said to have recently purchased a parcel of land at Ayetoro. He was said to have visited Ayetoro last Thursday on an inspection visit to his land when the gunmen struck.

The Secretary to the Baale, Mr. Adio Mustapha, said,  “At about noon last Thursday, some of our people were in the village square. Suddenly about 20 men appeared and began shooting.

“By the time they were through, they had killed tho men and wounded many others. We reported the matter to the Igbogbo Police Division at Ikorodu and a team of policemen came down to the community to restore order.

“While the wounded were taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital for treatment, the bodies of the dead were taken to the mortuary. However Dada was nowhere to be found,”

A search team comprising policemen and some community leaders were said to have conducted a search of the area for Dada on Friday. The search did not yield any result.

“We have made reports at the State’s Criminal Investigation Department on this case. Although some of the thugs have been arrested, some are still on the run including their gang leader.

The resident said the gang leader was notorious for causing mayhem in Ikorodu.

Mustapha said, “Several reports have been made about his activities at the Zone 2  Police Command, Igbogbo Police Division and even the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Yet the police have been unable to make any arrests.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident. She said, “It was a communal clash. One person was killed while seven of the suspects have been arrested by the police; investigation is ongoing.”