An Ajah community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State was set on fire yesterday, 11th April.
Reports say the incident was a fall-out of a land dispute between rival community groups.
The warring groups also staged an attack on Lagos State fire fighters and other rescue teams who tried to put out the huge flames.
Many buildings and property worth millions of naira are razed. Noticeable losses are 3 bungalows, a house with 48 rooms and at lest 15 shanties. All the damaged properties sit on about 1,944 square meters.
A resident tweeted that “
“Replying to @krystalsparkle0 and @FaajiFMLagos There serious crisis in ajah now. Boys from ajah came to Ilaje community to to set Houses ablaze and loot. Ilaje community is in Ajah”
Fortunately, no lives were lost even as at the time of this report.
The Ajah area of Lagos has seen so many land disputes since the rapid land acquisition and developments began in the early ’90s. The community has also seen losses of lives resulting from the various disputes.
Edo State:
In another development, Edo State was rocked by massive explosions last night. People within the neighbourhood say it is likely to be a bomb explosion.
The incident occurred around No. 4 Dumez street, off Benin/Auchi road, Benin City and at least 6 houses are affected.
It is rumoured that a bomb manufacturer was testing some of his inventory. Luckily, the tests were carried out in a well.
According to a resident of the area, “from the rumours, we are hearing is that the man use to manufacture bombs. And it is like he tested it inside a well.
“Had it been he brought it out, it would have finished the community.
“The way this house shook, everybody came out to say how their own houses shook too,” he added.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Lawal Jimeta said investigations have already commenced to ascertain the true position.
Edo State:
Operatives of the Nigeria Police were already on ground to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Lawal Jimeta said an investigation was already on the matter.
One of the landlords whose house was affected, Pastor David Iginua told Vanguard that he heard a very loud sound that early morning of Friday and he decided to go out to find out what it was all about.
He said: “I am Pastor David Iginua and my house is 42, Arete Street, off Benin Auchi road, Eyean, which is just behind where the explosion took place .
“As I sat there, all of a sudden, I heard a terrific sound. I looked, ran inside, I didn’t see what happened.
“So I have to come outside and I started discovering things.
“So I started looking for where the sound came from but just to discover that a cloud of heavy smoke was coming out from the Muslim man compound.
“From the rumours, we are hearing is that the man use to manufacture bombs.
“And it is like he tested it inside his well. Assuming he brought it out, it would have finished the community.
“The way this house shook, everybody came out to say how their houses shook”, he said.
Read also:
An Explosion that Caused a Huge Fire and Destruction Rocked Akure