Police Confirm One-Year-Old Burned in Attack on Lagos Community

The death of a one-year-old child has been confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command following an attack in Egan Oriomi, Otto Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo, Lagos State. According to Benjamin Hundeyin, the State Police Public Relations Officer, several residents sustained injuries during the attack. Hundeyin explained that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, involving house burnings, looted shops, and gunshot injuries to some community members.

Hoodlums reportedly invaded the community on Friday night, shooting indiscriminately and causing residents to flee for safety. A police source, preferring anonymity, revealed that the attackers carried various weapons, broke into homes, inflicted injuries, and set houses on fire, resulting in casualties including the tragic death of an infant. The devastated father of the baby was found weeping at the scene.

In addition to property damage, the assailants caused widespread destruction, prompting the deployment of security operatives to prevent further incidents. Some injured victims, including an elderly man, were hospitalized, while others with minor injuries were discharged.

A resident, unwilling to disclose his identity due to the sensitivity of the matter, attributed the attack to a long-standing leadership dispute in the community. According to the source, tensions frayed from disagreement over leadership, with locals resisting a new traditional ruler not native to the area, favoring instead a leader with roots in the community.

Confirming the existence of a leadership tussle, Hundeyin emphasized that the police considered it a civil matter and were focused on restoring peace and order. He clarified that while an investigation is ongoing, they are not directly linking the leadership crisis to the violent incident.