Lagos gang leader killed during New Year robbery

A gang leader, identified only as Isiaka, has been shot dead in the Okobaba, Adekunle area of Lagos State, while robbing motorists on January 1.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Isiaka and four others, said to belong to Sunday Terror gang, had laid siege to the Estate bus stop end of the Third Mainland Bridge, and dispossessed motorists and pedestrians of valuables at about 11pm on New Year Day.It was gathered that one of the victims, a woman, whose name had yet to be ascertained, had reported the matter to a police patrol shortly after she was robbed of N10,000.

It was also learnt that policemen from the Denton division and Okobaba Police Post went to the scene, and engaged the gang.

While the four others escaped, Isiaka, the second-in-command, reportedly sustained gunshot injuries and managed to escape from the scene.

Our correspondent gathered that when Isiaka got to Abeokuta Street in the Oyingbo area, he slumped in front of a house and became unconscious and a resident hinted the police to come for the corpse.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Isiaka’s corpse was recovered and taken to the Denton division in a van on Saturday.

A source at the division told our correspondent that the gang members also attacked the police team with cutlasses, before they fled.

He said, “The robbers were operating on the evening of the New Year at the Estate bus stop. There were five of them and Isiaka was the leader. He is actually the second-in-command to oneSunday Terror. They robbed a woman of N10,000, and she ran to report to a police patrol nearby.

“When the policemen got there, Isiaka brought out a cutlass and wanted to attack the police team, and he was shot. He escaped with the gun injuries, but he could not go far. The other gang members searched for his corpse in the night. They wanted to take it away.

“A resident saw the body and alerted the police. His body was brought to the station on Saturday. The police are still searching for fleeing members of the gang.”

However, a member of a vigilance group in the area, who identified himself as Baba Ojo, said, “When Isiaka was shot, he ran through Abeokuta Street. There were five robbers. The others had escaped into the Ebute swamps under the Third Mainland Bridge. They left him behind.

“They later came to pick his corpse, but the police were faster than them.”

Our correspondent learnt that efforts were on to arrest Sunday Terror, who is said to be a kingpin in the Ebute area.

The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Giwa, confirmed that Isiaka was shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with the police.

PUNCH