Lagos riverine massacre: Displaced persons take refuge under tree, church

NO fewer than 80 residents of Egan Oriomi, a riverine community in Egan Oriomi, Otto Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo, Lagos State, whose houses were burnt, weekend, by cultists, are presentingly taking shelter under a tree and an uncompleted church building  in the community. 

Residents of the community also accused the council Chairman, Musibau Ashafa, of being insensitive to their plight, by not showing presence or sending any representative to access the level of damage since the incident occurred. 

However, when Vanguard contacted Ashafa on the phone, he told this reporter to come to his office today, for his comment. 

Speaking with Vanguard, yesterday evening, a member of the community, Prince Lawal Adesegun, said: “As we speak, the chairman has not shown up to make peace or condolence visit to the community

“The displaced families are taking shelter under a tree and in a church that has no door or window. That is where they sleep at night. 

“Our king, the recognised one, sent me to give them clothes this morning (yesterday) because they don’t have clothes. All their property were burnt.”

Recall that gunmen numbering over 100, who invaded the riverine community, set 15 houses on fire. 

A 15-month-old baby, who was sleeping in one of the houses, was burnt beyond recognition, while 10 persons were also shot and scores, among who was a 90-year-old man sustained deep machete cuts on parts of their bodies. 

The affected residents blamed the massacre on the position taken by the local government area and some politicians in the area over the installation of a traditional ruler.

They alleged that a stranger was wrongfully installed as the traditional ruler instead of the family they described as indigene of the community. 

It was gathered that there had been a lingering tussle between two families in the community over who should rule. 

One of the indigenes, Lawal Adesegun,  who claimed to be a crown prince of the community, said: “The cause of this fight is ownership dispute. These people (invaders) are not indigenes of this community. We have gone to the tribunal set up by the Lagos State Government to fight for who would be the Oba of this community and we won.

"We  have the documents from the tribunal, including judgments and clearance from the Ministry of Chieftancy Affairs and Attorney-General of the state, confirming us as the Oba of Egan, Ori Omi Atto Awori of the Ojo LGA. 

“However, some politicians of the leading political party, the Otto Awori council chairman, an Oba, wrongfully installed our opponent in a hotel, not in the community, as our king.”