Armed cult members kill bar manager and three others

When on May 13, 2013, Olusegun Dawodu opened a bar in Lagos State, his hope was to take care of his aged mother, who sponsored his education alone.

His dream was however cut short after he was killed two days later by some hoodlums during a shoot-out on University Road, Akoka, Lagos.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Monday, learnt that three others were killed while four people sustained gunshot wounds.

A friend of the deceased, who craved anonymity, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

He said the deceased, who was a manager at E-Bar and Restaurant, Lekki Phase 1, usually closed late from work

He said, “Around 1am, some youths wielding guns stormed University Road and were shooting indiscriminately. The area was not completely deserted because people were celebrating the outcome of the football match between Chelsea Football Club and Benfica.

“Dawodu was driving home in his Toyota car and on getting to University Road, just about 100 metres from University of Lagos, he was hit by a stray bullet. Subsequently, he lost control and rammed into someone’s compound.

“Three other people were killed in the process while about four others sustained gunshot wounds. From what we gathered, Dawodu did not die on the spot but was shouting for help. However, no one came to his aid as everyone had run for cover.”

PUNCH learnt that the hoodlums terrorised the area for about an hour without being challenged.

Our correspondent, who spoke to some residents, learnt that Dawodu was already engaged.

A resident, Mrs. Olatoke Famuyiwa, said, “Olusegun (Dawodu) was just 33 years old. His mother lived in the area and she raised him and his four siblings single-handed after their father died. I really feel for the mother.

“I cannot imagine what she is going through right now. Just last week we were congratulating Olusegun for setting up his own business and now a week after, we are mourning him. He did not even have any child of his own.”

Famuyiwa lamented the high level of insecurity in the area. She said most of the shootings were perpetrated by suspected cult members.

She said on the day of the killing, she called the police but the policemen fled on seeing the hoodlums.

She said, “Bariga, especially Ilaje and Fola Agoro, have become a hotbed of criminals and cultists.

“The killers are cult members in the area who go about intimidating people any time from 7pm. On that day Segun was killed, there was a police van around Underground Confectionery.

“We told them of the shooting but they said the weapons of the hoodlums were superior to theirs. They just fled and did nothing.”

Our correspondent learnt that the matter was being investigated by Sabo Police Division.

A police source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said preliminary investigations revealed that Dawodu was not robbed but killed.

A friend of the deceased told our correspondent that Dawodu was not the target but was killed by stray bullet as his valuables were not stolen.

He said, “His two phones were intact while he had about N20, 000 in his pocket. The only thing missing was his car key. I do not know how that disappeared but he died inside the car.”

It was learnt that Dawodu, who studied Industrial Relations and Personnel Management at the Lagos State University, had been buried at Atan Cemetery.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, requested that our correspondent call her back.

Subsequent efforts to contact her were unsuccessful as she did not pick her calls.

Punch