NEWS- Anarchy
broke out at the Lagooz Schools on Omotoye Estate in the Orile Agege area of
Lagos State after some hoodlums invaded the school premises.
PUNCH
Metro learnt that some
Hausa teenagers, numbering about 100, stormed the school with machetes and
other weapons.
They
were said to have attacked the school’s principal and a teacher, identified as
Uncle John, during a free-for-all which lasted for about two hours.
Our
correspondent was told that the rampaging youths, aside damaging some property
of the school, allegedly made away with N1.5m.
Policemen
from the Elere divison, operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad and some
members of the Oodua People’s Congress, were said to have repelled the attack
as residents fled the area.
Our
correspondent was told that seven of the hoodlums were arrested, while others
escaped after SARS operatives opened fire on them.
A
resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said trouble started when the
school finished its valedictory service party on Saturday, but the teenagers
refused to leave the school premises.
He
said, “They were actually relatives of some of the school-leavers. The
valedictory service party ended around 5pm, but they refused to leave. A
teacher, Uncle John, tried to force them out. One of them abused the teacher
and ran away.
“The teacher, who was
embarrassed by the abuse, held one of the Hausa teenagers. There was a struggle
between them. As the teacher hit the man, he also fought back and held the
teacher by the neck, almost strangulating him.
“The principal, who
wanted to settle the fight, was held by the tie by one of the intruders and
beaten up. The principal’s brother, who wanted to rescue him, was given a fist
blow in the eye.”
Our
correspondent was told that the teenagers damaged about four dozen of the
chairs used for the party. Three of them were later apprehended by the school.
Those
apprehended were reportedly held hostage in a classroom, while the others
wreaked havoc on the school premises.
A
source told PUNCH Metro that the apprehended teenagers, however,
mobilised more gang members into the community on the telephone.
He
said, “Those boys had their phones and they started calling their friends, who
trooped into the school with cutlasses and weapons.
“Policemen
at the school’s gate prevented them from gaining entrance as they shot into the
air. The hoodlums, however, grew in number, which overwhelmed the security
agents.
“Despite the
gunshots, the teenagers refused to go. In fact, while some of them knelt,
others prostrated and were begging the police to shoot at them. They were saying,
‘Please shoot us; we want to die’.”
It
was gathered that some OPC members later came out with weapons and engaged the
hoodlums.
The
proprietor of the school was reported to have called for reinforcement from
SARS operatives, who stormed the community.
“The SARS operatives
started shooting into the air. They chased the teenagers and arrested seven of
them. They also seized their motorcycles and recovered some of the weapons they
brought,” another source said.
It
was learnt that some Hausa leaders had visited the school and held a truce
meeting with the management.
The
Proprietor of the school, Chief Yomi Otubela, said it was only a minor
disagreement among pupils of the school.
He said, “The issue
was about some teenagers who had issues with themselves on where to park their
cars. The police that were on duty at the school gate actually mediated. No
school property was damaged; nothing happened during our valedictory service.”
But
the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the attack,
adding that seven suspects had been arrested.
She
said, “Some hoodlums entered the school’s premises and destroyed some property.
They allegedly made away with N1.5m.
“Our operatives from
the Elere divison were contacted and they swiftly moved in and arrested seven
of the suspects. The suspects have been handed over to the Area G headquarters
for further investigation.”
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