Residents and shop owners along LASU Road in the Ojo area of Lagos State were thrown into panic on Friday after a group of armed men stormed the area, attacking shops and robbing pedestrians of their valuables in broad daylight.
The incident reportedly happened around 11 a.m. between the Iyana School and First Gate axis, where about 15 armed individuals, said to be carrying guns and machetes, carried out the operation.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, some of whom were masked, moved through the area targeting people randomly, forcing residents and traders to flee for safety while others were robbed in the process.
Several shops, including a supermarket, were also broken into, with goods and cash stolen. Traders who could not escape reportedly locked up their stores or abandoned them entirely as the situation escalated.
Residents expressed shock that the attack lasted several minutes without any immediate security response, despite the presence of a police station located just a few minutes away from the scene.
A video shared on social media showed armed men harassing passersby and attempting to chase down vehicles, further heightening fear among residents.
Security authorities later explained that the violence was linked to a confrontation between rival transport union factions over control of a bus park in the area, which was subsequently exploited by hoodlums. One suspect was reportedly arrested and handed over to a special police unit for further investigation.
