A deadly robbery rocked the Alaba International Market area of Lagos on Thursday evening, leaving at least five people feared dead after gunmen unleashed chaos at a bus stop along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The attackers, armed with rifles, struck around 7 p.m., targeting commuters and passersby in a brazen assault that sent shockwaves through the bustling Ojo Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of terror as the robbers fired indiscriminately, hitting a yet-to-be-identified woman and four others who were rushed to nearby hospitals. Their fates remain unconfirmed, but early reports suggest they succumbed to their injuries. The gunmen, operating with chilling precision, looted shops and commuters before fleeing in a waiting vehicle as police arrived.
A trader named Emeka, who narrowly escaped, recounted the horror to News Express: “It was like a war zone. They were shooting everywhere, and people were running for their lives. I saw a woman fall after being hit.” Another witness, a bus driver, said the robbers seemed to know exactly what they were doing, striking fast and vanishing before security could respond.
Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident, stating that officers from the Ilemba Hausa Division were quickly deployed, though the robbers had already fled. No arrests have been made, but a manhunt is underway, with police combing the area for leads. Hundeyin urged residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity, assuring the public that efforts to restore calm are in full swing.
The attack has left Alaba’s traders and residents on edge, with many calling for tighter security along the expressway, a known hotspot for such crimes. Social media posts from locals decried the rising violence, with one user writing, “This is becoming too much. We can’t keep losing lives like this.” As investigations continue, the incident underscores the growing challenge of violent crime in Lagos’ commercial hubs.
