A tragic incident occurred in the Yovoyan community of Badagry, Lagos State, on Tuesday morning, when gunmen attacked the area, killing three individuals over an alleged land dispute.
The attack has left the community in shock and sorrow.
Among the victims were Richard and Latevi Atideka from the Atideka family, along with Muji Onilude, who hailed from the nearby Gberefu community.
Eyewitnesses claim that one of the attackers was a former police officer, accompanied by another individual.
David Atideka, a survivor, recounted the harrowing events.
He explained that the attack occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. in the Atideka home.
“I was talking to my wife when I stepped outside briefly. When I returned, I saw two armed men entering our compound. I quickly hid. They went into my room, asked for me, and then shot my wife in the head. I ran to my older brother’s room to inform him, only to find that he had also been shot and killed.”
David stated that he recognized one of the attackers as his older brother, a former police officer, with whom he had ongoing disputes over land ownership.
A source close to the case revealed that the matter had been taken to court, where the suspect was arrested but later granted bail. A ruling was expected on Thursday.
Another victim, Muji Onilude, was killed shortly after visiting his son, Yusuf Onilude.
“My father came to my room at about 2:10 a.m., and we spoke briefly. He left, and within five minutes, I heard gunshots. When I rushed outside, I saw a man running away. I tried to chase him, but he fired shots in the air and fled. When I returned, I found my father lying in a pool of blood,” Yusuf recalled.
Community leader James Yovoyan has called for the perpetrators to be apprehended, while Lorence Atideka, head of the Atideka family, urged the government to take swift action against those responsible.
However, Henry Atideka, the son of the suspected assailant, denied the allegations.
“My father was not present during the attack and has since been summoned by the police. The dispute was not over land but a matter that was set to be resolved on Thursday,” he stated.
A senior police officer confirmed that the bodies had been transported to the General Hospital in Badagry and that an investigation into the killings is underway.
