Barbecue Seller Killed By Robbers In Lagos.

Mc Cullum

There was pandemonium on Simpson and McCullum streets in Ebute-Meta, Yaba area of Lagos State, on Friday when suspected

robbers invaded the area and shot dead two persons.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased were a barbecue seller, identified as Shuaibu Akorede, and a 15-year-old boy, Ahmed Alao.

Our correspondent gathered that at about 7.30pm on the fateful day, the gunmen, who reportedly came in a Keke NAPEP (tricycle), attacked the area, forcing residents and shop owners to quickly lock up their doors.

It was learnt that the gunmen, however, met three persons at the barbecue outlet, and shot dead Akorede, who was a seller, and Alao, who was at the shop. The attackers were said to have left the area at about 8pm.

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It was gathered that policemen from the Adekunle division, Yaba, came to evacuate the corpses to a mortuary.

When our correspondent visited the area, three vans, belonging to the Rapid Response Squad, were sighted on both streets.

Akorede’s table and benches were also seen scattered on the ground. Our correspondent also observed that most of the shops were shut.

One of the landlords, who identified himself simply as Engineer, said his brother who owned a shop, immediately locked it when he heard the gunshots, just as everyone quickly deserted the area.

He added that there were hemp smoking joints in the area where suspected hoodlums used as hideouts, alleging that policemen usually came to extort money from the thugs, rather than arrest them.

He said, “The barbecue seller and the teenager were shot dead at about 7.30pm. They were in front of their shop when the gunmen attacked them. Such occurrence is no longer strange here.”

When PUNCH Metro visited Abeokuta Street, Okobaba, where Akorede lived, one of the neighbours, who did not want her name in print, said the deceased’s wife had been taken to another place since her husband’s death.

She added that the man’s corpse was still in the mortuary.

She said, “Shuaibu (Akorede) was living inside the estate. He used to sell barbecue around Evans Square. We were shocked on Friday when we learnt that he had been killed.

“The man’s wife had been taken away by her husband’s relations since that Friday. They have not gone to take his corpse in the police’s custody.”

At the teenager’s apartment, one of the relatives, identified only as Mumini, said the boy’s father stayed in the Sango Ota area of Ogun State, adding that the teenager was an apprentice with a tailor.

He said, “Ahmed (Alao) used to stay with a brother in Okobaba here. The man works as a tailor, and the boy lived with him. He was learning the vocation. But he sometimes went to Shuaibu’s place to relax. It was unfortunate that Ahmed was there when the gunmen came. His father stays in the Sango Ota area.”

Our correspondent learnt from a police source in Okobaba that operatives of the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, had visited the area to apprehend about eight suspects.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia Amadin, said she would get back to our correspondent on the matter.

She, however, had yet to do so as of press time.

Source: Punch Newspaper