An 18-year-old boy, Edward Egigi, is presently writhing in pains after being stabbed over 20 times by hoodlums suspected to be part of a notorious gang known as Downtown Boys in Somolu, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro had reported on November 27, 2012 that the suspected leader of the gang, Ibrahim Balogun, also known as Small Jpron, was arrested by the police in the area and transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad at the police command headquarters.
It was learnt that following Balogun’s arrest, many of the residents had gone to make statements against him and were also aiding the police to arrest the other members of his gang.
Our correspondent learnt that the gang had vowed to attack the residents for aiding the police in arresting Small Jpron.
When Jpron was arrested, the policemen did not know that he was a wanted gang leader, until some of the residents came to the station to identify him.
Egigi, it was believed, was one of the residents that informed the police that Balogun was the wanted person.
Egigi, a bus conductor, said after Balogun had been arrested, he was on a commercial motorcycle at Abule Oja to buy fuel when the hoodlums sighted him and dragged him from the moving bike and stabbed him repeatedly.
He said, “On November 24, 2012, my boss sent me to buy fuel at Sabo but on my way back, some gangsters- Elewure, Osanle, Famous, Eyin bouncing and others- accused me of spying on them in order to report to the police.
“They took all my money, stabbed me repeatedly and also inflicted machete cuts on me. They stripped me naked and beat me seriously until I fainted. They then left me for dead and fled.”
It was learnt that a policeman, took the victim to Sabo Police Division after the gang members had fled.
The police were said to have rushed the naked victim to Somolu General Hospital where it was discovered that the 18-year-old had over 20 stab wounds on his body.
It was learnt that he was later transferred to Isolo General Hospital and was discharged a few days later.
Meanwhile, residents have urged the police to find and arrest the other gang members to guarantee their safety in the area.
A 52-year-old resident, who craved anonymity, said, “If no one comes forward to testify against Balogun, then the case would die automatically and he would be released. The gang members are aware of this and have already started intimidating us.
“We therefore urge the police to please locate and arrest the fleeing gang members so that the residents can live in peace and sleep with their two eyes closed.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said the police had made more arrests and would continue to do so
She, however, said details of the arrests would not be disclosed, in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigations.
Braide said she was not aware that Egigi was stabbed but urged members of the public to continue to give the police useful information that would lead to arrest of hoodlums.
“I spoke to the officer in charge of SARS and he said that arrests were being made and that the police are making progress as regards Ibrahim’s (Balogun) case. I want to assure members of the public that if they come to the police with useful information, their identity will be protected,” she said.