5 Killed

Hell was let loose in the early hours of today on Lagos Island, as two groups of street urchins, otherwise known as area boys, from Lafia and Epetedo clashed, attacking Total Filling Station on Sangrouse and destroying 15 'City Buses' in the process.

PMNews gathered that the problem started on Sunday, over battle for supremacy in the collection of masquerades royalties.

A resident of the area told PMNews that the dispute degenerated early this morning with the attack on the City Buses.

Apart from destroying the City Buses, the area boys were said to have burnt about 4 shops and raped girls sleeping in the shops, just as some shops were vandalised by the miscreants.

One of the vandalised shops was Onward Stationery Stores, where goods worth thousands of naira were carted away.

While the destruction was on, a team of anti-riot policemen was said to have moved in and confronted the area boys.

PMNews gathered that some area boys were killed, while 5 were arrested and taken to Lion Building on Lagos Island.

An eyewitness told PMNews that the Union Bank branch on Louis Street, would have been invaded by the area boys, but for the courage of residents who turned the hoodlums away.

PMNews also learnt that residents of the area immediately formed a vigilance group and effected the arrest of some suspected hoodlums and handed them over to policemen at Central Police Station, Adeniji Adele.

Residents of Lewis Street and other affected streets called on the state governor and the police commissioner to come to their aid before the street urchins cause more damage.

	Copyright © 2004 P.M. News. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).