A yet-to-be-identified graduate of Lagos State University is fighting for his life after being struck by a bullet allegedly fired by suspected armed robbers who reportedly trailed a Point of Sale operator to her residence in the Igando area of Lagos State.
The Punch reported that the shooting occurred on Sunday along Kayode Onafuye Street in the Alhaji Ede area of the community.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants, numbering four and riding on two motorcycles, stormed a bungalow where the PoS operator was believed to reside.
The suspects reportedly first searched for the operator at her nearby business premises before proceeding to the residence after failing to find her.
Their attempt to force their way into the building was unsuccessful as the occupants locked the entrance, denying them access.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Bode, said the robbers became enraged and began firing indiscriminately, with one of the bullets hitting the LASU graduate.
“The robbers came on two motorcycles and were about four in number. They had traced the PoS operator to her house. When they first got there, they went to her shop, which is very close to the building.
“When they discovered that she was not there, they went straight to the house and started calling out the PoS operator while attempting to enter the building. It was at that moment that the occupants shut the entrance door, preventing them from gaining access. Out of frustration, they started shooting indiscriminately.”
Another resident, who operates a shop close to the scene but requested anonymity for security reasons, said the victim was simply passing through the street when he was caught in the gunfire.
The resident noted that many people in the neighbourhood were unaware that an armed robbery was unfolding until they heard multiple gunshots.
“He unknowingly walked into the scene before he realised what was happening. That was exactly when the robbers started shooting after being unable to locate their target.
“It was after they fled that people quickly rushed to rescue the young man and took him to a nearby General Hospital. One of those who rescued him said he had just graduated from LASU and was preparing for the National Youth Service Corps programme for fresh Nigerian graduates.”
A police source disclosed that officers responded swiftly after receiving a report of the attack.
“Our attention was drawn to the incident, and our men were promptly deployed to the scene. We also recovered some spent bullet shells in front of the house.”
When contacted on Tuesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she had not yet been briefed on the incident but promised to make enquiries.
“The report has not gotten to me. I’ll check and revert.”
As of the time this report was filed, she had yet to provide an update.
