A deadly armed robbery attack yesterday threw residents of Onireke Bus Stop, opposite Ojo Military Barracks in Lagos, into panic after a gang of gunmen stormed the area, killing no fewer than five people and dispossessing others of their valuables.
Eyewitnesses stated that the incident, which occurred in the early hours, caused chaos as the robbers shot sporadically into the air, forcing traders, commuters and passers-by to flee for safety.
A security guard who witnessed the attack said the operation lasted about 30 minutes without any intervention from security.
“They came in a vehicle and started shooting immediately. People were running in all directions. Before the police and soldiers could respond, the robbers had fled,” the guard recounted.
The brazen operation, which reportedly took place just a few metres away from Ojo Barracks — said to be the largest military cantonment in Africa — has left residents in shock and fear.
“It’s unbelievable that such an attack could happen right in front of a major military formation,” another resident lamented. “If this place isn’t safe, then nowhere is.”
The robbers were said to have carted away cash, phones, and other valuables from victims at gunpoint before escaping in an undisclosed direction.
