Tension broke out on Sunday mid-night,December 30, 2018, in a Lagos community as unknown gunmen acting on wrong information shot dead a couple.
The daredevil gunmen alleged to be a political thugs by the residents was probably a case of mistaken identity.
According to a resident, the gunmen gained entry into the couple’s apartment around 1.00am in the mid-night located at 20B Raji Crescent, Baruwa area of Lagos.
“Trouble started when some political thugs from the ruling political party stormed the area looking for one Akinfemiwa Amos, a member of an opposition party, who is now on the run over the fear of been killed by the same gunmen who killed his neighbours.
“The armed thugs were more than 20 in numbers, looking for Akinfemiwa Amos,who was a youth leader of the opposition party. We heard them when they were shouting his name and that was when we know he was their main target on that bloody Sunday night.
“We believe that the gunmen entered the wrong apartment and without wasting time opened fire on the couple who the wife was pregnant and killed them, while Akinfemiwa whose flat is next to that of the late couple was out of the country when the assailants who worked on wrong information came calling,” the resident said.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Ondo, a member of the Akinfemiwa family said they have not seen or heard from their son since the ugly instance happened leading to the killing of an innocent young family.
“Akinfemiwa Amos get wind of their plans to eliminate him and fled the country aboard.He was not around when they (gunmen), we thank God they didn’t meet him. The gunmen also came to his home town in Ondo threatening to kill his parents if he is not found.
“It was a fight of political supremacy ahead of the 2019 general elections in the state between the youths of the ruling party and the opposition, so it got worse when the ruling party came to campaign in their area using some uncomplimentary words that irked the youths of the opposition party; the youths were angry and not comfortable with the statement of the chieftains of the ruling political party.
“Political intolerance characterized by hate speech and non-issue based driven campaign has always cause most of the political killings in Nigeria. We hope and pray that future elections in Nigeria will be violent free while defeated candidate will accept in good faith and join hands with the winner in developing the nation,” the family said.