Five dead as Area Boys, commuters clash

A student and four others were feared dead on Tuesday, when Motor Park unionists, popularly called as ‘Area Boys’ at Ikeja Pedestrian Bridge clashed with commuters known for climbing roof top of mass transit trains in Lagos.
Armed with knives and other dangerous weapons, the unionists, stormed the Ijoko-Iddo mass transit train at 7.00am. They were said to have forced some commuters at the roof top of the train to come down and subsequently attacked them.
In the process, five of them were said to have been stabbed to death while others sustained different degree of injuries.
An eye witness account, said that the Area boys were irked by the commuters who are fond of throwing stones and pebbles at passersby and anybody suspected to be taking their pictures while on train roof top.
On Monday, one of the Area Boys was said to have sustained serious injury from stones thrown by the commuters on train roof top, a situation that irked others and prompted them to go for a revenge the following day.
Reacting, Mr David Ndakotsu, an Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, insisted no death was recorded. He however, confirmed that about 29 people were arrested in connection with the incident.
To ensure maintenance of law and order, Mr Ndakotsu, said the Nigerian Railway Policemen have been deployed permanently at Ikeja, Mushin, Agege and Iju areas.