Panic gripped Oko Oba in the Orile Agege area of Lagos on Monday night as residents thwarted an attack by armed gunmen. Eyewitness James Alade recounted the harrowing incident, stating that the assailants arrived on motorcycles around 10 pm and targeted Navo Pharmacy. The owner, Samuel Oshanugor, was robbed inside the store, then forcibly moved towards his car parked outside. However, their escape attempt was foiled when the vehicle’s tires got stuck in a pothole.
Lawrence Olawale, the pharmacy manager, had just closed for the night when he received news of the robbery. He rushed back and, together with other residents, raised an alarm. Despite the gunmen’s weapons, brave locals intervened, pelting them with stones and bottles. Three of the attackers managed to flee, but a fourth, tasked with monitoring the surroundings, was overwhelmed and subdued by the courageous residents.
The captured suspect was severely beaten before being handed over to police officers who arrived at the scene later. Efforts to reach the State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Videos from the scene depicted police officers taking custody of the subdued suspect. Abbatoir Police Station Officer, Ofem Bassey, confirmed the incident and stated that reinforcements were dispatched after reports of the disturbance.
The tense situation drew a crowd of concerned residents outside Navo Pharmacy on that fateful Monday night, underscoring both the bravery of the community and the ongoing challenges with security in the area.
