Three persons, including two women and a young boy, have reportedly been killed in a clash between local scavengers, otherwise referred to as baban bola, and residents of the Byazhin community, in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

An eyewitness, who identified herself as Jessica Adam, told our correspondent that a baban bola attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup, but was overpowered and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passers-by.

The embittered baban bola then went away and mobilised hoodlums who returned at about 8pm wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random, eventually killing the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen.

In the attack, two others, a woman and a young boy, reported to be passers-by who unfortunately ran into the middle of the crisis, were also killed, they were, however, yet to be identified.

“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued till this morning when they killed somebody again. So far, three persons have been killed and many injured. The Police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The Police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping,” Ms Adams narrated.

A resident in the community, who spoke with PUNCH Online on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the death of the three persons but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.

“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learnt that three persons have been killed. It happened in Byazhin around that Millionaire’s Quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous, because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, PUNCH Online gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down, as parents scampered to pick up kids from their classrooms, and shops refused to open as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, proved abortive, as her number was repeatedly unreachable.

A 58-year-old father, Joseph Gamor has been remanded in Awarjigoh Correctional Centre for allegedly raping his 13-year-old daughter.

The suspect who lives at the back of Golden GLO Bus stop, Imeke, Badagry, Lagos, was remanded by a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya refused to take his plea.

Adekomaiya ordered the defendant to be remanded until July 29, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ayodele Adeosun told the court that the offence was committed on May 9, at about 9.00.a.m at the defendant‘s residence.

Adeosun said that Gamor did unlawfully penetrate the vagina of his 13-year-old daughter sexually with his manhood.

“He unlawfully touched and removed her clothes and had sexual intercourse with her.”

Adeosun said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 261 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

A combined team of security operatives and local hunters have rescued six additional students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara, Kogi State, bringing the total number of rescued students to 20.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Tuesday.

The students were among the 24 abducted by suspected bandits who invaded the institution on Thursday, while they were preparing for their first-semester examination scheduled to begin on May 13.

The Kogi State Government has commended the security operatives and local hunters for their efforts in rescuing the students, and has assured the public that everything is being done to ensure the safe return of the remaining students.

“Government’s data shows that only four students are still missing from Thursday’s abduction of CUSTECH students.

“Meanwhile, frantic efforts are being made to locate and rescue the four.

“Fierce gun battle between security agents and the kidnappers forced the kidnappers to abandon the six rescued students, with some escaping with severe injuries.

“The families of the six recently-rescued students have confirmed their safe return home as the first 14,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state Gov. Usman Ododo had expressed deep appreciation to the joint forces that carried out the rescue operations. He quoted the governor as urging the forces to continue the search until the remaining students would be found.

“This government wishes to assure the public that the security architecture around schools has been recalibrated for efficiency and early warning systems to prevent future occurrences,” Fanwo stated.

He expressed joy that the rescue came hours after Ododo visited the institution and assured parents of his readiness to rescue all the students.

Fanwo said that the 14 students rescued earlier were getting the required attention. According to him, security agents are combing the forests to ensure that all the kidnapped students are found and brought home safely.