Landlord stabbed to death while trying to settle street fight in Lagos

Tragedy struck at the Olorogun Street, Odo Eran, in the Itire area of Lagos State, weekend, as a landlord, one Alawu Lateef, in an attempt to settle some dispute among hoodlums who were engaged in a street fight, was stabbed to death by a 21-year-old, PUNCH reports.

According to reports, the hoodlums, numbering about six, had stormed the area from Osindero Street to meet one Balogun, who they claimed owed them about N30, 000.

However, they did not meet Balogun at home, but started to cause trouble on the street. In the process, the deceased, a father of three, allegedly intervened in the fight, asking the hoodlums to leave the area. But one of them, identified as Lati Elepo, allegedly stabbed him.

Lateef who reports revealed worked as a panel beater before his death, was said to have asked Elepo to leave the area with his gang members, when the 21-year-old stabbed him in the chest.

It was gathered that after the father of three slumped, some residents arrested Elepo before he could escape with the other hoodlums, while friends and family members rushed the landlord to an unnamed private hospital in the area, from where he was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba. He was later confirmed dead.

His corpse was however, taken to the Itire Police Division where the matter was reported.

Speaking on the incident, one of the deceased neighbours, who identified himself simply as Rashidi, said Lateef did not have any business with the miscreants, but only tried to pacify them before Elepo stabbed him on the chest, adding that Elepo and two other suspects were arrested by the police.

Rashidi said, “It was at about 11am when these boys from Osindero stormed our street. They are teenagers. They are not cultists. They said Balogun owed them N30, 000 which they must collect from him.

“Lateef did not want such commotion on the street. So, he came out to caution them to take things calmly. The one who stabbed him was drunk,” Rashidi affirmed.

“While Lateef spoke with them, the suspect went to a nearby shop where knives and other metals are sharpened. He grabbed about three knives and stabbed Lateef on the chest. Resident arrested him and dragged him to the police station while other hoodlums ran away.”

Meanwhile, it was further learnt that policemen visited the street in the evening and raided other suspected hoodlums loitering in the area.

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, reportedly said he was not disposed to make comments.