There was pandemonium on Friday in the Oworonsoki area of Lagos State when hoodlums numbering over 100 attacked women who were mostly widows.

The widows were said to have gathered in front of the palace of the monarch of Oworonsoki, Oba Kabir Adesegun Bashir Saliu for the collection of empowerment items including commodities and cash from the monarch when the hoodlums stormed the place and started beating the women.

Many of the women were said to have been injured in a bid to escape from the scene of the attack.

It was said that the hoodlums said the monarch was using the distribution of the food items to lure people to his side and consolidate himself on the throne.

One of the victims, Madam Rukayat Ajibade said: ‘’ The monarch usually gives us food items and cash on Fridays and we were already in the queue when some hoodlums came and started beating us with the cane. Many of us were injured and were taken to hospital for treatment.

‘’We ran for our dear lives and while we were running away they still continue to beat us. We want the state government to intervene and apprehend the hoodlums.’’

Another victim, Femi Anipupo said: ‘’ I don’t know why some people will be unnecessarily wicked. It has become the habit of the monarch to give food items to women and widows on Fridays and that was what he was doing before the hoodlums led by one Qasim stormed the place and beat up everyone in sight.

‘’When I saw what was going on, I told the boys that what they were doing was wrong because the women and widows have not done anything wrong to deserve brutality. Surprisingly, they descended on me too and brutalise me mercilessly. I am in pain and I don’t know if they have used charms to beat me.’

An Inquiry sent to the mobile phone of the spokesman of the Lagos Police Command, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin was not returned at press time. (The Nation)

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