A yet-to-be-identified graduate of the Lagos State University is battling for his life after he was shot by suspected armed robbers who trailed a Point of Sale operator to her residence in the Igando area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Sunday on Kayode Onafuye Street in the Alhaji Ede area of the community.

Our correspondent gathered from eyewitnesses that the robbers, who arrived on two motorcycles, stormed a bungalow in the area in search of the PoS operator.

The four-man gang, however, failed to locate their target after they were unable to force their way into the building.

An eyewitness who identified himself simply as Bode said the development angered the robbers, who subsequently opened fire indiscriminately, with one of the bullets hitting the graduate.

The resident said, “The robbers came on two motorcycles and were about four in number. They had traced the PoS operator to her house. When they first got there, they went to her shop, which is very close to the building.

“When they discovered that she was not there, they went straight to the house and started calling out the PoS operator while attempting to enter the building. It was at that moment that the occupants shut the entrance door, preventing them from gaining access. Out of frustration, they started shooting indiscriminately.”

Another resident, who owns a shop close to the scene of the incident but preferred anonymity for security reasons, said the graduate was walking along the street when one of the bullets struck him.

The resident added that most people in the neighbourhood were unaware of what was happening until the sound of gunshots rang out.

“He unknowingly walked into the scene before he realised what was happening. That was exactly when the robbers started shooting after being unable to locate their target.

“It was after they fled that people quickly rushed to rescue the young man and took him to a nearby General Hospital. One of those who rescued him said he had just graduated from LASU and was preparing for the National Youth Service Corps programme for fresh Nigerian graduates.”

A police source told PUNCH Metro that officers were immediately deployed to the scene after the incident was reported.

“Our attention was drawn to the incident, and our men were promptly deployed to the scene. We also recovered some spent bullet shells in front of the house.”

When contacted on Tuesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she was not aware of the incident but promised to get back to our correspondent. She said, “The report has not gotten to me. I’ll check and revert.” She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report. (The PUNCH)

Update news