Ten years after it witnessed one the worst attacks caused by two warring factions battling for supremacy, Oshodi is witnessing surge of young men who are back not for celebration but for chaotic in the area.
Since December 2025, there have been incessant attacks on businesses, households, destruction of vehicles and harassment of residents in the council.
After months of complaints, the residents of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1 are raising an alarm over the swell of hoodlum attacks terrorizing Owoseni, Inasa, Eyin-Ogun, Orile-Oshodi, Branco, Ayetoro Compound, Ilesomi, Owoseni, Ijaye streets and surrounding areas.
Residents of the area under OMSE said over the past weeks, armed groups have unleashed violence, leaving dozens injured, vehicles damaged, shops vandalized and valuable property destroyed. They lamented that the community’s sense of safety has been shattered, and daily life is now marked by fear and uncertainty.
Worried by lack of necessary response, leaders in the community called a stakeholder meeting and met at the Wahab Larinde Primary School on March 1, 2026, where eyewitnesses and victims shared first-hand accounts of assaults.
Their testimonies paint a clear picture of the scale of destruction and identify patterns that can aid law-enforcement investigations.
While there are five police division in Oshodi; Makinde, Mosafejo, Akinpelu, Makinde and Airport Police Division, and an Army barracks in Charity Oshodi, the Lagos State Taskforce office in Bolade, a five minutes’ drive from the affected area, the hoodlums from age 15 continue to operate, harass and send fear down the spine of the residents.
The residents alleged that the police are not equipped to counter the surge of the hoodlums, alleging that for instance, Akinpelu Police Division does not have fan to operate with while others do not have the manpower to counter the hoodlums.
Chairman, Babatunde Faleye, OMSE, said preliminary investigations points to a disturbing network of local stakeholders and elders who allegedly provide backing and resources to the criminal elements.
He said: “The open display and use of hard drugs is very disturbing. The use of our canal waterway structures, uncompleted buildings and existing village style compounds as a hideout for criminals further embolden these groups, creating a dangerous environment for law-abiding citizens. This complicity undermines community trust and hampers efforts to restore peace.
“As a matter of urgency, we call on the Federal Government, the Lagos State Governments, as well as relevant security agencies, to intervene immediately. A coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Police, civil defence, and local vigilante groups is needed to dismantle these criminal networks, secure the waterways, and eradicate drug peddling in the area. We also urge community leaders to denounce any support for these hoodlums and work together to build a safe, thriving Oshodi for all residents.”
Giving account of what happened, a bus driver, Ismaila Yusuf, said: “The boys during operation in Eniyanlonbinu broke my windscreen, passenger side window and the rear windshield of my mini-bus. I have not been able to raise money since they destroyed my bus three weeks ago. They destroyed the vehicles of others on the street unchallenged.
Speaking also, Omowunmi Babatunde, they destroyed my belongings, stole my generator, my television set, stole my phone. They came into my compound armed with cutlass and other dangerous weapon. The hoodlums storm any compound they sight matured male and start destroying.
Narrating, boy whose hand was macheted, Joshua Adedapo, said: “I was coming from my cousin’s house and saw people running for safety and I followed them, they they macheted my hand, I was rushed to the hospital. I experience pain every night and can’t sleep.
Speaking, a resident in the area, Adeyemi Muritala, said: “We have tried our best but we continue to witness hoodlum invasions. The authority has all the machineries to put things in order, they are in charge of the Nigeria Police, Army, Navy and others so, it’s surprise to see this happening. There is a Military base in Arena, another one in Charity, Naval barrack in Shogunle so, if the police are not sufficient to confront this, others can be called to assist and combat the menace.
When The Guardian reached out to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Jimoh Olohundare, he said: “There is nothing like rival war in Oshodi. The taskforce continues to raid the area, making arrest.
“There could be disturbances in Oshodi but there is no serious security issue in Oshodi.”
