Nigerians have demanded justice for a sound engineer, identified simply as David, who was allegedly beaten and set ablaze by suspected motorcyclists in the Admiralty area of Lekki, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the engineer’s colleagues, Frank, a saxophonist, and Philip, a keyboardist, boarded a motorcycle to a venue on Admiralty Way, Lekki, where David was setting up for a show.
The motorcyclist was said to have conveyed the duo to the destination when an argument bordering on N100 ensued between the motorcyclist and David’s friends.
The argument was said to have degenerated into a fight, as the motorcyclist sought the support of other motorcyclists, who intervened in the matter.
During the intervention, the motorcyclists were said to be attacking Frank and Philip when David was alerted to the incident.
In a bid to rescue his friends, David rushed out of the venue.
But as he got to the scene of the attack, the motorcyclists allegedly seized and beat him till he became unconscious.
As David was lying motionless on the ground, the hoodlums reportedly poured petrol on him and set him ablaze.
Some eyewitnesses took video recordings of the mob action.
The video clips were released online as outraged Nigerians, family and friends of the victims demanded justice for him over the incident which occurred on Thursday.
Using his Twitter handle, one Victor, @Victor_VSax1, revealed in a post that Frank and Philip had been rushed to the emergency unit of a hospital in the area, where doctors were battling to save their lives.
The post read in part, “A group of musicians in Lagos had ‘regular’ to play at Beer-bar along Admiralty Road that evening. The sound engineer and keyboard player who mounted the same bike had an argument with the Okada man (an aboki guy) which resulted in what became a cold-blooded night.
“The other Okada riders (that were of the same tribe) came out and tried to avenge their ‘brother’. To cut the long story short, (they) were beaten to a pulp and the sound engineer lost his life right there.
“As if that was not enough, the sound engineer was burnt right there on the road. The saxophonist (Frank) and the keyboardist (Philip) had to be taken to the emergency unit of the hospital where they were later admitted.”
In a video clip, our correspondent saw as the motorcyclists set David ablaze after beating him to a pulp.
Another video clip also showed one of his friends lamenting the attack.
Nigerians, while condemning the incident, called for the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.
Describing the slain victim as a Christian father with a family, a man, Kovu’Akp Egbelughe, using his handle, @nicknamedkovu, said David “didn’t deserve to end like this.”
Also reacting, a popular online comedy skit maker, Debo Adedayo, aka Mr Macaroni, condemned the attack.
Using his handle, @mrmacaroni, he wrote, “If perpetrators of inhumane and barbaric acts like this are not made to pay for their crimes, this madness won’t end anytime soon. Lagos State Government don’t respond to issues like this. But if it is a peaceful protest, police for don full everywhere. Tueh!!!”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said four suspects had been arrested, adding that a manhunt had been launched for other fleeing accomplices.
He said, “The incident was over N100. So, it degenerated into a fight and the motorcyclists ganged up against the person that was killed and burnt. On the day the incident happened, we arrested four persons that were positively identified by people living in the area.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. A manhunt has been launched for other fleeing accomplices.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the state government would not condone jungle justice.
He said, “Lagos will not condone criminality of any kind; we are a community of civilised people and will never condone jungle justice anywhere in the state.
“The police are investigating the matter and whatever we need to do to clear from our community people who do this kind of uncivilized behaviour, I assure you that the state government will do it.”
