Lagos Island also known as Isale Eko is the principal and central local government area in Lagos. It was initially home to fishermen and loggers. The fishermen make a living from the Lagos lagoon while the loggers transport their logs through the water as its cheaper for their trade.

Lagos Island which comprises of places like Oke-Suna, Agarawu, Ita-Faji, Oke-Popo, Omi Didun, Pattey among others accommodates more than 600,000 Lagosians due to its economic value and proximity to the mainland.

At the moment, the attractions that made people stay in the area is now under threat from the activities of hoodlums. Contrary to reports making rounds, these set of troublemakers are not formenting trouble as a result of inter-cult war rather, its a disagreement between two jolly good neighbours whose relationship has gone sour.

Before writing this story, the writer had a one-on-one interview with four individuals that have lived in Lagos Island for a minimum of 28years and their submission was eye-opening.

According to them, the crisis in Lagos Island is not a new development as it has always been so for years but the crisis is moving beyond ordinary these days.

The current crisis in Lagos Island is propelled by so many factors, chief among these is the escalation of the internal crisis in road transport unions. It is said that the transport unions have a process of choosing their leaders, and this is done mostly through violence as each block in the union will display its superiority to take charge of a preferred garage which won’t go without bloodshed. The bloodshed is what has led to reprisal attacks in the area.

The crisis is also encouraged by a high rate of unemployment in the areas. Most of the individuals involved in the killings don’t have a meaningful source of livelihood, as a result, they become a willing tool of the devil.

Also, the proliferation of small arms which was made possible by politicians that allegedly use these troublemakers as political thugs has made the crisis more compelling as the factions involved now use guns to kill each other compared to when they use machete and bottles for their dastardly act.

At the time of writing this story, this unabated killings has claimed three lives at Onala while eleven lives have been lost to the crisis in Oke-Popo. The resultant effect of this is more glaring as shop owners and residents have moved out of the troubled zone.

The earlier we nipped this in the bud, the better for Lagos Island.