Lagos hoodlums brutalise politician fighting for children’s custody

A politician, Hamisu Magaji, has demanded justice after hoodlums allegedly brutalised him on his way to a destination around Toyin Street, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Magaji was going to visit a relative in the area when the hoodlums allegedly attacked him with weapons.

However, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Magaji was attempting to take custody of his four children when the matter degenerated.

Magaji said after the hoodlums allegedly brutalised him, some good Samaritans rushed him to a hospital.

He said, “What happened was that when I came to Lagos last Sunday, I visited a family member around Toyin Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja. I got there around 2pm to 3pm but I got beaten by a mob.

“I was beaten mercilessly; actually, the plan was to murder me. It was God out of his favour that spared my life. I am not going to put everything out in the public, but the matter was reported to the police and other relevant security agencies.

“In order not to tamper with the ongoing investigation, I will hesitate to give clear disclosure on some things. Policemen from the Ikeja division were there as I was attacked by more than 20 people. When I was almost fainting, I was rushed to the Area F Command, where a doctor gave me first aid.

“I was given some drugs and I was referred to other medical facilities in the state. Part of the recommendation was for me to have a scan of my skull, spinal cord, arms, limbs and waist. The results are out and we have presented them to the medical doctors and we believe when the police have those reports, appropriate actions would be taken.”

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Secretary, Arewa Community, Alhaji Musa Sale, condemned the attack on Magaji.

He urged the police to arrest the perpetrators.

He said, “The attack happened at Ikeja, Lagos, when those youths identified Hamisu Magaji, a member of the All Progressives Congress, pounced on him and beat him mercilessly, leading to injuries capable of killing him.”

In his reaction, Hundeyin said Magaji visited the area with two soldiers to take custody of his children, adding that the police were contacted when trouble ensued.

He said, “I made an inquiry; that man (Magaji) had a marriage with someone and had four children and the children were in the woman’s custody. He was trying to take custody of the children; he went with two soldiers to that place in Ikeja and was causing trouble.

“People around called the police and the police got there and took them to the station, including the soldiers. They came from the State Criminal Investigative Department to take over the case. When the case got there, Alhaji (Magaji) refused to write a statement. His lawyer came and he was given another date to look into the matter and he has not shown up since then.”