LAGOS, Nigeria (FN) — A tricycle rider was fatally struck by a stray bullet late Wednesday outside a brothel in the Mushin area of Lagos, sparking outrage among residents and renewed calls for tighter gun control in the state.
According to witnesses, the victim — identified as 34-year-old Ibrahim Musa — was waiting to pick up passengers near the brothel when a gunfight erupted between suspected hoodlums in the neighborhood. Musa, who was not involved in the dispute, was hit in the chest by a stray bullet.
“He was just doing his job,” said Fatima Musa, the victim’s wife, fighting back tears. “He left home that morning to work and never returned. Our children keep asking when their father will come back.”
Residents said the shooting caused panic in the area, forcing nearby business owners and pedestrians to flee for safety. “It happened so fast,” said an eyewitness, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisal. “We only heard gunshots and saw him fall beside his tricycle.”
Police officers later arrived at the scene to restore order. Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident, saying an investigation had been launched. “We are working to identify and apprehend those responsible. The victim was an innocent man caught in the crossfire,” Hundeyin said.
The Lagos State Government condemned the killing, describing it as “unfortunate and avoidable.” In a statement on Thursday, Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso said the government would not tolerate reckless violence in any form. “The safety of every Lagos resident is our priority,” he said. “We have directed security agencies to intensify patrols in high-risk areas and ensure the perpetrators face justice.”
Civil society groups and commuters’ unions also expressed anger over the killing. The Tricycle Operators’ Association of Nigeria called for increased police presence in Mushin and other volatile areas, citing a recent rise in violent clashes.
“This is not the first time our members are being caught in gun violence they know nothing about,” said Tajudeen Akinwale, the union’s secretary. “We want justice for Ibrahim and protection for all tricycle riders trying to earn a living.”
By Thursday evening, sympathizers and neighbors gathered at the victim’s home to console his family. “Ibrahim was a gentle and hardworking man,” said a neighbor, Mrs. Bisi Lawal. “He didn’t deserve such a painful death.”
Musa’s body has been deposited at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital morgue. Police say no arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing
