One killed as Chelsea fans celebrate in Lagos

At least one person was reportedly killed while two others sustained severe injuries during Chelsea victory celebration on Saturday.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, an unidentified pregnant lady, was killed in the Ikotun area of the state by gunmen who took advantage of the jubilation to rob innocent residents.

A resident who craved anonymity said, “The entire area was rowdy after the match and some gunmen, who stormed the area, went into the shop of one pregnant lady and robbed her. They shot her before fleeing. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but died soon afterwards.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that in Somolu, a man was reportedly stabbed in the eye after being unable to pay up his bet.

An eyewitness, Mr. Adewunmi Brown, told our correspondent that the violence was envisaged because of the manner with which Chelsea fans celebrated during their victory over Barcelona FC on April 24, 2012.

He said, “Before the match began, I already knew there would be trouble because the last time Chelsea won, there was pandemonium. So, on Saturday, I was at a pub on Kadupe Street. After Chelsea won, two guys began arguing about money and before we knew it, one stabbed the other in the eye.

“I quickly ran away into my compound and locked the gate but the entire area was filled with jubilation. Some of the fans, who were obviously drunk, took off their clothes and were roaming the streets naked.”

Another man, whom residents identified simply as Obi, was also stabbed in the eye for mocking football fans in Orile area of the state.

A resident, Matthew Ajie, said after Chelsea had won the match, Obi was insulting the fans, calling them hooligans for the manner in which they were celebrating.

Obi was said to have sustained injuries in the head and eye after irate fans stabbed him repeatedly.

“After the match, around Alafia Bus Sop, Orile, the fans were rejoicing and some of them even took off their clothes. Obi was however taunting them, calling them touts. They immediately pounced on him and stabbed him in the face.

“He was even left for dead but was later rushed to the hospital by some concerned residents.”

In Ojota area, some jubilant fans were said to have blocked a part of the Ikorodu Expressway to extort money from motorists.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, said he was not aware of any death or pandemonium associated with the match, saying that the police had put in place measures to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

 Vigilance group, fans clash in Abakaliki

Meanwhile, four persons were injured on Sunday at the Amike-Aba area of Abakaliki following a clash between a vigilance group and jubilant Chelsea fans.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the clash occurred around 12.15am when the vigilance group members were attracted by the unrestrained manner in which the fans celebrated.

The vigilance group urged the fans to be moderate in their celebration, an advice that did not go down well with the fans.

The situation led to a verbal confrontation and eventually resulted in a fracas after a fan that had lost control of his motorcycle almost ran into the vigilance group members.

Following the fracas, the vigilance group officials caught some of the fans while the others escaped.

When contacted, Mr. Ephraim Ajali, an official of the vigilance group, said those caught had been released after their parents and other residents intervened.

He said, “Luckily for the boys, they were not among the notorious ones who disrupted the peace of the area as we discovered that they acted under the influence of alcohol.

“Their parents signed an undertaking to offset the medical bill of our wounded officer and a pledge that the boys would be of good behaviour.”

 Match prevented robbery in Enugu

Some youths in Enugu State said for the first times in recent time, no robbery was recorded on Saturday in the capital city, a situation they attributed to the football match.

The youths, led by Nnaemeka Okolie, a human rights activist and lawyer, spoke on Sunday while celebrating the victory of Chelsea.

Okolie said, “The only time when no one complained of car theft, armed robbery, kidnapping or any murder case was on Saturday when Chelsea was taking on Bayern in the Champions League final.

 “If not, almost every Friday and Saturday people lose their cars at various points, either at the joints where they may have gone to hang out or at the homes.”

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