Several communities in Lagos And Ogun States are now living in fear following rising cases of robbery attacks during the lockdown over covid-19 pandemic.
The affected neighbourhoods in Ogun State are Ijoko, Sango Ota, Ayepe, Ilepa, Ibogun, Itori and Agbado communities in Ifo and Ewekoro Local Government Areas if Ogun State. Among others in Lagos are: Ajao Estate, Abule Egba, Iju, Agege, Alimosho, Alagbado.
It was learnt that residents of the affected communities have since formed vigilance groups to contain the rampaging robbers.
The attacks, according to sources, became prominent in the wake of the lockdown in Lagos And Ogun to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
In the Agbado Community, area of Ifo Local Government, Ogun, Some residents in that community have been robbed of their money in the last few days of the lockdown.
A resident in Agbado, Grace Obinna, said the hoodlums visited their street two times this week. According to her, they bust into houses on Monday, and also visited them again on Tuesday. “We were robbed of all our essential items,( our money and phones) twice this week, these hoodlums broke into our shops and threatened to kill us if we didn’t cooperate. It was after their visit the Second time that we had to call the security personnel as it is getting out of hand”.
It was gathered that suspected hoodlums had broken into several roadside shops in Iju and old Abeokuta Motor Road in the Agege area of Lagos State. A trader whose Shop is located in a street in Iju Ishaga area disclosed that the hoodlums broke into their Shops and packed all their goods. ” As street Shops were allowed to open by the Lagos State Government during this Lockdown, i decided to open my shop on Tuesday, but to my surprise it was empty.
This hoodlums has left me with nothing” Alhaja Bisi Lamented.
In Ijoko, Sango, Agbado area of the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, residents no longer sleep with their eyes closed. As the said hoodlums has notified them of bursting them any time soon, via letter. They have however formed a vigilance group to ward off the robbers from the community.
A leading member of the community, Mr Olowo, said they have alerted State Police, and they have been coming during the day for investigation, but a vigilance group has been form to survey the community during the night.
‘’They robbers, who have been attacking our neighboring communities, wrote a letter to us on Wednesday to inform us that they will be coming soon, we now make bonfires at night to keep vigil over our neighbourhoods,’’ he said.
Meanwhile in a statement issued on Friday, police spokesman in Ogun State, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi assured residents of adequate police protection. He urged people not to panic.
‘’The Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has therefore appealed to members of the public not to be unnecessarily apprehensive as the command will continue to do everything within its power to ensure that the good people of Ogun state enjoy adequate security during and after this trying period of our dear country. He also enjoined them to reach out to the command through the control room number 08081770416 whenever they are in distress.’’
