Residents of several communities in Lagos and Ogun States are now living in fear, following rising cases of robbery attacks even in broad day light.
The affected neighbourhoods in Lagos are; Ajao Estate; Abule Egba; Iju; and Alagbado, while communities invaded in Ogun State are Ota, Ayede; Ilepa; Ijoko; Ifo; Ibogun; Itori; Gudugba; Ayepe as well as Agbado communities in Ifo and Ewekoro Local Government Areas of Ogun State.
In a bid to stem the attacks, it was gathered that the residents of the affected communities have since formed vigilante groups.
The increase in these attacks is due to a widespread lack of resources witnessed by the coronavirus lockdown, according to some residents.
In the Ajao Estate area of the Isolo Local Council Development Area; not a few residents who visited Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in different parts of the town have been robbed of their money in the last few days.
A resident of Ajao resident, Mrs Asimiyu Adetomobi, who visited a nearby ATM gallery; said she was robbed by hoodlums who had waited for her to make cash withdrawal before dispossessing her of the money.
In the Abule Egba area, the hoodlums have been breaking into homes; and robbing residents at gunpoint.
A resident, Thomas Adedeji, who shared his experience said: “We were outside our home around U-Turn area of Abule Egba at about 7 pm last Wednesday; when boys numbering eight pounced on us at gunpoint and led us into our rooms and robbed us of our money and mobile phones.’’
It was gathered that suspected hoodlums also broke into several roadside shops at Oshodi, Dopemu, Iju and Old Abeokuta Motor Road in the Agege area of Lagos State.
In Ayede, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, residents no longer sleep with their eyes closed as they have had to form vigilance teams to ward off the robbers.
Sources said many have had to flee their homes in fear as the robbery has become incessant and they have had no respite in the last two weeks.
“The robbers have been attacking several communities in Ibogun including Olorunda, Egbeda, Alapoti, Odejimi, and Solu, among others. We now make bonfires at night to keep vigil over our neighbourhoods,” a community leader lamented.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Friday, April 10; police spokesman in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi assured residents of adequate police protection.
‘’The Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has therefore appealed to members of the public not to be unnecessarily apprehensive. 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 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He also enjoined them to reach out to the command through the control room number 08081770416 whenever they are in distress.’’
