Kunle Adelabu
It is no longer a doubt that the Agura – Gberigbe area of the Ikorodu Local Government area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has been constantly threatened by all forms of criminalities ranging from ‘Ajagungbales’ (landgrabbers), armed robbery, dispossession of residents of their valuables by hoodlums and incessant attacks among other vices, but some parts of this area are more affected than the others.
One of such is Abiodun Olajire Street at Ewu – Owa in Gberigbe – Owa Community. Residents of the street have been under incessant attacks by armed robbers and hoodlums who have made lives very difficult for them.
Affected residents are now crying out to the government, through the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Hakeem Odumosu, to come to their aid by providing adequate security to protect lives and properties in the area.
In a petition sent to the Commissioner of Police, dated August 16, a copy of which was also sent to THE IMPACT, the residents requested for a patrol vehicle to be stationed in the area, banning of motorcycle riders from plying the street at certain hours and banning of touts who are allegedly extorting motorists at the entrance of the street, to stem the incessant robbery attacks and other menace in their community.
The petition was signed by the 42 residents of the Abiodun Olajire Street.
In the petition, the worried residents requested that:
“Since our street serves as one of the major link roads to Gberigbe from Ikorodu, this has greatly exposed and make the street vulnerable to attacks. Consequently, we are requesting for a patrol vehicle to be stationed in the Street or a special security patrol for Ewu-Owa due to the heavy traffic being experienced in the area as a result of deplorable state of Gberigbe road through One-fold bus stop.
“Enforcement/banning of Motor-cycle (Okada) in the street from 7. 00p.m to 7.00a.m.
“We are requesting immediate stoppage or banning of activities of touts that extort motorists and bikes at the entrance of the street (Abiodun Olajire Street) as they too are constituting nuisance and could cause security threat in the area”, they added.
Meanwhile, while narrating their sad experiences, the petitioners said that the street alone has witnessed seven armed robbery cases and hoodlums attacks in the last two months.
Residents stated that all the cases were reported at the Ijede Police station.
“I wish to formally bring to your attention the increasing menace and activities of armed robbers in Abiodun Olajire Street in Ewu-Owa Community, Gberigbe in Ijede area of Ikorodu division”, the petitioners stated in their petition to the CP.
“In the last sixty (60) days sir, Ewu-Owa has witnessed nothing less than 7 major armed robbery/burglary incidents, most of which occurred at Abiodun Olajire Street. The incidents were subsequently reported at Ijede Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijede.
“The first robbery case was recorded on the 24th day of June, 2021, around 12am to 1am in Abiodun Olajire Street in Ewu-Owa. This is because the community has remained a major link road to Gberigbe due to the deplorable state of the Gberigbe road.
“A 4-man gang invaded Mr. Agunbiade Odunola’s house and the next building to him in Imam Street, both in Ewu-Owa, on that fateful day and successfully carted away a Toyota Camry car, cash, phones and other valuables.
“Seven (7) days after that incident sir, Olajire street witnessed the second attack on the 30th June /1st day of July, 2021, when another 4-man gang invaded the street and over-powered our security guard, tied him and beat him mercilessly.
“Thereafter, the unknown invaders took their heinous operation to Olaife Estate (an adjoining street) and carted away cash, laptops, phones and other valuable properties. The invaders ransacked residents’ houses unchallenged and successful made away with their loots before the arrival of the Police team from Ijede.
The residents further stated in the petition that a third robbery attempt by a 12-man gang was foiled in the following week due to the large number of residents outside the street.
According to the petition, the invaders only dismantled the barricades put at the entrance of the street and left as the residents could not confront them.
“On the following week sir, precisely on Thursday, 3rd day of July, 2021, between 11.30pm – 12. 00a.m, a 12- man gang invaded our street (Abiodun Olajire Street) with four (4) motorcycles (Okada), three on each bike. They had dreadlock hairstyle and wore a fierce look.
“They should be in their early 20’s. Owing to their numbers and tough disposition; we (landlords and the security operative) could not confront them.
“However, it should be stated that due to the number of landlords outside that day to support our security guards, they (the invaders) only dismantled our barricades and left without causing any harm to our community but we later heard that the gang attacked a mini-bus (popularly called ‘Korope”’) along Mowo-Nla/Ewu-Owa road, immediately they left our street that day”, they said.
The petition also stated that:
“On Friday, 24th July, 2021, around 1. 00a.m in the midnight, some armed men, suspected to be smugglers/bandits, accessed our street, accosting a white Mitsubishi Pickup with three (3) bikes which had 3 men each. The occupants and contents of the vehicle were not known. We shivered on sighting them but they told the landlords and security guard on duty that day that they did not come for us, hence, we allowed them passed unchallenged. Sir, if they had come for us, only God could have saved the street that day.
“On the 31st day of July, 2021, another attack took place in the street when a gunshot was fired by some attackers right in front of Mr. Abiodun Olajire’s residence (former CDA Chairman of thd street) around 3. 30a.m to 4.00a.m. This incident made our security guard to resign when it became obvious that he could not stand the incessant attacks.
“On the 8th of August, 2021, around 11. 20 p.m, another robbery attempt to steal a Toyota Sienna 2004 model space bus parked in the owner’s compound was aborted in Abiodun Olajire street by our vigilant security guards with the support of some landlords.
According to the residents:
“ln addition to the aforementioned robbery attacks sir, on Thursday, 12th August, 2021, the house of another resident, in person of Mr. Adewale, was invaded in the early hours between 3. 00a.m and 4. 00a.m, but the timely intervention by our gallant newly recruited security guards (Agbekoya Security Operatives), headed by one Mr. Ade, thwarted attackers’ operation”.
The concerned residents of Olajire Street, who stated that they had to engage the services of a local vigilance group (Agbekoya) after their former security guard resigned, said that the area had been peaceful until the street became a major link road to Gberigbe due to poor state of the main Gberigbe – Agura road.
“It is also imperative to mention sir, that Ewu-Owa was known to be peaceful and had never experienced this type of anomalies, until when Abiodun Olajire Street became a major link road to Gberigbe. Moreso, several other pockets of criminal incidents also occurred in the area which are too numerous to mention in this letter, among which include; snatching and dispossesing of residents of their phones, bags and other valuables, especially early in the morning, among other heinous crimes.
“Since our street is one of the major links to Gberigbe, and as part of our own little efforts to confront the menace of these unprovoked and incessant attacks on our street, we have engaged the services of Agbekoya Security Outfit and also partnered with some neighbouring communities to further secure our street and Ewu-Owa community at large.
“Further to this sir, two gates have just been constructed and installed at the two entrances that lead into the street and they are being closed between 11. 00p.m and 5.00a.m daily. Each of the gates is being manned by security guards”,the residents added in their letter to the CP.
