Ikorodu waterways of joy, prosperity turn channels of agony

Waterways in Lagos and its suburbs such as Ikorodu used to be peaceful and are veritable sources of commerce, transportation and relaxation for people living around the settlements and those who came from far away. But these days, they have become sources of agony for many residents and many inhabitants have fled and abandoned their homes and property because robberies and other criminal activities are the only articles of trade known in the areas now.

When The Guardian paid a visit to residents of communities that live just beside the creeks and waterways, it was a sorry sight to behold. Communities such as Igbo-Olomu, Elepete, Isawo, Agbede and Ajegunle have become ghost towns as most of the inhabitants have fled, abandoning their homes.

In the course of writing this report, a guide who craved anonymity was used. He took The Guardian to these towns, from the beginning of Ola-Imam to Elepete, a distance spanning several kilometers, only two people were met. The place was eerily silent, totally abandoned and even commercial motorcyclists refused to go inside. Commercial activities were paralysed as not a single shop was opened apart from one at Ola Imam junction.

The guide revealed that before the attack that took place last month, the militants had been engaging in oil bunkering which usually fetched them between N3 to N4 million daily. They supplied to individuals, businesses and most petrol stations in Ikorodu. But when the pipelines dried up, then began the problems. As there was no other means of livelihood, the boys took to armed robbery, raping and kidnapping. And despite several pleas to the security agencies, nothing was done about it.

In an attempt to find peace, he said, “A meeting was called between the boys and the community heads. A woman popularly called Big Mummy arranged the meeting here (pointing to the spot where the meeting took place) and you wouldn’t believe that these boys came fully armed in broad daylight with sophisticated weapons, numbering about 50. We were afraid, but we begged them that these problems should stop and asked what we could do to stop the attacks so we could co-habit peacefully. They told us that there was no problem and everything was under control. They asked us to sleep peacefully in our homes and nothing would happen. We left there feeling happy to have resolved the problem not knowing we were deceiving ourselves. My sister, it was that night we were attacked and several people were killed. What did we do wrong? From then, I knew we were in big trouble.”

A second man was called who acted as another guide (an Omo Onile of the area), taking The Guardian to Elepete as the first guide said he was afraid and couldn’t go there alone. Speaking in confidence, he said: “My biggest problem now is the kidnapping that these boys have started. Ever since the pipelines dried up, they have resorted to kidnapping people for ransom. The level of kidnapping is unbelievable as people are being kidnapped almost daily. I am telling you confidently today that these boys have a list they use and some residents supplied this list, believe it or not. They work with the list and when it is your turn to be kidnapped, if you like, enter a rat hole, they will find you and kidnap you. They usually write letters to you and when they come to your house they will knock on the door and ask you “do you want to open the door or do you want us to come in?” When you hear that, you know what it means. Don’t even bother to beg, as that would fetch you the beating of your life.

“Just last week, they kidnapped two of my neighbours on two different occasions. One has been ransomed with N700,000 after much pleading, and prayers while the other one is still with them. They are asking for N1 million for her release and her family and friends have not been able to come up with the money. They have threatened to kill her if the money is not raised by the end of this week. My sister, I am fed up with the situation and help is not coming from any quarters.

We reported to police stations around the area on several occasions but can you believe that the police officers told me that the boys have come to deal with them twice now and they only managed to escape. There are five major camps these militants use and the fifth one, which leads to Asolo is the biggest. It is the same creek that connects Majidun and Ogolonto and no activity of any security agency is noticed on that whole stretch. Just last week, one woman, Iya Semiu was kidnapped and raped to death. She is about 65 years old, but these boys don’t care, everyone is fair game to them.”

Another landlord in Elepete who also spoke on the condition of anonymity had since abandoned his house, and his children moved to Ibadan and Osogbo to live with his family. He is very bitter as his home has been divided and doesn’t know if he would be able to return there again. His neighbour was among those killed during the last attack, a memory he said has traumatised his children and himself.

“Go to Agric and other places, you would see Igbo Olomu and Elepete landlords carrying loads up and down like mad people. We have nowhere to go. I have been sleeping in a church for the last couple of weeks, while my family is scattered all over Nigeria whereas I built a house in this Lagos. I wanted to manage the situation, but when I was attacked the second time, I didn’t need anybody to tell me that this has gotten out of hand. The boys walked calmly into my house, shot my dog and threatened to slaughter my family members if they gained entrance. It was the grace of God that saved me. A lot of peoples’ wives have been taken by the boys, while their husbands are helpless, small boys that are young enough to be their sons.”

Trying to get any of them to lead The Guardian towards the creeks proper was futile as they all refused saying it would be a suicide mission.

Going back to Ola Imam junction, they lamented that the police stationed there have done nothing for them and instead have started exploiting them. Passing several barricades set up by the police, okadas are not allowed to pass between the barricades and have to wheel their bikes past them. The residents lamented that the police have taken to playing Lotto a.k.a Baba Ijebu, drinking and womanizing instead of doing their jobs. They are angrier that when robbery and kidnapping incidents are reported to them, nothing is done.

Waterways

“When I called them that the boys have come from the creeks again and were robbing people at Elepete Junction, they asked me to go and observe the situation and report back to them.

Since these boys went ‘nuclear’ on us, raping, kidnapping and armed robbery have been the order of the day and not a single person has been arrested. You went to the town, how many people did you see? You can count them on one hand. I am telling you that we know some of the police are working hand in hand with these boys. The moment you report them to the police, the boys would come and pay you a visit that night with immediate effect. They would ask you to bring your big mouth outside and identify which of them is a robber or rapist then deal with you properly. By the time the residents realized this, we stopped reporting to the police and decided to get Onyabo to protect us.

The Onyabo said they would collect N30,000 each and we agreed and levied each house accordingly. To our greatest shock, the boys wrote us a letter saying if we tried the nonsense we were about to do, that N30, 000 would be used to buy our coffins respectively. We all dispersed quietly and that was the end of the matter. The okadas you see here act as informants to the boys. If you dare drive a luxurious car inside this area, just know you will receive visitors that night that will kidnap you and your car. When you are ransomed, you wouldn’t see your car again. Most of the women and men around here were ‘oil distributors’ when the going was good and have now turned informants and nuisances now that the pipelines are dry.”

It was a slightly different tale on the other side of the water, which is home to the Majidun and Ogolonto settlements. Getting people to talk proved harder as the inhabitants were visibly scared. Rooted in absolute squalor, the place hosted shoddily built shanties and people sat dejectedly around. These communities used to thrive in the past as they acted as ‘command centre’ for oil bunkerers who reigned with impunity till last year when the Nigerian Navy took over the place, ridding it of the criminals. The communities are now shadows of their former selves as all financial activities have come to a halt and most of the homes have been abandoned.

Speaking with one of the youth leaders of the Majidun community who craved anonymity, he praised the efforts of the Navy, saying they have restored peace and civility to the area, acknowledging that the communities used to be hotbeds of terror previously.

“The area used to be very rough. I give kudos to the government as they saved us from the criminals and oil bunkerers. Now you cannot see any oil bunkerer or militant and I believe it is due to the presence of the Nigerian Navy. They imposed a curfew on us and we keep to it, if you are caught after, you are on your own.”

Another resident argued that she didn’t want the Navy there anymore as they were disturbing and preventing them from doing their business. Revealing herself as Mrs. Ayeni, secretary of the United Sand Diggers Association of Nigeria, Majidun Chapter, she is calling on the government to reopen the road (which has been blocked and taken over by the Navy) so they can continue their business.

A navy officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity however, refuted this claim, saying everyone was free to carry out legal business. He said those agitating for the water and road to be re-opened were oil bunkerers who operated under the cover of sand diggers and sellers.

“We cannot allow any speed boat to operate here again because the moment you allow one, you have opened the floodgates for the bunkerers to flourish again. These people are unserious. Before we came here, it was like a battle zone. The level of crime was unbelievable with daily incidences of robbery, rape and vandalism and if they want to be truthful, these incidents are in the past now and they can sleep with both eyes closed while we stay awake protecting the area. We have to keep watch so as to prevent those militants from crossing to this side, because once they do, it is over as they will be in total control of the whole waterways. Sadly, they have taken control of the Isawo and Igbo Olomu axis, rendering the waterways impassable as they rob and maim people that use it.”