Armed robbers unleash terror on Ijaiye community

LIFE for residents living in Ijaiye community of Lagos State has become a dreadful experience while business activities have been grounded as they constantly witness serial attacks by bandits who terrorize the area.

Investigation revealed that it all started some time last year when a gang of armed robbers stormed the community and robbed six houses around Rekea Close.

It was gathered that the operation that day began at about 1.00a.m. and lasted for over three hours. Since then, armed robbery attacks have become quite frequent in the neigbourhood.

The Lagos State police command seems helpless over the situation.

A resident said in the last three months, the area have been attacked severally and each time they storm the community, it is always a bitter tale for those that are victims.

The Guardian gathered that, among the areas that have been robbed were Anifowose Street, Ogundipe Street, Biogyun Street, Olaniyi Street, Olorunda Street, Tunde Olusola Street and Rekia Close.

It was gathered that during one of the attacks, residents alerted the Police, who arrived silently from Ikeja and Otta and laid ambush for the bandit but that in the process of quietly waiting for the robbers, policemen from Alagbado division, during routine patrol, arrived the scene with blaring sirens, which made the robbers to escape through a different route.

Orji Daniel, a resident in the community said the hoodlums have devised different methods of carrying out their activities, some of which involves robbing with commercial motorcycles, ambushing workers on their way to work in the early hours of the morning. At other times, they attack traders and shop owners when they are closing for the day.

A member of the Landlords Association in the area, Chief Aramide Akinloye told newsmen that: “This community used to be very calm and peaceful till these criminally minded people began to terrorize the residents. On April 5, they robbed, in the month of May and June they also robbed the area. Last week, they came again.
“Because the area is close to Jankara spare parts market, it was thought by many residents that those who used to steal car batteries from cars parked in front of the residents’ houses were also the ones perpetuating the evil but now we know better, because the robbery has taken a very troubling dimension since they began to move from house to house to rob residents

“Unfortunately, efforts by residents to employ the service of security men like the local vigilante failed, as the landlords were not united in their resolve to find lasting solution to the menace.

Narrating her ordeal to The Guardian, Olubunmi Temitope, who lives around Tunde Olusola Street said: “I was robbed at a few metres from my house on my way to work at about 6am. As I was going to work that morning, from nowhere six men just emerged and attacked me. They collected my handbag, phones and N36,000 I wanted to use to pay my children school fees.”

It was learnt that there are several dark spots in the community, where the gang members usually gather to smoke Indian hemp.

At Ogundipe/Anifowose junction, a vendor was alleged to be selling Indian hemp there.

Residents said during the day, many jobless youth normally gather there to smoke Marijuana

A robbery victim, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “We have been living in fear since this community became a target to men of the underworld. Last week Sunday, June 14, I travelled and was not at home when they robbed my compound. My apartment was bugled and all my valuables were stollen.”
Joe Eniola, another resident said: “We are at the mercy of these miscreants. Just last week, they robbed one of my neighbours around Ogundipe Street and made away with his N500, 000 and other valuables.

“We want the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti to come to our aid urgently. He should deploy policemen to raid the dark spots in the community.”

When contacted, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would get back to us but he did not.