The Ogun State Police Command has deployed operatives of its anti-robbery squad and other tactical teams to conduct on-the-spot assessments and identify black spots used by armed robbers and other criminal elements terrorising the Oniboku, Ajayi-Egan and Mesan communities in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council.

Residents of the communities had raised the alarm over incessant robberies in the areas for more than two months, accusing operatives at Iju Police Station of allegedly failing to respond to distress calls on time and often arriving after the robbers had unleashed terror and escaped.

They lamented that whenever the robbers struck, they carted away items such as mobile phones, cash, motorcycles and other valuables worth millions of naira.

A resident, who did not want his name mentioned, recounted how a gang of robbers attacked and beat him with sticks and the side of a cutlass before snatching his mobile phone.

“I was coming from work around 9:00 p.m., when they stopped me. They beat me with sticks and a cutlass because I delayed in handing over my phone. To this day, my hand is still swollen. They took everything I had.”

Another resident, a youth leader in Ajayi-Egan community, blamed the police for what he described as delayed responses to distress calls during robbery attacks, saying officers usually cited lack of fuel.

“When we call the police, they tell us they don’t have fuel or there is no vehicle. Sometimes they come hours after the robbers have escaped. We feel abandoned,” he said.

However, the Command, in a swift reaction, denied the allegations, saying the police often respond promptly to distress calls. It said the mobilisation and deployment of anti-robbery operatives and other tactical teams to the affected locations for on-the-spot security assessments, identification of black spots, intensified intelligence gathering and continuous patrols proved that the police respond immediately to distress calls.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, who confirmed this to journalists in a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday, said that upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Onipanu-Ota Division, deployed operatives immediately to the affected locations.

Babaseyi said that as part of efforts to strengthen security, the Command had scheduled a town hall meeting to engage residents and deepen collaboration in order to find a lasting solution to the menace.

“As part of sustained efforts to strengthen security and promote community participation, a town hall meeting has been scheduled. Traditional rulers (Baales), market leaders, youth leaders, artisans, residents and local vigilante groups are expected to attend.

The engagement aims to raise security awareness, deepen collaboration and encourage timely information sharing,” the police spokesperson said.

The Command also advised residents of the affected communities who have been attacked by robbers to report to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Onipanu-Ota, to formally document their complaints and aid ongoing investigations.