MICHAEL AKINOLA
Residents and shop owners spread across Omobola, Wuraola, Eleja and Onipede streets in Itire area of Lagos have lamented the incessant attacks and sporadic shootings by robbers and members of cult groups in the area.
According to some of the residents, who spoke to P.M.EXPRESS correspondent, in the past, it used to be clashes between members of rival cult groups that gave them sleepless nights. But they said that in the last couple of days, it had been ceaseless attacks from both robbers and members of cult groups.
A resident, Mr. Olalekan Salami, said he was on his way back home after doing a night shift in his place of work when he suddenly heard gunshots. Not waiting to know whether it was from Police officers or hoodlums, he and other passersby scampered for safety. He said when the shooting subsided, they then saw Police officers, who patrolled the area in search of the hoodlums.
A shop owner on Omobola Street, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it has been one attack or the other from cult boys and robbers. She said in the last couple of days, that they have not opened their shops for business owing to ceaseless attacks. She said that she narrowly escaped the last time as the hoodlums broke into shops in the area and cut people with knives as they rampaged. When asked if they have complained to the Police, she said that they believe strongly that only the presence of FSARS operatives or military officers can bring sanity to their area while raising the issue of lack of trust or capacity of the officers attached to the Itire Police Division.
“Where were the Police officers from Itire Division when the criminal elements destroyed the electricity transformer at Onipede, which resulted in total blackout, and aided their nefarious activities at night?” she asked.
For another resident, Mr. Taofiq Amao, the State Government and the security agencies must urgently intervene in the matter. He said that he became more worried upon the realisation that the hoodlums had succeeded in pulling down the gate at Onipede Street in order to have unfettered access to the area. Mr. Amao told our correspondent that most residents now stay indoors and shop owners are afraid to open for business owing to the security situation.
“I’m seriously considering looking for accommodation elsewhere. One cannot continue to live in fear! It’s becoming too much and the Police have done little to curb or nip these attacks in the bud. The attacks keep increasing by the day; on Saturday they pulled down the Omobola gate with the wall fence. They entered a particular one-storey building and robbed the occupants. People were dispossessed of their monies, mobile phones, TV sets and other valuables. All the cars parked on the whole streets around the area were badly damaged by the hoodlums. We’re surely under siege” Amao concluded.