Lagos/Badagry Expressway Now Den Of Robbers, Residents, Road Users Raise Alarm

ADEBOBOLA ALAWODE

A passionate appeal has gone to the Area ‘E’ Command of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, situated inside the Festival Town of Arts And Culture, FESTAC Town, Lagos State and other relevant authorities over the nefarious activities of armed robbers operating on the Lagos/Badagry Expressway Way, Lagos State.

Some of the residents and commuters plying this deadly route are always at the mercy of these men of the underworld from the Mile-2 axis to Abule-Ado area because they are being disposed off of their valuables and in some cases they sniff life out of their unexpected victims in the course of their operations.

Some of the angry residents and commuters, who spoke with one of our correspondents in Lagos bemoaned at the way these armed robbers, carry out their operations with the fear of the police and other relevant security agencies, stressing that these armed robbers normally carry out their nefarious without fear of security operatives.

Nnaemeka Ezekiel, while recounting how he was lucky to escape but his friend (Kingsley James) was not only stripped of his valuables like mobile phones, monies and a Sony laptop but was also shot dead.   

Ezekiel, who was close to tears while recounting how the deceased lost his life, said they had left FESTAC Town through First Gate on their way to work when they were accosted at the bus-stop waiting to board a commercial bus .

He added that the three men first of all asked him for his mobile phone and before they could get close to him he ran away but his late friend was not quick enough. According to him, “Immediately I ran away from where we were, I ran to a distance, raised an alarm but they were undeterred I was watching how they collected James’ valuables, he didn’t struggle with them before I could shout again I heard gunshot and I saw my friend on the ground, pronto two motorcycles appeared from nowhere and these three guys mounted on them and sped off. That was how I lost my childhood and bosom friend to the cold hands of death.”

Another respondent, who craved anonymity for the fear of being attacked called on the relevant authorities to nip in the bud the activities of these marauders before it gets out of hand. He said that he had seen innocent people being robbed on several occasions on these axis of the road with nobody having the effrontery to either confront or challenge these armed robbers.

A trader within this axis urged the Lagos State Government to ensure that streetlights on this axis are made to work because if these streetlights are working it would help curb the activities of these unwanted guests.

Ogochukwu Agoha, who sells female wares at the Agboju axis of this stretch of the expressway, said police need to be patrolling the road on a regular basis as the presence of security operatives would instill fear in the minds of these thieves.

In his words: “To stem the tide of these armed robbers operating from Mile-2 to Abule-Ado I would suggest that there should be serious presence of security operatives patrolling this road, if these armed robbers see policemen on the road they would not be able to operate there.”

Attempts to get reactions from the Area “E” Command as none of the security personnel were willing to talk on the ugly issue. One of them, who craved anonymity confirmed the issue but asked this reporter to direct his questions to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu.