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Some residents of Lagos and Ogun states have been depriving themselves of sleep at night to keep watch over their community which have come under the siege of hoodlums.
The residents noted that the hoodlums took advantage of the current lockdown in both states occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic to rob them of their valuables and rape their wives and daughters in border communities in both states.
A landlord in the Aiyede community of the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Rasaq Abejoye, said, “Since last week, landlords and youths have been watching over the community at night. Around midnight on Thursday, I was among the landlords, who volunteered to keep watch over the community . We usually start from 8 pm till around 2.30am, but the youth usually stay longer than that and they also move around the area to send a signal that they are on guard."
Another landlord in the Ado- Odo/ Ota Local Government Area of the state, Bola Farinloye, said the attacks were a ripple effect of the lockdown, adding that most of the hoodlums perpetrating the crime were from Lagos State.
Farinloye said, “ When they were building the Ilepo Market, some traders migrated to the Ijoko area in Ado- Odo/ Ota and the hoodlums followed them .
The hoodlums have been surviving in the community by engaging in different kinds of jobs . But when the lockdown started , because they had no other means of survival, they started robbing people.
“ Initially , we reported to the police but they often come , raid and go , while the hoodlums ’ illegal activities continue. So, landlords and youths in Ilogbo , Owode, Ilepa , Ijako , Isaka , Isorosi , Ewupe, Anisere and Agbado- Crossing, among others, have become vigilantes to watch over the communities .”
In the Abule - Egba area of Lagos State, no fewer than 30 armed hoodlums were said to be robbing residents of their valuables.
A resident, Grace said, “ Landlords and youths in the community are the ones guarding us now, because the situation has gone out of control. They usually make bonfires at midnight so the hoodlums will be aware that they are not asleep. ”
Similarly , pandemonium broke out on Sunday evening as suspected members of the Awawa Boys and One Million Boys stormed the Agege area of Lagos and dispossessed many residents of their valuables .
A resident , Kuburat Oyelakin , said “ The Awawa Boys and One Million Boys have been robbing residents in their houses with guns in Agege. On Sunday evening, people living in Dopemu , Capitol Road , Amowo and Oko - Oba areas came onto the roads to watch over their areas because of the insecurity they have been experiencing .
It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police , Hakeem Odumosu , had deployed the personnel of the Rapid Response Squad and other units in the area to restore peace and arrest the hoodlums .
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command , on Sunday, dismissed claims that armed robbers had taken over some parts of Ifo and Ado- Odo/ Ota local government areas of the state .
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