Hoodlums invade Lagos communities, rob residents, victims lament

Landlords, residents and business owners have lamented the growing threats posed by hoodlums in various areas in Abule Egba Joint Community Development Association, Abule Egba, in the Agbado Oke Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the hoodlums, who lurk around the community, had been attacking and robbing residents and businessmen on their way to work in the morning and while returning home at night.

A resident in the community, Olajide Falowo, said anything from 7pm movement in the community was no longer safe, adding that the hoodlums had been operating at will.

Falowo said, “We are in distress. Moving from Abule-Egba to Ahmadiya to Ile Epo is no longer safe at night. Hoodlums now snatch phones and dispossess commuters and motorists of their belongings. I can tell you right now that once it is 7pm, it is not safe to go out to the main road to withdraw money.”

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Another resident, who spoke to our correspondent while craving anonymity for security reasons, described a dump site around Ile-Epo bus-stop as a flashpoint for criminal activities in the area.

He said, “That is another dangerous spot where you see fearful looking men who are usually located there. If you stay for a long time, they will attack you and once they snatch your belongings, they will jump into the dump site and escape.”

Also, the residents complained about regular accidents along the Abule Egba-Kola corridor, noting that the accidents were usually caused by motorists driving against traffic due to the bad road inward Sango-Ota.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Olaniyi, said, “We have lost a lot of people to the one-way menace. There is a man in my area whose leg was almost amputated if not for timely intervention. He was knocked down by a commercial bus driver. Another woman also got knocked down while coming from church. She died instantly.”

The Chairman of the CDA, Rotimi Olaide, said, “Once we lodge a complaint to the police, they will come around for one or two weeks and then they relax. We want the police authorities to monitor the activities of the officers being drafted to the area.”

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Thank you for bringing this to my notice. I will inform the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, about it”