A group of 39 communities under the aegis of Central Community Development Association, Isawo, have appealed to the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja to rescue them from the activities of militants who surfaced in the area after four years. In the letter dated 16 May 2019, the community representatives plead with Brigade Commander not to withdraw his forces from the area as they’ve been seeing familiar faces of members of the old bandits wallowing their communities since they heard the military men are preparing to evacuate the area.
Residents who fear a comeback of the remnants of the dreaded militants have started moving out of the communities while other residents groans in anticipation of heinous activities by this men of the underworld. The call by the residents of these communities is a proactive measure by the CDA officials before things degenerate into what it used to be in the past.
It was recorded that prior to the deployment of military personnel in 2015, the island communities used to be a hub of ferocious criminal activities by the militants who engaged in pipeline vandalism, oil bunkering, robbery, kidnapping and raping of innocent people. The natural landlocked terrain surrounded by creeks with no functional exit roads, made the residents vulnerable and lived at the mercy of the bandits who attack and abscond as they wish.
Four years after the military salvaged the situation by stationing army units in the adjoining communities, they started pulling back their men last month and this conspicuous move has attracted the remnant members of the militants who once plunged the communities into disarray for years.
The community officials feeling very insecure appealed to the military to stay and protect the helpless citizens who will soon be facing mayhem in the hands of the lurking miscreants, who are waiting for the soldiers to leave so they could unleash havoc. The concerned communities united under the umbrella of Central Community Development Association implore the military commander to hear their humble cry and leave his men for the safety of the defenseless residents.
The letter stated that people of the neighbourhood are looking forward to the manifestation of the proposed Agric-Isawo-Arepo road network which will link the communities to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. This road network if built, will reduce the risk of being trapped in isolated islands for the militants to plunder. Till the government construct the road network which will open up the Ikorodu West communities to the safer hinterland, the military should provide them protection. A line in the Save Our Soul letter reads: “we echo the request of residents comprising 39 Community Development Association that the military forces remain and further reinforced until general safety of lives and properties can be guaranteed”.
The Communities involved are: Accord Isawo, Unique progressive, United progressive Isawo. Peace and love, Egan, Aboki Bada, Ogo Oluwa, Ibukun Oluwa, Isokan, Konu, Boluwatife, Ogunyeye, Noble, Grace Land, Olorunsogo, Ifeolorundun, Palm City, Olanukan, Progressive Oke Oko, Ifesowapo oluwakemi Oke Oko, Ifelodun, Yewa, Diamon, Excellente Tapa, Asejere, E. Royal, Ajomo Island, Irewole, Ife Oluwa, Aseyori, Olorunda, Irepodun, Ifesowapo Okolosa,Oke Odo, Ore Ofe, Peace and Victory and Yewa.