The acclaimed most populous and richest state of the Federation, Lagos State, will celebrate its 50th anniversary of its creation in May next year (2017).
Popularly referred to as the Economic Capital of Nigeria/West Africa and the Center of Excellence, Lagos enjoyed its Mega city status as a result of the open door policy of its people, the harmonious co-existence of all tribes and religions, and above all, the comparatively adequate security that prevailed in it; all of which promoted prosperity and population growth. Apart from the bomb said to have been dropped by a Biafran plane at the early stages of the Nigerian civil war, no one had ever been threatened by bomb explosion or aerial strikes until recently.
The accidental Ikeja Military Cantonment explosions in the early 90’s were the last of such security threats Lagosians knew, but recently, even in the satellite zone of Ikorodu, explosions have become common place. If they are not the ones detonated by robbers in banks, they are the ones by pipeline vandals. By late July/early August this year, Lagos and Ogun States saw for the first time jet fighters as well as military and police helicopters bombing and strafing creeks in Arepo area of the two states, where militants had occupied, annexed and were illicitly draining the nation’s refined and crude oil deliveries.
For many days and weeks, combatant soldiers (army, navy and air force) stormed the creek area firing all kinds of weapons from mortars, shells, rockets, machine guns, aerial bombs and missiles. Echoes of the ground and air bombardments reverberated so heavily in Ikorodu area of Lagos State such that people panicked and thought the country was already at war. This came in the heels of the senseless attacks on innocent landlords and residents of the Ishawo axis by oil thieves and militants.
However, before then, cultists had triggered a new wave of fear and terror in the division. On July 7, 2016, in the name of celebrating its anniversary, a cult group struck almost simultaneously in different locations of Ikorodu, shooting indiscriminately at people. Several residents of Ifakale, Igbolomu, Sabo, Igbogbo and other parts of Ikorodu division were killed, tortured and maimed in the process, some of them cult members of the opposite camp.
On August 8, 2016, a similar episode of the July ferocious attacks was recorded. It was the turn of a rival cult gang to carry out a reprisal action and military maneuvers. They were to celebrate their own anniversary – (8-8) they called it. It was reported that they circulated letters, notices, and other relevant information, using their demonic channels. There was palpable fear all over Ikorodu, especially target areas like Odogunyan, Ogijo, Odonla, etc. Rumor mongers exaggerated the fear; hence, on that fateful day, (August 8), all the streets and major roads along Ikorodu/Ogijo axis were deserted. Even the stubborn Igbo traders, who hardly compromise their businesses, could not open their shops. A few of them were seen standing near their locked shops.
If only our police men had done that which they are popularly known for – preventing organizations, political parties, students, etc. from organizing rallies, conventions or protests, the situation would have been better. If they had deployed or stationed armored personnel carriers, troops and trucks at strategic locations early that morning, residents would have been encouraged to go about their lawful duties, but they did not.
Many residents gave kudos to Onyabo, OPC and other vigilante groups, who boldly came out to confront the cultists. At Fakale, villagers mobilized to face the cultists, who had previously unleashed terror on their land on July the 7th. It was about noon that day that the physical presence of policemen and other government security arms were felt. By then, people had already confined themselves indoor. Police helicopters started hovering around Ikorodu a little late as the entire environment had already taken a semblance of a war zone, which must have gladdened the hearts of the cultists, who had held a whole section of Ikorodu to ransom.
These attacks are typical of the numerous security challenges Ikorodu division has faced in the recent past. First, it was the menace of armed robbers, who in one single year, struck at Ijede and Ipakodo through the water ways. Land grabbers, also known in the local parlance as ‘Ajagungbale’, had in different locations, mainly Igbogbo, Imota, Imowo-Nla, Odo kekere, etc., killed or badly injured many land owners and site workers. Oil Pipeline vandals had been invading Ikorodu in the past decade, and last year, they killed seven operatives of the Department of State Services and injured several police men in shoot outs.
Kidnappers were not left out. About three years ago, they abducted three Arab Engineers working in a factory in Ikorodu and held them in captivity for three days. In March, this year, kidnappers raided a seminary secondary school also in Ikorodu and abducted three girls, whom they held captive for six days before being rescued. The climax of the insecurity in the Eastern and North Eastern flanks of Lagos State was the annexation of the creeks on the fringes/border between Ogun and Lagos State by militants alleged to be from the Niger Delta area. They were the ones alleged to be pipeline vandals, who terrorized landlords, residents, and security personnel along the Arepo axis as well as Imushin, Bolorunduro, Elepete, Okemuti, and Igbo Olomu areas of Ikorodu North.
The colonization of these areas invoked military invasion through land and air strikes, which destroyed hundreds of terrorist camps while also killing many militants; thus, creating the scenario of a battle field/war front. As Governor Akinwunmi Ambode leads the mega city State of Excellence to celebrate its 50th anniversary of creation, there is absolute need to secure the entire area ahead of the May 2017 golden anniversary. Since Ikorodu and the adjoining coastal waterways, lagoons and creeks have become nests for criminal activities, the multi-billion naira security equipment procured by Ambode’s government in 2015 must be fully unleashed and utilized.
The helicopters, armoured personnel carrier, gunboats, gunships patrol vehicles and other arsenal must be put to adequate use against all forms of insecurity in the state. Constant aerial patrol, surveillance of the waterway, combined manoeuvers (show of strength) by the police, Onyabo, OPC and the military should be periodically carried out. Such drill exercises will serve as a deterrent to intending criminal operations. As the nation’s economy goes into recession, Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria/West Africa, cannot afford to be destabilized by terrorists or else the nation’s hope of coming out of the woods will be severely dashed.