Are you a regular commuter between Ikorodu and Lagos or between Igbokuta and Imota? Then, this story would surely be of interest to you.
Series of stories are now in the open about militants and criminals, who now operate mostly between Owode, Ajegunle and Majidun in Ikorodu as well as between Igbokuta and Imota. They kidnap, rob and terrorise travelers along these routes.
Between December, 2016 and this January, 2017, cases of unabated robberies, kidnappings and maiming of commuters and travelers have been reported along these two locations. Suspected to be oil thieves and militants dislodged from Arepo and other creeks in Ikorodu/Ogun States. These criminals are alleged to strike their victims between 5p.m and 8p.m, killing or injuring travelers often caught in traffic gridlocks, and escaping by boat through the creeks and rivers in Majidun, Odogun, Ajegunle river, etc.
On Friday December ……, 2016 at about 8pm, these wicked criminals struck during a serious traffic situation on one of the aforementioned roads and robbed almost all the people on the traffic queue, killing some and leaving others terribly injured while they escaped through the waterways. Among the causalities on that day was a lady broadcaster, Aishat, who was shot dead and her two year old daughter, Farida, kidnapped. The abductors later asked for unspecified amount as ransom; though, as at press time, the child was said to have been released by her abductors.
The victims, who lamented that the police appeared at the scene of the robbery after the robbers had escaped, called on the Commissioner of Police to stem this ugly trend by providing a permanent security patrol along this route since the raids were becoming incessant and deadlier. Again, by January kidnappers stormed the area in the evening at about 5p.m. They shot sporadically into the air according to eye witnesses, and robbed their victims. Though, they did not kidnap anyone on this particular day, fear had already taken root in the minds of all users of these roads and the communities along this route, including Ikorodu.
Traders and civil servants, who ply these routes, are therefore, appealing to the state government to make available, air and land surveillance/patrols to check the menace of these criminals. One of these road users, who plies both Igbokuta – Imota and Ikorodu – Lagos routes, pleaded with the police to increase its patrols and vigilance since most times, security men arrive only after robbers had wrecked havocs and left.
Some commuters interviewed by Oriwu Sun recently claimed that it seems the militants dislodged from different locations have regrouped and began new forms of operations, even at a time the Lagos State House of Assembly has approved death penalty for kidnappers. They urged CP Owoseni to save innocent and hardworking Lagosians doing their legitimate duties.