24th July, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Residents of Elerinko Estate in Ijoko-Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, western Nigeria, have received an unsual letter asking them to be ready for unwanted guests.
The unwanted guests are armed robbers who wrote the letter asking the residents to keep money for them ahead of the visit or face dire consequences.
The suspected robbers, who reportedly pasted the letter of their impending visit to the estate, advised the residents in their own interest to make cash available for them when they come, failure of which they would descend heavily on them.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspected robbers pasted the letters on buildings, electric poles and other strategic points in the estate last weekend before dawn.
Some of the residents who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity said the letter was written on letter headed papers which had a logo of a human skull and crossed bones.
According to one of the residents, “as we woke up on Saturday, we saw the letters pasted all over the estate, asking us to prepare for their coming.”.
Another resident, who forwarded the message he reportedly sent to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, to our correspondent, pleaded that the matter should not be treated with kid gloves, adding that the residents need greater police protection now.
The text message to the state police boss reads: “In the letter, the robbers said they are coming to attack us. That we should keep cash in our homes or withdraw cash from banks to keep at home for them. That we had enjoyed peace in the past and no security operative can stop them now. You can imagine the panic in the area with many planning to pack out. Please, help us.”
When our correspondent contacted the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, he confirmed that the Command was aware of the threat by the robbers, adding that CP Ikemefuna Okoye has ordered that the Area Commander of Ota should do the needful.
Adejobi, however, said he has not received the letter, but, just heard about it, adding, “we have put in place adequate security in the area.
“I got the information from someone. I did not see the letter. The CP has acted on it. The DPO of Ota, CSP Gabriel Idibie has been patrolling the area. The Area Commander in Ota, Titilayo Kayode, who can be reached through this number, 08032145961 has directed the DPO in charge of Ota, Gabriel Idibie whose mobile number also is 08033097332 to ensure adequate security in the area.
“We have put in place adequate security in the area. The people should make use of the distress numbers; they should get across to us whenever they observe any sinister move in their area,” Adejobi said.