12th April, 2020
By Benson Michael
Several communities in Ogun States are now living in fear following rising cases of robbery attacks.
The affected neighborhoods in Ogun include Lambe, Ayede, Ilepa, Ijoko, Ifo, Ibogun, Itori, GudFugba, Ayepe, Oke-Aro, Foursquare, Matogun, and other Agbado communities in Ifo and Ewekoro Local Government Areas of Ogun State.
PM News correspondent who visited Agbado communities as at 10 pm on Saturday observed that residents of the affected communities have formed vigilante groups to contain the rampaging robbers.
The attacks, according to the residents, became prominent in the wake of the lockdown in Ogun State to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
In Agbado communities such as Oke Aro, Matogun, the residents said they could no longer stay in-door to self-isolate in order to protect themselves from attacks.
Some residents also confirmed that their shops and homes were looted at gunpoint.
Meanwhile, AIG Sola Subair (rtd), Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, in a statement on Saturday said the government has swung into action.
He confirmed the arrest of some suspects in connection with the chain of unrest in the affected localities.
“Initial arrests notwithstanding, the State Police Command is not leaving any stone unturned as the command has arrested more suspects, and investigation is currently ongoing. Suspects in custody continue to provide helpful information.
“The State Government wishes to reiterate its commitment to the security of lives and property.
“We wish to assure the entire citizenry of adequate security and our dedication to safety of the people, and we urged everyone not to panic, as the situation is under control”, the statement added.
However, as at the time of filing this report, there is no presence of any security team around communities such as Oke Aro, Ishaga-Matogun, Nylon, among others.
Residents of these areas are moving around with cutlasses
In the Ayede area of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, residents no longer sleep with their eyes closed. They have formed a vigilance group to ward off the robbers from the community.
A leading member of the community, Mr Ademosu Ojoaru, lamented that the vigilance group was a response to the inadequacy of police to secure their lives and property.
Sources in Ibogun said the siege by robbers has led to exodus of people from the town.
‘’The robbers have been attacking several Ibogun communities including Olorunda, Egbeda, Alapoti, Odejimi, Solu, and others.
‘’We now make bonfires at night to keep vigil over our neighbourhoods,’’ a community leader who spoke in confidence said.
The scenario is the same at Apomu, Gudugba and Ayepe areas of Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State. Suspected robbers, according to residents had made several attempts to raid the communities in the last few days.
A female community leader who asked not to be named urged the police authorities to step up surveillance in order to prevent attacks by robbers.
Meanwhile in a statement issued on Friday, police spokesman in Ogun State, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi assured residents of adequate police protection. He urged people not to panic.
‘’The Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has therefore appealed to members of the public not to be unnecessarily apprehensive as the command will continue to do everything within its power to ensure that the good people of Ogun state enjoy adequate security during and after this trying period of our dear country. He also enjoined them to reach out to the command through the control room number 08081770416 whenever they are in distress,” he said