°The public should disregard rumours — Police
Residents of ijedodo in Ojo LGDA have raised the alarm over a threat issued by some hoodlums popularly known as (one million boys) to invade their domain.
Also, residents of the Iju community have accused the police of arresting innocent residents keeping vigil to Ward off criminals.
In a telephone interview with the Councilor representing Iba Ward A, in ijedodo/Ijedemo constituency, Hon. Dodo Kabir, said the community has not been able to sleep for a couple of days because of the notice to attack the community by one million boys.
According to the councillor, the hoodlums who were more than a hundred were in the neighborhood yesterday with different weapons such as cutlasses and hammers, making the entire residents to troop out in readiness to defend themselves.
Kabir called the state governor to deploy security personnel to all nooks and crannies of the state following the additional two weeks lockdown ordered by the Federal Government in the state else people would be compelled to act illogically.
He said :
“We saw posters in our community with the inscription ‘Attention! Attention! Attention!…’ and we know it is from them, two days ago they robbed residents at Ikotu, Ejigbo, Isheri, so we are the next target, we can’t sleep,”
“Let the government send mobile police to patrol for 24 hours in our communities because if this continues we shall not keep silence and watch these men exploit us, we are staying at home as law abiding citizens but the government must as a matter of responsibility provide security of Life and There is still anxiety , fear and apprehension in some parts of Lagos and Ogun communities over threat by a gang of notorious criminals who has threatened to pay unwanted visit to their areas.
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On their own, the Iju community has expressed fears for their lives as they accused the a police of not protecting them but are arresting their children keeping vigil to ward of the hoodlums .
Hoodlums have been on rampage Lagos state since the announcement of the extension of the lockdown by 14 days by the Federal government.
Residents of Ayobo, Ikotun , Ogba , Agege ,Ipaja ,Iyana-Ipaja , Iju and adjoining places that fall under Ogun State, Akute , Ajuwan etc have not been sleeping with their two eyes close .
The attacks that are perpetrated by cult groups, especially Awawa boys, One million boys, and other groups seem to have overwhelmed the Police.
Since last week’s Thursdays, residents of Lagos who are convinced that the police would not be able to contain the raids by the massive numbers of the criminals have resorted to self-help as they have formed emergency vigilance groups in their areas.
As on Tuesday, the police have stormed such areas as Iju, Ikotun, Isheri, Bucknor, and Agege, arresting some residents keeping vigil to ward off the criminals.
At Araromi street, near Guru in Iju, eight men keeping vigil were arrested and are being detained at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti.
The community spokesman, Ayodele Mukaila, has sent a save- our -souls to IGP Muhammed Adamu, to wade into the matter and set their children free.
He said :
“Really when we heard that One million boys and Awawa boys were coming to our area, we mobilized our boys who we armed with some cudgel, machetes, stones, and sticks. They were keeping vigil when the police from Red House, Iju came to pick them. Because they were innocent, they did not run when they saw the patrol vehicle coming, so they were gathered by the police, forced into the van and detained at Red House police station. We went to the station, but they were moved to the Area G Command, Ogba. When we arrived at Ogba, we were told that our children are members of a group terrorising the area, but that is not the truth. If they are criminals, the community leaders will not stand for them. They are our children keeping vigil. The IGP should wade in or they will be tagged as terrorists”.
Mr. Henry Madauabuchi, a resident of Isheri -Oshun, Lagos, said:” We received text messages from One million boys that they were coming, we have complained to the police, but we did not get a response, so, we have decided to take our destiny into our hands. We started keeping vigil to confront the hoodlums, but the police came to pick some of us and later released us after we bailed ourselves with N10,000 each. That was the same thing they did at Ikotun and Bucknor areas.
In a swift reaction to the arrests of boys keeping vigil in their communities, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana, said:” The people are carrying weapons up and down creating unnecessary panics in the towns, making it looks as if we are in a war situation. We have been managing the security situation in the past two weeks. The communities started creating panics when they heard rumors that one million boys and Awawa boys were coming. But the boys are yet to come or have they come? We have been arresting the hoodlums before this period, so let people go to sleep and leave the police to do their job.
” The boys carrying weapons up and down claiming that they are vigilante groups are not trained. We are willing to work with them in concept with community policing, but we should give them formal training. It will interest you to know that criminals have infiltrated the youths who claim they are keeping vigil to ward off criminals. Those who claim they are keeping vigil to drive away criminals are now robbing motorists. They force motorists to part with money. They harass motorists, members of the public are complaining that the youths are creating fears. We have arrested an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and a police Inspector for extortion and you expect us to leave the people who also extorting others. We can’t leave them to be causing panic and forcing people to part with money. Where do they expect people they are harassing to get the money?
” We have despatched patrol vehicles and our tactical units comprising of Police Mobile Force and others to strategic areas. They are positioned in strategic positions. You are aware too that the IGP has given us maximum support by deploying a special intervention squad. So we are on top of the situation. The youths should leave us to do our job. They are warned to leave the streets and go to their beds. Anyone found with arms and other weapons will be arrested and charged for armed robbery. We want to also warn criminals of any guise; Awawa, one million boys or any other name to leave the state or face our wrath. I want to also assure the members of the public to go about their normal duties as we are fully ready to deal with any hoodlum who may want to disturb the public peace “.
