By Shakirudeen Bankole
Lagos residents, particularly those living on the Lagos Island and Epe axis of the metropolis, have raised an alarm over the increasing cases of armed robbery attacks in the state.
According to findings, the violence and looting that accompanied the anti police brutality protest, code-named #EndSARS, last month, which led to the killing of police Officers and looting of their armory by hoodlums, may have accounted for the seeming proliferation of small arms and ammunition in the country, and an upward surge in the incidences of insecurity in the land.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, also lent credence to the findings, when he said, at different fora, that an attack against the police is an invitation to anarchy.
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The New Diplomat, while monitoring security situation in Lagos State, in the aftermath of EndSARS protest, uncovered increasing uneasiness among residents of Lekki, Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Badore, and Epe, among others.
A recent robbery attack on a Bullion Van, conveying a new generation bank’s cash, and other reported and unreported gun-wielding violence and robbery attacks on innocent residents on the Island, have been sending chills down the spines of the residents.
Speaking with The New Diplomat, Uche Ugwu, said the ion is so tensed that the only thing that can calm her, is if she could get a licensed gun in the shortest possible time.
According to her, her area, Lekki Phase 1, has been relatively safe, but the Ajah axis has always been a hotspot, and the recent looting has worsened the situation.
She said many of her friends, who live around the area, have also confirmed to her that the situation has never been that bad before.
Ugeu said the causes of the situation are multi-dimensional, and could include existing and bloody gang rivalry groups in the area, availability of more arms and ammunition, stolen during the EndSARS protest, and the collapse of police formations across the state.
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According to her, “those of us in Lekki are sharing security information and beefing up security. I try to get home before it’s dark. Previously, I could be in Lekki even up to 2am. Not anymore.
“Yes, If I could get a gun now, I will,” she added.
Corroborating her submission, Mrs. Sarah Anogwi, Founder and Managing Director, Mrs. Nigeria Queen Peagent, who lives at the heart of Ajah, said people in the area have not been sleeping with two eyes closed since the last month incident.
According to her, “talking about safety now, the feeling of apprehension is high now. We can’t possibly sleep with our two eyes closed.
“Living life in Nigeria is now risky. Insecurity everywhere, the Island is not left out,” she added.
She however disagreed with the notion that all of those people dislodged in Badore and the over 720 people arrested in the security clampdown by the Lagos State Police Taskforce, were all criminals.
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Anogwi said she can’t agree with the generalisation that all of those arrested were hoodlums, “because innocent and hardworking people also took refuge in the dislodged slums with their families.
“We learnt that those that attacked the Police with guns came through the rivers, meaning they are not in the area but only perpetuated the act in the axis,” she argued further.
Mr Peter Onwuaso, another resident on the Island, disagreed with Anogwi, saying most of those arrested were bad boys.
According to him, “between 75% and 85% were bad boys. The remaining 15% either aided or abetted or were silent for fear of their lives, hence they are also accomplices.”
Insisting that the clampdown was very necessary, Onwuaso said unlike before, the once safe and bubbling Island has now become a ghost now because of fear of armed and robbery attacks at nights.
“Anxiety now hovers in the air. People are apprehensive. Palpable attacks by hoodlums or Yahoo boys have transformed our once beautiful and safe Island to a zombie ground,” he added.
An attempt to speak to the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adebiyi, over the matter became futile, as the Police spokesman could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
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