It was a subdued Sallah celebration for residents of Shomolu, Lagos State, last Friday as a group of robbers chose the day to
invade the community.
Armed men numbering about 20, in the wee
hours of Oct. 26, stormed Fola Agoro Street. They stole two vehicles: a black
Murano jeep with registration EC 480 GGE and a red Nissan Quest with
registration number XM 03 SA.
The robbers invaded a building on Balogun Street,
the same street where Alade Police Division is located, beat and robbed its
occupants. The robbers were then said to have moved to Anifowoshe Street, which
is just behind the police station, attacking another house before shifting to
Awoseyin Street.
Occupants of No. 41 Anifowose Street were said to
have attempted to repel the armed robbers, but they were compelled to surrender
to the intimidating fire power of the robbers. An occupant popularly known as
Olomi sustained some gunshot wounds in the process.
At NO. 32 Awoseyin Street, a building
housing several one-room apartments, was broken into and all its occupants
robbed.
An occupant who identified himself simply as
Deinde said, “I heard a loud noise in the middle of the night and came out to
ask what the problem was because I actually thought the people were policemen.
Instead, I came face to face with the robbers.
“I just turned back, ran and scaled the
fence into the next compound. My uncle who had just returned from a trip from
England was asked to produce the dollars he brought. He told the robbers that
he travelled at the behest of his children to rest and gave them the small
amount he had in his purse.”
A female occupant of the same building was
also alleged to have lost her jewellery, phones and money to the robbers.
While the robbery at House 32 was on, some
of the gang members were at No 27. A commercial motorcyclist lost N15,000
to the robbers and was beaten to a pulp. Crime Digest learnt that the
group went from room to room, shouting at occupants to open up or face their
wrath.
At No. 4 Awoseyin Street, the robbers
startled a couple who had just welcomed a new baby to their home. Despite
pleas from Mr. Akinkunmi Afolabi that his wife had just put to bed, the robbers
insisted that the nursing mother lie on the floor with her children while they
went ahead to beat the husband at gunpoint.
The 72-year-old landlady of the house was
very lucky. The robbers met her saying her morning prayers and on account of
that, she was spared when she said she had no money to give. At that time, it
was almost 4.20 am.
CRIME DIGEST investigations showed
that despite the proximity of the affected streets to Alade Police Division, no
help came from the police until the robbers left the community.
The robbers were said to have cut short their
operation when they were stopped by a newly erected gate at Petit Dahoh Street,
which links Morocco Road. The group abandoned the stolen vehicles there after
offloading the loot they could conveniently carry.
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