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Commercial printers in Somolu community have raised the alarm over incessant armed robbers’ attacks on their printing shops.
In the last three weeks, over four printers are said to have been attacked by armed gangs in the area.
The latest attack is said to have
occurred on Tuesday on Odunlade Street. About 12 men, armed with guns,
matchete and a sword, allegedly broke the doors to a printing press in
the area.
It was learnt that some workers at the
press, who were on night duty, were forced to lie on the ground at gun
point, while the robbers ransacked their offices. Some money was stolen,
while the workers were disposed of their phones, wristwatches and other
valuables.
A resident, who craved anonymity said,
“When the robbers were hacking at the doors of the press, some of us
made distress calls to the Alade Police Division. The robbers beat up
the workers before relieving them of their valuables.
“By the time the police showed up, the
robbers had gone. The owner of the press was so upset at the incident
that he refused to allow his workers go to the station to make their
statements.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that the
attacks on the printers began early November. A printing press on Craig
Street was the first target — all the printers and their clients were
allegedly robbed of their valuables.
Three days later, another attack was
carried out on another press located on Dailey Street. Valuables were
stolen from the offices and workers present. Last Sunday, a printing
press on Sodade Street was robbed. It was said that almost all the parts
of the printing machine were allegedly removed.
Another resident, who also craved
anonymity, said, “The owner of the press at Sodade went to the State
Criminal Investigation Department at Yaba to report instead of doing so
at the Alade division.
“If these robbers are not busy robbing
the printers, they will be attacking rice shops. Burgling of shops is
now a daily occurrence at Somolu. One Taofik had his electrical/handset
accessories shop burgled at Market Street last month. Another trader
Moshood, also at Market Street, suffered the same fate.”
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, however said the police did not have a of the incidents.
She said, “I have contacted the Divisional Police Officer in the area and he did not have such complaints.”
PUNCH
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