LASG, police battle criminal spots on the Island

At about 11.30pm on Monday, July 21, policemen from the Victoria Island Police Division had a shootout with two suspected armed robbers along Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Eventually, the policemen were able to arrest the two suspects and recover arms and ammunition. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, had said the robbery case would be investigated thoroughly at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the robbery incident was just one of many on the Lagos Island.

A police source said the area was one of the many black spots on the Island that the state command was trying to rid of crime.

The source, who declined to name all the black spots on the Island for security reason, however, identified Kuramo Beach, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue and Wole Olateju Street in Lekki Phase 1 as a few of the areas marked by the police as crime-prone areas.

It was gathered that the Kuramo beach area was notorious for car snatching, while the beach itself was a hideout for robbers and other miscreants.

Our correspondent also learnt that the long stretch of the bar beach which bordered the Atlantic City was another haven for criminal elements in the state.

The police source said, “The whole area is a cover at night for miscreants to rob unsuspecting pedestrians and motorists.

“For example, about three weeks ago, no fewer than 50 suspects were raided at the Bar Beach area by the Victoria Island Police Division during a patrol.”

Also, a security man attached to an insurance company, who identified himself simply as Alex, told our correspondent that the Kuramo Beach area was usually quiet and scanty at night, adding that it was a good opportunity for miscreants to burgle offices, sneak into stores or attack motorists.

He added, “But the police seem to be up to the task. They have their van almost at every junction. Although, the unexpected can still happen once in a while because robbers too are devising strategies daily to beat the security.”

PUNCH Metro further learnt at Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, incidence of car snatching around the area was almost a daily occurrence.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said car snatching was common in the area because the avenue linked Lekki-Epe Expressway through Ajah, which he described as a notorious hub of hoodlums.

He said, “Car snatching is not strange on this avenue. One, this is one of the most affluent areas where you have a huge presence of exotic and flashy cars which attract miscreants. Secondly, the avenue is a link to Lekki-Epe Expressway through Ajah, where street boys live. Ajah is a volatile area. They have miscreants who roam about day and night.”

A Man O’ War official, identified simply as Pius, told PUNCH Metro on Saturday that car snatching was not as rampant on the highway as hit-and-run accidents.

He said, “Car snatching is no longer a serious issue because you have police checkpoints virtually everywhere. Hit-and-run accidents are gradually taking over. In the night, when the ‘big boys’ are returning from night clubs, they can hit pedestrians crossing the way. They also hit one another.

“Almost every week, you must find the corpse of people killed by hit-and-run drivers.”

Our correspondent learnt that to checkmate car snatching and related crimes, the police have increased their patrols on the avenue, having at least three checkpoints.

In Lekki, police sources said the numbers of the areas under police watch because of criminal activities are increasing.

One of the sources said last week Tuesday alone, no fewer than 13 drug peddlers were arrested on Wole Olateju Street, Lekki Phase 1.

It was learnt that the raid on Wole Olateju Street was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Alausa, Ikeja.

When PUNCH Metro visited the area, some squatters were observed at the far right-hand end of the street. They took cover in plank houses and bushes by the seaside.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Monday, the Chairman of the task force, CSP Bayo Sulaiman, said the officials would intensify raids in the area and other black spots in Lagos until miscreants were flushed out.

He said, “Residents of the Wole Olateju Street area complained that peddlers were disturbing them and also influencing their children negatively. When you also visit the area, you will notice big cars and houses, which tell you this is a high-brow area.

“The main thing is our men have struck once. We will continue to strike. During the week, people will hear about our movement again. We want to put this situation under control. Same thing will happen in other black spots.

“Among the arrested persons in Lekki are the elites and some young men. Most of them said they took to the act because they needed to find a means of living. But my advice for the others who are still in hiding is that we are coming for them, and we will surely get them.”

The Lagos police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached as she was said to be in a meeting on Tuesday. A text message sent to her telephone had yet to be replied to.

PUNCH