‘Robbers ‘ve taken over our community’

Residents of Adebayo Street, Agege, Lagos State, where a security guard was recently shot dead by armed robbers have complained that they were no longer safe in the community.

According to residents, the security guard, identified as Shakiru Ayinde, 36, was killed by armed robbers at his duty post. The robbers, who stormed the street last week Thursday in a commercial bus, made a beeline for a particular building.
They came to rob one Iyaloja of Agege, residing in the street. But Shakiru and his colleagues, who were guarding the building, attempted to stop the robbers from gaining entry into the compound. It was in the process that Shakiru was killed. A resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Abdulahi said: “The robbers came in a commercial bus.
They first went to Baba Chidera’s shop and took all his food stuffs. They also raided his freezer and carted away his frozen turkeys. He continued: “We can no longer sleep with our two eyes close in Agege. Armed robbers have taken over our community. We cannot walk at night freely; we’re scared of being attacked by armed robbers. Lagos State Government should quickly come to our aids.”
Another resident, Mr. Kunle Solaja, said: “The robbers came a week after the Iyaloja marked her birthday. She wasn’t a popular person in our community until after the birthday party. It was quite elaborate. I believe the way in which the birthday was celebrated, attracted the robbers. They came based on information. I believe there’s an informant in our community.”
The robbery in the area and subsequent murder of Shakiru were reported at Elere Police Division. The corpse of Shakiru was later moved to the mortuary. Recalling the fateful night with shivers, Solaja said: “The robbers started shooting sporadically after they stormed into our street. They shouted and called the name of the woman.
They told her to get ready, that they came to collect their birthday gifts. “It was in the process that the security guard at her house, Shakiru, shot at the robbers. He only wanted to scare them away. Unfortunately, the robbers responded with gun shots. Shakiru was hit on the chest. He died of excessive loss of blood. The deceased was buried three days after the incident.
But his aged mother is not yet aware of his death; only his wife and members of the church he used to attend knew of his death.” When our correspondent visited the Iyaloja house, it was under lock and keys.
Another resident, who didn’t want his name mentioned over fear that the bandits might return to kill him, said: “We’re tired of robbery attacks in Agege! We also have problems of ‘Awawa boys’ in our community. We are begging the Lagos State Government to allow local vigilante men can carry guns, so that they could complement efforts of policemen.
“On the day the armed robbers came to rob the Iyaloja, they shot sporadically for 20 minutes. They also operated without being challenged by the police for long. Before members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the area dashed to the scene, many of the robbers had scaled another building’s fence to escape to Ojekunle Street.”https://newtelegraphonline.com/robbers-ve-taken-community/