How over 40 militants, dressed in camouflage swooped on community

* Kidnappers demand N5m ransom as residents’ bolts

* If you call for help, no security agent will come-Kidnappers mock residents

* CP yet to deploy policemen-Residents

Less than 24 hours after militants swooped on Yewa community at Isawo area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, killing an army captain, four policemen and others, the place has become like a ghost town.

Yesterday, many residents were seen fleeing over fear that the militants might return for another bout of bloodletting.

Some of the residents narrated how the militants, who were alleged to be over 40 men, dressed in camouflage, swooped on the community.

The militants, yesterday, demanded for N5 million ransom from the family of a kidnapped landlord, identified as Chubuike Okeke.

A resident, Adetola Adeyemi, said: “I have never experienced such an attack before. The kidnappers were over 40 men and they were all dressed in military uniform. They held the community hostage for more than four hours. They started operation around 12am. Mr Ojo and his wife sustained bullet injuries, while a two year old girl and her mother were also injured. Houses and property were destroyed. We want the government to act fast. In fact, we expected the governor to have visited today.”

Another, Olushola, described the Sunday attack as a recurring decimal. He said the attacks are now becoming a mini war.

Olushola said: “The militants had a field day. They unleashed terror. Bullets were flying everything. They took away Chubuike Okeke. They said if we call for help, nobody would come to our rescue. You can see that there are more than four houses here. Those of us left are not up to 30. We stayed behind because we have nowhere to go. We have to defend our homes. Our wives and children have gone elsewhere to stay. We need a military base to be stationed here. We have the right to safety and protection. It’s the job of government to protect us.”

One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “During the attack, we couldn’t come out of our various houses. When the commissioner of police visited the community, he promised to deploy some security operatives, to restore peace and provide security. Unfortunately, we have not seen any policeman patrolling the area.  That is, aside from the Amour Personnel Carrier (APC), stationed at the entrance to the community. We all ran away because there was no security agents were deployed as promised.”

One of the landlords, Osaze, who was set on fire by the militants on Sunday, has been buried yesterday.

The resident further said: “The kidnappers before the Sunday attack always used to break into houses to steal toothpaste, food stuff, cooking utensil and clothes.”

On Sunday, at least 12 persons, including an army captain and four policemen were killed during gun battle between Joint Task Force on anti-militancy operation, ‘Awatse’ and militants.

On Monday, fresh information emerged that one of the captives with the kidnappers, aside from Okeke, is a young boy.

The residents said the kidnappers came through the waterways into the creek and upon entry into the community, kidnapped about eight under intense sporadic shooting. They police, military and local vigilante engaged them in gun battle and tried to rescue the victims.

One of the residents, Mr. Raheem Olanrewaju, said that one person was still missing. He explained that the kidnappers contacted members of the community, demanding for N3000 recharged cards, which they said they needed to make urgent calls.

According to Olanrewaju, the gun battle between the kidnappers and the police lasted for more than three hours during which the DPO in charge of Owutu Police Station was shot and a resident called Osazie was killed alongside others.

Olanrewaju said: “The commissioner of police visited us and promised to get back; we are surprised that up till Monday, the police are yet to re-strategize to come to our aid. A boy was kidnapped and they are yet to get back to us to tell us how much ransom we should bring.”

An elder in the community who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “These kidnappers have taken over the creek. Government should do everything to dislodge them. The government should ensure establishment of military base in the creek to dissuade them from further attacks on people.”