Residents of Agege and Alimosho Local Government Area in Lagos State were on Sunday treated to a night of horror after armed robbers and a notorious cult group popularly called, Awawa Boys seized major streets, attacked residents and robbed shops located within the axis.
According to reports, robbers wielding dangerous weapons were also said to have stormed Abesan Estate in Iyana Ipaja, where homes were raided in large numbers.
From videos tweeted by netizens on Twitter, TheNewGuru (TNG) learnt that the pandemonium started at about 8 pm when some of the residents and traders that deal in foodstuff were returning home from their businesses, while several other persons stayed back at home to observe the federal government lockdown order, which was purposed to curtail spread of Covid-19.
Watch videos:
This area is really tensed. Agege ,iyana ipaja,dopemu, cement…
A friend at Aboru said the robbery started yesterday and they're on night watch till now. @PoliceNG @jidesanwoolu pic.twitter.com/QUo3ZiidjL— Labodinho (@Labodinhoo) April 12, 2020
Hundreds of people, living in Iyana Ipaja trooped out to face the armed robbers, in a bid for self defense.#VariesReport#LagosUnrest pic.twitter.com/hFWOE3UF0o
— VARIES BLOG (@TheVariesBlog) April 13, 2020
Hundreds of people, living in Iyana Ipaja trooped out to face the armed robbers, in a bid for self defense.#VariesReport#LagosUnrest pic.twitter.com/hFWOE3UF0o
— VARIES BLOG (@TheVariesBlog) April 13, 2020
A mini bus sped into Aboru, through Ayo afolabi road, coming from estate gate, abesan, ipaja.
The bus was stopped eventually by guys waiting at a junction.
Inside the bus were three guys, and in the bus, A GUN WAS FOUND!!! #AgegeUnrest #OFLAGOS Iyana Ipaja #ProtecttheFrontline pic.twitter.com/ZsnzkCOBRO— ▫️????_????▫️ (@OmoAfowowe) April 13, 2020
An eyewitness said some of the communities that have turned to ghost towns in Agege axis were Balogun, Alhaja streets and its environs, Oke-koto, Agbalaya, new Oko-Oba Estate, Markaz and Amoo in Agege axis.
Another lamented “Men have become their own vigilantes by staying outside their houses to watch out for anything funny. These boys go from street to street, house to house, door to door. Mr governor please find a solution. These boys fail to understand that they’re also robbing from the poor”, she added.
Meanwhile, responding to the situation, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, said that different patrol teams have been deployed to communities in Agege, Alimosho and Ikeja Local Governments that were under robbery attacks in the state.
Elkana, in a statement made available to newsmen, alleged that the efforts of the teams were been hampered by residents setting up bonfires to create a false alarm.
He said: “We urge everyone setting up bonfires with a tyre in their streets in areas like Abule Egba, Mangoro, Ogba, etc, in the name of protecting the communities to desist from it as it is causing panic amongst residents.
“Police Officers have been deployed to all locations affected to prevent any form of crimes. #BeSafe #StayAtHome,” the PPRO added.