Police say action will be taken
Residents and property owners in Lafenwa, Ado Odo/Ota Local Council of Ogun State, have decried growing insecurity in the area. They alleged a lack of adequate police stations, and manpower in the few existing ones.
They described notable crimes in the area as: kidnapping, burglary, sexual assault, and armed robbery. Lamenting, a 27-year-old resident of the community, Faruq Olatunji, said the few officers seemed overwhelmed and were negligent in their duties.
He said: “I came to this neighbourhood seven years ago because of the peaceful nature of the community. Even during the #EndSARS protest, when there was unrest in the country, we barely experienced any form of violence. But that is no more.
“Once it’s 6:00 p.m., residents no longer walk freely for fear of being robbed or harmed. Hoodlums and robbers now use this neighbourhood as a hideout.”
Another resident, Fausat Fashola, said since a 19-year-old girl was kidnapped and returned three days later, after allegedly being used for a ritual, she stopped her children from going out alone after 6:30 p.m.
Narrating her experience at the hands of hoodlums, Gloria Ayodele, said she was returning home on January 7, at about 6:30 p.m., when she was attacked at Progressive Bus Stop.
She said: “I was trying to get a bike, when another motorcycle passed by my side. But I didn’t take notice. The same bike passed again, later. This time with a passenger. The passenger tried to snatch my bag and hurt me physically. I screamed for help. As they saw people coming out, they fled.
“Some people tried chasing them but couldn’t catch up with them. Ever since, I don’t wait at the bus stops again. I just leave my shop early and trek back home. I am pleading with the government to help restore peace in the community.”
Another resident, Lukman Aremu, alleged that police officers in the area barely attend to residents. “All they do is exploit the residents. I am appealing to the government to restore law and order,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, SP Omolola Odutola, urged residents to make intelligence reports to nearby police stations for quicker response. She promised that the police will take appropriate actions to tackle insecurity and weed off corrupt officers in the area.
