As men and women, both young and old in some parts of Lagos have resorted to night watch duties to protect their homes, families, and belongings from being looted, the state’s police command from information available to BusinessDay, has outlawed any form of gathering for vigilante purposes. Possession of objects like cutlasses and setting of bonfires are also outlawed.
BusinessDay exclusively gathered that Hakeem Odumosu, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos directed divisional police units to arrest individuals who come out at any time of the day to form vigilantes, particularly taking exception to the setting of bonfires at night and carrying sharp objects such as axes and cutlasses.
In parts of Lagos, residents have for almost a week now, resorted to forming vigilantes to ward off attacks by gangs of thieves and hoodlums, who have been reported to loot, cause bodily harm and destroy property. From bearing names such as One million boys, Awawa and Onyabo, gangs of young people said to be as young as 15 year-olds, swarm on neighbourhoods in intimidating numbers of up to 200 unleashing terror on residents as they dispose them of their belongings.
Criminal operations that started in boundary communities between Ogun state and Lagos, around suburbs of Ipaja, Abule Egba, Egbeda, Shasha, Iyana Ipaja, Aboru have now inched closer to the city centre. There are now multiple reports of violence being recorded daily in parts of Agege and around Ikeja, the state capital.
In response, residents in these affected areas had resorted to burning of tyres and other objects to make bonfires, while members of the community take turns to keep watch at night. At intervals of 20 to 50 metres, soot covers the road in adjoining streets from the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. Walking all the way to the Dopemu police station, this reporter saw remnants of burnt tires used to make bonfires, proof of desperate attempts by helpless residents, as they take a stand against the criminal invaders. BusinessDay gathered that the bonfires are set as a form of deterrence, to create awareness of sort that “we are awake and vigilant, stay back”.
When contacted to confirm the accuracy of the said directive that those forming vigilantes should be arrested, Bala Elkana, the police public relations officer in Lagos, only had a terse response, “No sir, we don’t want bonfires.”
This was after several calls and messages seeking clarification on the fate of millions of residents in at least three Local Government Areas, who may return to the streets later tonight, to keep watch and try to deter the gang of hoodlums from invading their homes.
“If the police does not want to see people outside, why are they not outside to patrol,” asked a resident of Mangoro area in Agege LGA, when asked what he thought of the directive not to form vigilantes.
“We’ve burnt so much tires in this area to fend off armed robbers that the floors in my apartment are now black,” wrote @aproko_doctor, on Twitter. He’s one of several witnesses sharing their experiences on the micro blogging platform. “We’re protecting our lives and properties, at the same time harming our lungs and exposing children and adults to cancer causing chemicals in tires,” he said.
Another resident of Agege, who also wished to remain unnamed for fear of personal safety, said, “no one is ready to sleep,”. He goes further to explain that his neighbourhood had gathered tires to be burnt for tonight’s watch.
When this reporter met the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Divisional Police headquarters in Dopemu, Agege, he said there was yet to be any report of violence or looting in the area, and was oblivious of the insecurity concerns being raised.
However, few metres away from the police station, bonfires dotted the road leading to it. The DPO, who refused to provide his name, said even if there are reports of attacks in other places, people ought not to start setting bonfires and gathering with cutlasses to keep watch until it was certain they were under threat. With the directive from the police commissioner, it is unlikely residents will be allowed to even put up their best and only deterrent so far if unfortunately; the attackers come knocking.
CALEB OJEWALE
