Residents of Abule Egba and Ogba area of Lagos have decried the spate of robberies in the areas since the lockdown began in the state on March 30 to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
There was also unrest in FESTAC Town and Jankara area of the state on Saturday as hoodlums besieged the populated areas to rob residents and loot shops.
The robberies have led to distress calls by residents on Twitter.
A Twitter user simply known as @layomii_ wrote: “@PoliceNG please you guys need to come to abule egba. It’s bad. They are robbing my area. They’ve been banging on my gate.”
Residents of Sango Ota, Owode, Ilepa, Ifo, Arigbajo, Itori, Dalemo, Ijoko, Ogba Ayo, Mosa have also reportedly been attacked by the hoodlums.
Many say they have resorted to keeping vigils and making bonfires to secure their communities from the hoodlums reportedly numbering about 200.
Ogun State Government has assured that the police have begun making arrests.
However, Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Saturday, said the Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants and tactical teams had been deployed in different parts of Lagos to restore order.
He said 36 six suspects had been arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate deployment of operatives of the command’s Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants, Special Anti Robbery Squad, Anti Cultism Squad and Raiders to various parts of Lagos State to support the efforts of area commands and divisional patrol teams already deployed to tackle the menace of social miscreants and violent crimes such as robbery perpetrated by hoodlums,” the spokesman said.
“Operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad are positioned in strategic locations to promptly respond to distress calls. Patrols are intensified around markets and stores to prevent hoodlums from stealing and looting. Patrol teams are equally deployed in various communities and streets.
“Nine suspects were arrested along Abule Egba and Ifako Ijaiye areas after operatives of Lagos State Command successfully foiled a robbery attempt on residents in communities under neighbouring Ogun State. Investigation is ongoing. The suspects will soon be charged.”
Mr Elkana said operatives also responded to a distress call on Burma/Creek Road Apapa, where seven gangsters engaging in supremacy battle in the area were arrested.
“Their mission was mainly to steal and loot under the guise of supremacy battle,” he added.g
