Residents of Iyana-Ipaja in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have expressed concerns over the recurring attacks by suspected hoodlums posing as indigenes.
The residents, who spoke with PUNCH Metro in separate interviews on Monday, stressed that they had lost personal belongings, including money, mobile phones, and laptops, to these hoodlums, who often targetted night-time commuters.
According to them, the hoodlums lay in wait for vulnerable residents late at night, pouncing on them when no one was in sight and dispossessing them of their belongings.
Narrating her experience on Monday, a resident, Deborah Oshinuga, lamented that the attacks had become so brazen that they were now being publicly threatened to hand over their belongings.
She said, “We kept calling a colleague of ours, and he was forced to pick up his phone on the streets of Iyana-Ipaja. Suddenly, four boys gathered around him, brandishing weapons. This happened at 10:30 pm.
“They kept telling him to keep walking and warned that they would stab and kill him, and nothing would happen. He ended up losing some valuables. This is a country and a state with laws and security. These boys claim their relatives are in power.”
A passer-by, Isaac Solomon, lamented that passing through the Iyana-Ipaja area had become a dreaded activity due to the terror posed by the area.
He added that the suspected hoodlums often use a Point of Sale machine to extort money from their victims.
He said, “I fear for my safety every time I pass through this Garage area. It’s either they forcefully take money from you, snatch your phone and run, or at times, they might show you a gun and bring out their PoS machine to withdraw all your money.”
Narrating her ordeal, another resident, Ayomide Falako, said, “I was almost raped here one day at about 10 pm while coming back from work by some guys who referred to themselves as Egbon Adugbo (area brothers). I was able to escape by running away until someone helped me.”
Similarly, Abisagbo Aminat explained that she was accosted by thugs on her way from work at the bridge. She appealed to the Lagos State Police Command to come to the residents’ aid by curbing the activities of the hoodlums.
She said, “I was returning from work with a colleague. We got to the park, and the bus was struggling for a parking space. In the process, the tyre burst, so everybody had to find their way. We had not collected our balance, which we had waited for.
“Just then, these guys crossed from the other side of the expressway towards us. They had cutlasses and poles and asked that we give them our bags. I heard someone behind me demanding my phone, and before I could understand what was going on, one of the guys hit my head with a cutlass. My colleague had his laptop and phone snatched, while my phone was taken.
“We are appealing to the police to find a lasting solution to this menace because these boys are becoming brazen, attacking people in broad daylight, exploiting and threatening them. I am begging the governor to help us end this menace.”
When contacted for a reaction on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not respond to calls and messages sent to his line as of the time of filing this report.
