The Lagos State Police Command has described Ikorodu as the headquarters of cult activities in the state.
This comes as residents of the area decried the level of attacks by hoodlums and cultists.
The command’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while reacting to the complaints by residents in a telephone chat with Newsbreak on Tuesday, said operatives arrest suspected criminals on a daily basis in Ikorodu.
Adejobi stressed that the command was aware that Ikorodu has the highest prevalent rate of cult activities in the state, and had been doing its best to curtail the menace.
“We make arrest every day. The people making the complaints should be aware of this. Saying the police is not doing anything is not fair on us. We make arrests and charge them to court. We are making sure that vulnerable members of the public do not fall victims of these hoodlums”, he said.
“We have held meetings with the Kabiyesi. Ikorodu is the headquarters of cultism in Lagos State. This is why the Area Command is in Ikorodu, the Area N. Traditional institutions and religious leaders in Ikorodu must work together to tackle this. The people perpetrating these crimes are their people. We won’t kill them. We would only arrest them”.
He also dismissed insinuations that the police are still demoralized, following attacks on officers and stations during the #EndSARS protests in the state.
“The police are not demoralized. Police officers who suffered losses during the protests have been compensated. The Inspector-General of Police and the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic have commanded us. We are doing our work. Police officers are everywhere,” he concluded.
The residents had complained that there have been robberies and attacks by hoodlums since the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in the state last year.
The peaceful protests that started across Lagos spread to other parts of the country.
However, the protests were hijacked in Ikorodu by thugs, as they were in other parts of the state.
The demonstrators, had among other things, demanded the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police, which the Federal Government obliged.
The now defunct SARS had been effective in checkmating the gangs’ activities in Ikorodu.
One Adio Omogbolahan Saheed, who raised the alarm over the development on the page of Ikorodu Ambassadors, a community-based group for social engineering, appealed that something had to be done urgently.
He wrote: “Hoodlums are too much in Ikorodu nowadays, please something should be done now before getting worst totally!
Robbery is now day and night from Benson to garage.”
The post elicited tons of complaints from other residents who live in different parts of the area.
Reacting to the post, Ademilade Mosco said: “I was about to be a victim yesterday night at garage round about, while I was waiting for bus some f*king atorunrinwa omo ale ikorodu invaded with gun and Axe, Cutlass, omo con see raze!!!!!! [sic]”
Another resident, Yinka Ibrahim, wrote: “It is getting worse ooh, especially sabo. Anytime from 8 pm they snatch phones and bags from passersby.”
Chinasa Okwuelum Opanuga said: “May GOD help us cult boys just shot my cousin’s boyfriend at Dre bar in lgbe. The boy is dead now.”
Another user, DE Gwinas James, advised that people should resort to jungle justice after he fell victim recently.
“Unless we start using the Baddo approach any one cought should be burn with Tyre and fuel. My phone was snatch from me I shouted for help nobody to help everyone was just walking normal as if I was mad. Police are not ready to help,” he stated.
Chinasa Okwuelum Opanuga again said: “Cult boys just killed one tailor this afternoon at Elepe. His nick name is heaven. After shooting him they cut his neck and pull hot oil on him, may GOD help us in Jesus mighty name amen.”
Tejumade Abidoye, stressed that hoodlums attack people during the day in Igbe and dispossess them of their belongings.
“Igbe people are in serious trouble now, that they do entered shops and take all they have including phone and many things.”
Olanrewaju Akeem Lateef opined that the rise in insecurity was a manifestation of the #EndSARS protests.
He said: “We should expect it. That is the aftermath of #EndSARS.
“The police who are supposed to guide us were killed, barracks burnt, armoury looted and other surviving policemen became decimated.
“This has emboldened the criminals, cults and other associated vices. It will be too long before we can overcome this cankerworm. May God help us.”
Temitope Okeowo, another resident, urged government to do something urgently about the situation.
“Ah may God help us this thing is getting worse. Government should do something about it,” she said.
Jide Waheed, in his reaction, suggested that residents should march to the palace of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu and the Local Government Council.
He stated: “We don’t have government we don’t have king we don’t have LG chairman it’s very sad I tell my people during protest that #EndSARS is not our problem but police brutality sars dat all hoodlums fear when they are not in town wat do we expect we need to start protesting to d palace d LG to all key areas bcs dis things is getting worse.”
