Shomolu Residents in Lagos State Cry for Help As Armed Robbers Take Over

Armed robbery activities have soared increasingly high at Shomolu area of Lagos State, the residents have cried out.

Some victims whose residences were burgled recently have reported that the crime has grown astronomically high with the police practically incapable of arresting the menace.

Some of the victims who reside at Esanogbogun along Araromi street said a particular gang has been successfully operating in the area for consecutive days, now running over two weeks.

A landlord at Jemilugba street in Shomolu told our correspondent that police usually arrived some thirty minutes after every operation, blaming the residents for not phoning them before the operation started.

“We are beginning to suspect that the police are in the know of their operations because it is unimaginable that they can’t spread their networks out even as residents report everyday of the operation of the gang”, the house owner who rented some of his rooms to tenants said.

The residents explain that the gang randomly operates in some buildings on different streets, almost daily.

One of them reported that the robbers, all young men of schooling age rob victims of laptops, smartphones and money. A tenant at Araromi street reported that his car key was taken during operation by the armed men, but the robbers were confused which of the parked cars it was that had the key.

The victims also reported that some touts also go about at evening, threatening innocent passers-by with what look like gun to rob them of their personal effects.

“Some of them gather at Adebiyi street where they gulp bottles of local gin and smoke through the evening”, said a lady who added that the men harass ladies with frightening tones. The lady also said she had stopped going through the street due to fear of rape by the touts.

Police has reportedly showed off weakness in the growing crime and residents have expressed fear that the crime may continue without apprehension of the criminals.

Some residents were sighted moving their properties out of the area this morning for fear not to have repeat of the gruesome experience.

Aside from robbing of items, the armed gang are reported to be notorious for harming victims who either resist them or has no valuable they could cart away.

A victim, who asked not to be photographed for fear, had his skull fractured with bottle by the armed gang for barring his door against their easy penetration.

“What perplexes me is the attitude of policemen when we reported. The IPO said that is the way those boys have been robbing since two weeks”, a victim disclosed. He also said policemen, when they arrived incidence scene some thirty minutes after, coming through the same route the robbers took as they left, walked chiefly into rooms operated upon and left same way.

“We are living in fear here and we need help”, a landlord said.

-Culled From 9ralife.com-