Lagos-- How robbers unleashed mayhem on Bariga residents during Eid-el Fitri

 

 Residents of Popoola and Ore-ofe Streets, in Bariga area of Lagos State are still in shock over the terror unleashed on them by dare devil robbers who invaded the area during the Eid-el Fitri celebration, Monday night.

According to reports, the robbers, who took advantage of the relaxed security due to the celebration, stormed the area at about 2 am and did not leave until after three hours of robbery and battering.

In spite of the rainfall, the robbers went up and down the streets, smashing vehicles’ windscreen, destroying property and burgling shops.

Vanguard gathered that at least three residents were stabbed by the robbers, who were said to be about 25 in number.

A 25-year-old victim (names withheld) was stabbed in the head and back and was rushed to a private hospital in the area for treatment.

According to one of the residents simply called Iya Bukola, who spoke with Vanguard: “The robbers burgled shops. We were caught unawares because of the Eid-el Fitri celebration.

“I didn’t leave my supermarket till 9 pm when I closed for the day. All through the night, we could not sleep as the robbers went from house to house. They did not touch some houses where they knew the security was tight and where they could be caught.

“I first thought I had escaped. But when I got to the supermarket in the morning, everywhere was scattered. They forced their way in and carted away most of the valuables.”

Narrating his ordeal, another resident told Vanguard: “The robbers got to our house around 4 a.m. About four of them entered the building and we could hear the voices of several others on the road.

“Threatening to kill whoever did not ‘cooperate’ with them, they stole everything — money, phones, laptops, and other valuables.

“The most agonizing thing was that they began to machete the resident. My neighbour, a 25-year-old man, was unlucky, as he sustained injury in his head and back. He was bleeding all over when they left. We quickly rushed him to a private hospital at dawn to save his life.”

Some of the residents told Vanguard that policemen from Pedro Police Division were called during the robbery, they did not show up early to save the situation,

Police sources, however, said the policemen got to the scene immediately they were notified.

Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, were unfruitful, as calls made to her phone lines were unanswered.
Vanguard