More than 20 armed robbers invaded several streets at Isale-Oja area of
Agege, Lagos State on Sunday morning. The bandits shot dead a father of two and raped three
girls.
The daredevil robbers, who started their operation from
Capitol Road, raided over 30 buildings in different areas and
dispossessed victims of valuables. Residents of some of the streets said
the robbers operated unchallenged for hours. They said they called
police, but police did not show up until the robbers left.
A
resident said that the father of two, Usman Muhammed, 30, would have
been alive if but for his attempt to stab one of the robbers. One of the
bandits shot him. The bullet which killed Muhammed hit a lady in the
compound.
The lady, identified as Rabi, is presently battling to stay
alive at a private hospital. Another resident said: “The robbers,
numbering over 20, stormed the streets in commercial buses and started
operation from Capitol Road.
The robbers killed Muhammed after
collecting N32,000 from him. They moved to Akerele and Papa Uku streets
in the same community where they raped and robbed residents.” Muhammed’s
widow, Hauwa, recalled her husband’s last moments. She said: “About
12:24am, we heard someone knocking on our door. We were surprised.
My
husband asked who was there, but the person didn’t answer My husband
went and opened the door. He saw the armed robbers. They were four at
the door. One of them pointed his gun at my husband. We later heard that
others were outside, waiting.
They followed my husband into our
apartment.” Hauwa explained that after the bandits gained entry into
their apartment, they demanded Muhammed’s money and her own jewellery.
She
said: “My husband and I handed over the money and the jewellery. Just
as they were leaving, my husband dashed into the kitchen, brought a
knife and attempted to stab one of the robbers. It was at that point
they shot him in the stomach.” Muhammed’s shooting took place in the
corridor of the building.
The bullet killed Muhammed and also hit
Rabi who was inside her apartment. A resident said: “We rushed Muhammed
to two private hospitals in the community, but he was rejected. He died
on the way to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).”
The
residents urged the government to do something about security of the
area. Mr Kunle Idowu, a resident of Papa Uku Street, said: “The robbers
robbed somewhere at Capitol Road before coming to our street. My house
is close to the main road.
The robbers were fully armed and came
prepared. They called names of prominent people in the community. They
said they came to collect what belonged to them. We couldn’t sleep. It
was like a war zone. Every tenant lost one or two of their valuables.
“Three
of our girls in the community were raped when the robbers could not get
anything from their parents. Government should come to our rescue. We
can’t walk freely at night.” A resident of Akerele Street said he was
angry with the police.
According to him, when they got wind
that the robbers were around, they quickly called the phone number of
the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Isoko Police Station,
but the police did not come until the robbers left.