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Residents of Magboro/Akeran area of Ogun State have blamed the police for ineptitude and lack of commitment to solving increasing rate of robbery, cultism and other criminal activities in the area.
They alleged that the police benefits from the activities of hoodlums and street urchins in the community.
One of the residents who pleaded anonymity said: “Magboro-Akeran Town has been a peaceful abode to all and sundry since time immemorial, but the movement of residents from the Lagos megacity to nearby Ogun State has turned the once sleeping community into a busy town of sort.
“The rapid growth in population and the total change in land use within this community since the early year 2000 have been very drastic.
“The once quiet town of Magboro-Akeran has since become a very active environment, accommodating people from different ethnic group of Nigeria, with various commercial activities, religious centers of worship and schools.
“Moving through the town from the Sawmill area (Magboro 1), to the Divine Rise area (Magboro 2) and the Pipeline end area, one can see that there are very little or almost no virgin property or even unoccupied plots. Indeed Magboro-Akeran is a very lively and prosperous town. In recent years, it has been notice from various happenings and occurrences that the once serene environment is no longer as secured as it used to be. The communities within the Town have been experiencing various activities of cultism, burglary, robbery and other criminal activities.
“Infact the little or no presence of law enforcement agencies like the police and their nonchalance to cases reported at their station at Ibafo have become a serious concern for residents of Magboro-Akeran town, and many of the residents have resolved to keep off informing the police of subsequent robbery occurrences as there has been no proper follow up on reported cases.
“It is therefore important that the Ogun state police command take a look into this situation to avoid a state of anarchy and juggle justice that mayensue from this present situation’It was gathered from reliable sources within the various community development associationsthat since about two years now, the residents of Magboro-Akeran Town live in pereptual fear.
“They can no longer travel to their various place of work in Lagos especially on Tuesday and Thursday mornings without the fear that their homes might have been buggled before they getback.”
Residents who live around Abule of Magboro 1 and 2, say they witness diverse cultism operations and initiations especially on Sundays.
“There are also several illicit drinking and hub centers were scary looking men come to smoke Marijuana and all vices and hang out all through the day around Ojuolape, sawmill, Omoolope, Olojo, Giwa junction,Baba E lewedu road and environs.
“This situation has become worrisome and reports have been taken to the Ibafo police station but no satisfactory response has been achieved, instead the activities of hoodlums has kept increasing.” They alleged.
Enquiry into the reason why the situation has not abated, revealed that these hoodlums come back boasting that they are well connected with the police stations in the area and their activities cannot be checkmated by anyone.
“This declaration by the street urchins has kept most residents in fear and loss of faith in the police.”
A resident hinted that people are beginning to fear that the situation may transform into Ikorodu ‘Badoo’ episode.
“It is therefore a matter of urgency that the office of the IGP of the Nigeria police force and the Ogun State police command begin a quick response to arresting this grievous situation at the Magboro/Akeran town before the highly unhappy residents begin to melt out their own form of justice and avert innocent people falling victims of the popular jungle justice that is looming.” A resident said.
Attempt to speak to Ogun State Police boss, CP Illyasu met brick wall as his phone lines were not available.
