There was unrest over the weekend in some communities of Lagos and Ogun state as hoodlums besieged the populated areas to rob residents and loot shops.
There have been overwhelming complaints by residents of FESTAC Town, Jankara and Ifako-Ijaiye areas of Lagos State and Ifo ,Ado-Odo Ota local government areas of Ogun State over how hoodlums have been dispossessing them of their valuables.
The incidents happened during the 14-day lockdown order given by the President of Nigerian, Muhammadu Buhari, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the states.
Many residents said they had resorted to keeping vigils and making bonfires on their streets and main road to secure their communities from the hoodlums which numbered about 200, armed with cutlasses and locally made guns.
People resident in these areas have cried out to the local government authorities to act fast as the situation worsens.
The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate deployment of operatives of the command’s Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants, Special Anti Robbery Squad, Anti Cultism Squad and Raiders to various parts of Lagos State to support the efforts of area commands and divisional patrol teams already deployed to tackle the menace of social miscreants and violent crimes such as robbery perpetrated by hoodlums.
Also, operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad have been positioned in strategic locations to promptly respond to distress calls. Patrols are intensified around markets and stores to prevent hoodlums from stealing and looting. Patrol teams are equally deployed in various communities and streets.