There’s palpable unrest and pandemonium in some parts of Ogun and Lagos on Saturday after suspected hoodlums capitalise on the lockdown to unleash mayhem on residents.
In Lagos, the hoodlums, who were said to have come in from Agbado area through Abule Ẹ̀gbá, broke into shops and some houses in Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye local government areas of the state.
The hoodlums looted shops and robbed residents of their belongings.
Some witnesses said the incident happened in broad daylight as shops with food items were part of their targets.
“They came in about three buses, shot in the air and started looting,” one of the residents in Agbado said.
“Shop owners had to run for their lives. Some houses were also attacked and were robbed of money and other valuables.”
Another resident in Sango Ota area said they now ration their sleep as they spent part of the day to get some sleep and stay awake at night to form vigilantes and keep watch so as not be caught unaware by the rampaging hoodlums.
Another resident in Abule Egba said the youts in the area were able to stop the suspected hoodlums and recovered some of the stolen items.
“The youths came out in large numbers and confronted them, even before the police came,” he said.
Bala Elkana, Lagos police spokesperson, who confirmed the incident, saying some of the suspects have been arrested.
“The hoodlums stepped out; you know because of the lockdown they have no opportunity to come and steal. We envisaged that they would attempt it so we had our deployment already. Our men were well prepared for them,” he said.
“So, they stepped out in the name of attacking each other just to create a scene and using the opportunity to steal. We have a patrol team and rapid response squad are all over and we have responded. We have a number of suspects already in custody.”
In a similar manner, some persons also looted shops around Ado Odo, Ota and Ifo local government areas of Ogun state.
A resident in the area said the suspects had been operating since Thursday and residents could barely sleep.
“We have all turned to vigilante now since these hoodlums started breaking into our shops and houses,” the resident said.
“They come both during the day and night with guns and other weapons.”
Reacting, Sola Subair, a security adviser to Dapo Abiodun, the governor, said the state government had earlier announced the arrest of some suspects, as carried out by the police, in connection with the chain of unrest in the affected localities.
“Initial arrests notwithstanding, the State Police Command is not leaving any stone unturned as the command has arrested more suspects, and investigation is currently ongoing. Suspects in custody continue to provide helpful information,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a 14-day lockdown both in Lagos and Ogun states.