Militants do not only kill us, they now rape our wives, children – Ikorodu residents

The recent influx of gunmen suspected to be militants in Ikorodu Local Government Area, LGA, of Lagos State has become more alarming as residents say they now live in fear.

Some residents of Igbolomu/Isawo in Owutu Agric of the LGA, say apart from the fear of being shot to death in the usual gun duel, militants who reportedly gain access to the area through the waterway now rape their wives and children.

One Babajide Apatira said the Igbolomu/Isawo areas have been terrorized by a certain group of terrorist who aren’t indigenes of the area.

Apatira said, “They are visitors and yet they have been killing, raping, robbing and wounding the residents of this area, yet we don’t hear anything in the news.

“It’s as if the area is out of the map and there’s no military interference at all and lives are being lost every day.

“The worst part is that these criminals don’t have regards for anyone and they act like they are above the law.

“These criminals came to vandalize petroleum pipelines and when they have been stopped from dealing fuel bunker, they resort to robbing and raping wives in the presence of their husbands.

“They are intoxicated by the power of the sophisticated weapons they have in their possession which they have been using to terrorize the neighbourhood.

“Please help the people of Igbolomu/Isawo out of this nightmare and hardship. Please do what you can in your best ability to help us,” Apatira cried out to the government.

Another resident who pleaded anonymity, said, “My uncle and his family stay at Igbolomu and they just called me this morning (Friday) to inform me of fresh attacks, rapes and stealing of properties, especially cars, which has prompted them to move out of the area indefinitely.

“He abandoned his new house and shops.

“Please let the media help create awareness until the government sends some kind of military intervention.”

Meanwhile, DAILY POST is reporting that the Lagos State Police Command had on June 1 in a press release, assured residents of the stated that the fears of an attack on the city by militants, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, were unfounded.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Fatai Owoseni, had insisted that the nation’s commercial nerve centre is safe.

He added that security agencies have been on their toes to avert any such threat, explaining that police officers were stationed at Ikorodu because there was an ongoing operation in the town to dislodge criminals.

However, DAILY POST effort to contact the Police Spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, was unfruitful as her phone number was unavailable.