Lagos residents decry robberies
Residents of the Iyana School, Iba area of Lagos State have raised the alarm over frequent robberies in the community.
According to them, the robbers operate in large numbers, using Volkswagen (Faragon) buses, tricycles, motorcycles, and other means to carry out their attacks.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, a resident, Owolabi Oriyomi, said the robbers usually target unsuspecting passengers.
“Residents and students who live here are usually robbed and dispossessed of their belongings at gunpoint. I was robbed of my iPhone 11 when I fell victim and entered the bus. It was shocking. This happened in the evening,” he said.
Another resident, Abdulateef Kareem, who was robbed last Tuesday, noted that the robbers accosted him when he parked his car on the street.
He said, “I had a terrifying experience on Tuesday night when I was attacked by armed robbers at Iyana School Bus Stop. Thankfully, I managed to escape, but my car’s windscreen was shattered. I was meeting a client around 9 pm when the incident happened.
“I noticed a tricycle (Marwa) crossing in front of my car and brushing against it while we were discussing in the car. Three men then came out of the tricycle—two approached the driver’s side while one headed toward the passenger door carrying a pistol.
“My car is tinted, and the engine was running. I always ensure that it is on central lock. I quickly steered my car onto the main road and inadvertently hit one of the men. That made them break my back windscreen.”
A top member of the Lagos State University Students’ Union, who requested anonymity citing security reasons, said students had continued to complain about the incessant robberies in the community.
The source said, “There has been fear at First Gate, Iyana School, and Iba. There have been complaints about a lot of criminal activities. We have had some cases reported at the police station, but nothing has been done yet.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, told Saturday PUNCH to send a text message when contacted about the issue. The message was sent, but no response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
