LAGOS: Burglars Are On Rampage In Ikorodu Community

Cases of burglary are on the increase in Ijede community in Ikorodu, Lagos. For a long time, residents have become afraid of going to church on Sundays because while in Service, their houses are burgled. Week days are not spared these days.

One Sunday, a resident who couldn’t avoid attending Church Service, decided to go home before Service ended, only to notice his roof was broken. Lo and behold, a burglar was in his house; he escaped from the man. The house owner raised an alarm leading to neighbours joining him to chase the thief. After he dribbled the people through some bush paths like Okocha, they gave up chasing after him.

The burglar thought he was free after some minutes, so he decided to come out from hiding. On coming out, someone with experience grabbed him. As usual, they beat hell into him before handing him over to the police. Don’t rejoice yet, the burglar has been freed since. After his statement was said to be taken, the owner of the house said he was asked to not only keep reporting to the station, but also, feeding the burglar. What? Guess you understand why the burglar is free.

These thieves are also causing so much confusion in the life of residents. Last week, burglars broke into a new building a Septuagenarian was handling for a client in the community and stole it dry. While neighbours gathered discussing the case, the man saw two Mallams (Aboki) scavenging in the community, he went after them, throwing stones as he chased them. After his neighbours calmed him down, he started begging them to help him search for at least two Mallams that will work as security in the building. Hahahaha!

These thieves now operate without fear. In this same community, any completed but yet to be inhabited building is stripped of all accessories. Trips of sand, concrete and blocks not immediately used, are stolen too.

Peoples’ shops are looted mercilessly; mostly sewing machines have been targeted recently. Keke Marwa (tricycles) and Okada (motorcycles) had been stolen on several occasions. In all the cases, the thieves scaled through the fence at night, opened the gate and left with their loot.