Again, robbers resurfaced in Ijebu Ode

At a point in the recent past, the paramount ruler and Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona, had to declare war on the robbers. The local security body vigilante was able to checkmate the menace temporarily, but the situation got worse, as victims continue to count their losses and lick their wounds. But, […]

At a point in the recent past, the paramount ruler and Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona, had to declare war on the robbers. The local security body vigilante was able to checkmate the menace temporarily, but the situation got worse, as victims continue to count their losses and lick their wounds. But, in its determined efforts, the state government, through a bank facility, provided Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), to assist in checkmating the trend.

The state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel at the presentation ceremony in August, declared that the state could no longer fold its arms and allow some miscreants to make the state unfriendly for residents and visitors’ alike. He said that the government had gone an extra mile to provide the APC as the fund for purchase was sourced from a bank.

But, in what appears to be turning deaf ears to the governor’s appeals and warnings, another daring gang, again stormed the town last Monday.

The robbers who were in the town with various sophisticated weapons as listed by the police in the latter part of this report were forced to run out of the town by the collective efforts of the police, the local security outfit, Obanta Safe & Secure Vigilante Group and the people.

Two of the robbers were shot dead. Report later had it that one of the robbers who was about to board a bus going to Benin at the Fari Filling Station along Epe Express Way was caught and taken to Igbeba police station but later died around noon.

A lady whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time, was also reported to have died in the crisis as she was hit by a stray bullet. An eyewitness informed our correspondent that the lady was just unlucky as she had tried to dodge the gun duel between the police and the robbers. “The lady had gone to do photocopies of some documents; she had finished and crossed to the other side to take a bike.

“The robbers were targeting the Zenith Bank and the bullets hit the lady on the face and chin. She died instantly and the robbers fled towards Odutola Street,” a resident was quoted as saying.

A cross section of people who spoke with our correspondent expressed dismay over the development and was of the opinion that, if this menace is not checked, it could affect economic policies and stunt economic growth in the town that is eagerly awaiting the pronouncement of a state status.

However, kudos was given to the police and the vigilance group, ensuring that the operation was foiled, but, will the situation be allowed to continue?

Speaking with Oodua Trust, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Ijebu Division, Alhadji (Chief) Moshood Ayodele Sule, said that the government has not taken some issues raised by the committee with seriousness, hence the apparent rise in crime rates. The former Ijebu-Ode local government boss said, “We have written a letter to the state government on this robbery issue and copied relevant security agencies in the state, soliciting for the government urgent intervention in providing adequate security gadgets, Armored Personnel Car (APC) and others, but till as I am talking to you now, we have not seen or heard anything from them except one armored tank seen around, is that one enough for the whole Ijebu land?”

Sule, who is also the Baba Oba of Odosenlu-Alaro queried “whether this same kind of governance is applicable all over the country” as he advised that the state government should as a matter of urgency, intervene and take a drastic measure to curb this menace.

Another resident, a retired police officer who spoke under anonymity, told our correspondent that with the firm compliance of many banks in the country to acquire bullion vans that were bullet proof, which was hoped would reduce the incidence of robbery attacks on the banks, the act is getting worse in Ijebu area. He noted that, “armored personnel carriers may be important, but it may not be as effective as a workable community policing system in a society.

“People know the criminals in their neighborhoods and are only afraid of exposing them because of the attitude of the police and other law enforcement agents who may turn the complainant to an accused within the twinkle of an eye. The police need to be friendlier with the people and let the people have trust in them. It is only through that way they can get better information.”

The state Police Commissioner, Musa Daura in his official reaction on Thursday at a news briefing said that the incident occurred at about 9.50am when sporadic gunshots were heard in the town. He said that his men from Ijebu Ode Area Command, led by Area Commander, ACP Ayo Akinsanya, were mobilized to engage the robbers along Ibadan road.

“While the fierce gun duel was on, reinforcement came from the Mobile men attached to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) positioned in Ijebu Ode and vigilance groups,” he said.

The robbers, Daura disclosed, were tackled and the bank robbery foiled.

Thus, two armed robbers were shot dead on the spot, he said, while hinting that the case was in the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID) for what he described as “discreet investigation.”

Among items recovered were one general purpose machine gun, three A.K 47 rifles, Two rocket launchers, two sledge hammers, two axes, 62 loaded AK 47 magazines, 61 empty AK 47 magazines and 1,070 rounds of unexpended 7.62mm ammunition.

It also included 156 rounds of GMPG ammunitions, 113 life cartridges, 10 launcher heads, 23 different makes of handsets, assorted charms and the sum of N8,400.

Among the seven recovered vehicles according to the police boss, was a white Toyota Hummer bus with No. XS 967 GGE. The vehicle, Daura emphasized was stolen in Lagos, saying that most of the vehicles recovered were stolen ones brought into the town for the robbery operation.

He gave the list of other vehicles to include, Opel Astra W/Car with No. FV 57 LND, One Premera Nissan car with no. ES 79 LSR, Nissan Volkswagen sharan with no. BZ 242 AGL, Toyota Camry with No. 887 KJA and Bajajmotorcycle No. QJ 649 SMK.

The command had in July, intercepted suspected armed robbers with two rocket launchers, five units of bombs and four dynamites. The weapons of ‘war’ were carefully conceived in a Hyundai car, heading towards Abeokuta from the Odeda end of Ibadan. It was learnt that the gang had earlier killed two uniformed policemen and three others at Idiape and Bakatari, a suburb town in Ibadan, Oyo state, before heading for Abeokuta through Odeda.

Muyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), and Public Relations Officer of the Command who spoke in a telephone interview, said 115 loaded ammunition and 145 expended ones were part of the exhibits recovered from the suspects.

“The incident happened around 1:30 pm. The command got first hand information that a group of armed robbers, who had earlier in the day wreaked havoc in Ibadan Oyo State capital, were taking their onslaught to Abeokuta.

“While we were just trying to lay ambush for them, a dangerously-driving Hyundai car was heading towards us here in Eleweran, we shot into the air to determine whether or not they were armed robbers we were out for. “They responded and a gun duel ensured leading to the death of one of them and arrest of another with the help of villagers in Aregbe, opposite our Command Headquarters,” Adejobi recounted.

He listed other weapons recovered from the robbers to include, one AK 47 riffle, 1,000 live ammunitions and charms of all sorts. The number of the suspects could not be ascertained as Adejobi said efforts were still on to get other members of the gang before going to press.