Banks, robbers in rat race in Ijebu-Ode

Their popular and internationally acclaimed Ojude Oba celebration has always been a spectacle to behold annually. The last one was held on Sunday, November 30, 2009 amid pomp and pageantry. This years’ occasion, was particularly unique as the people of Ijebu land used the occasion to further press for the creation of the Ijebu State. […]

Their popular and internationally acclaimed Ojude Oba celebration has always been a spectacle to behold annually. The last one was held on Sunday, November 30, 2009 amid pomp and pageantry. This years’ occasion, was particularly unique as the people of Ijebu land used the occasion to further press for the creation of the Ijebu State.

spate of armed robbery worry residents

But, while the people of Ijebu continue to strive for progress and development, the spate of armed robbery incidents has been one major source of worry to all and sundry. At the just held Ojude Oba day, the Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, hinted that there was need to get additional Mobile Police (MOPOL) units in the state to stem the growing cases of insecurity. At the ceremony, the governor disclosed that discussions were started with the appropriate quarters to get the idea implemented.

However, the growing insecurity in Ijebuland and, perhaps, its environs seems unyielding, as banks in the area have become robbers’ target, operating with impunity. Records have shown that in the last five years, the area recorded the highest incident of bank robbery in the state. At a point in 2007, as an example, the paramount ruler and Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Dr. Sikiru Adetona had to declared war on the robbers. The use of the vigilance group was deployed, but the leadership tussle became a threat to its purpose. However, the local security body was able to checkmate the menace temporarily, but the situation got worse, as victims continue to count their losses and lick their wounds.

At Imodi Mosan, a Micro-Finance bank was attacked July 2009. A manager and a security man attached to the FCMB Ijebu Igbo were shot to death by robbers   in October last year with millions of naira carted away. Reports indicated that the manager was specifically targeted having blocked their way during an initial attempt. “They came, asked for the manager and pulled the trigger, with one of them saying, we got you at last, and you think you can escape us.” Still, in the month of October, all banks, except one on the campus of the Ogun state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, were visited by the daring gang.

desparate armed robbers

In the month of November 2009, no fewer than eight cases were recorded. In one of the operation, the robbers numbering about 25 arrived at the premises of a bank, at about 10.15am and restricted movement at gun-point. They found the electronic security entrance impenetrable and, like sand-diggers, they ensured that the electronic doors were dismantled with the use of jiggers before going through the broken glasses. The operation, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was the talk about town at Ijebu Igbo for days, due to the dexterity exhibited by the gang before, during and after the operations. At a bank, Ogbere, in Ijebu East council area, the gang went with locally made grenade to blow up the security doors before carting away the loot. In Ijebu area, the period of 10.00am and 11.30am each day for the bank workers is often regarded as “Unto your hands, Oh Lord.” “When it is 12.00pm we heave sigh of relief, you can be sure that no robbery attack will occur. But, between the hours of 10.00 and 11.30am we are always worried, believing that they could strike anytime in our bank,” a staff in one of the new generation bank told our correspondent.

bank executives seek to meet governor

Apparently discontented with the dimension at which the situation was going, workers of the affected banks staged a two-day warning strike between December 6 and 8. The closure, which left hundreds of customers stranded as they could not transact business with the various banks started on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a vow to leave the area if the robbery incidents persist after the warning closure.

And as part of improving the security situation, the 14 branch managers stormed Abeokuta, the state capital to meet with the governor where they presented their case. The managers under the aegis of Bankers’ Forum told the governor at a private meeting on December 9, 2009 that robbery incidents in the affected areas had become a daily occurrence.

They also lamented that the security on ground was much less than the number of the gang, who often came with sophisticated weapons and drilling machines, which they used to break into the main entrance of the banks. According to the managers, “The tales often left behind is that of fear, sorrows and tears. They will come and operated for about two hours without hindrance. “

“We have been at our lowest performance since the incident became a kind of daily occurrence, that was why we took it upon ourselves to run to the number one security officer in the state to bail us out,” a spokesman who wants to speak on condition of anonymity told our correspondent. On the outcome of the meeting, the managers said that they were satisfied with the assurances given to bring the problem to a stop.

Earlier, the state police command apparently worried by the rising wave of criminal activities, met all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on December 3rd. The emergency meeting, with the state Commissioner of Police, Hashimu Argungu presiding incidentally came on the heels of the killings of two persons by suspected armed robbers along the popular Moshood Abiola road area of the state capital.

police declare war

The meeting, which lasted for about two hours, saw the state police boss declaring total war on criminals in the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi who confirmed the meeting told our correspondents that Argungu read the riot act to his principal officers, charging them to do more on their intelligence gathering.

“The CP told them that his plan was to be taking the fight to the criminals from their hideouts before coming out to create havoc on residents. So, they have been charged to do more on intelligence gathering for proper policing.  

But, the unyielding gang struck again on December 15, at Ogere, in Remo axis of the state, killing a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Superintendent of Police [SP] Mr. Otele and shooting  three others, a woman constable, Bose Fafunmi and yet to be identified two others . Our correspondent learnt that one of the female officers escaped death by whiskers, as she immediately pulled her uniform and disguised as a civilian.

Eye witness account told our correspondent that the a gang of armed robbers had stormed the Ogere town with plan to rob a bank, only to first attack the police station in an apparent move to make their operation hitch free. After hitting the station with their sporadic shots that caught the victims, including Otele, they visited the bank and looted the vault.