BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Residents of Abesan Estate in Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area of Lagos state are unhappy over the increasing spate of insecurity in their community. They are particularly miffed by the actions of the council chairperson which they allege, are directly frustrating their efforts at addressing the menace.
The residents, under the aegis of Abesan Estate Residents’ Association, have therefore, demanded for concerted efforts from the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure their safety.
The public relations officer of the association, Olufemi Odeyemi, blamed the incessant cases of security breaches on foreign elements.
“They are usually brought in trailers and dumped anywhere, from there they mix with the population and they become Okada riders or Keke riders while others engage in menial jobs”, he told The Point on Wednesday.
Odeyemi accused that the executive chairperson, Princess Olabisi Adebajo, a.k.a Abisko, of frustrating the efforts of the residents and the security agencies.
The deteriorating situation forced the association to issue an SOS to the state government a fortnight ago.
The security situation in the area, according to the association, was such that urgent steps must be taken in addressing the menace or it could spin out of control.
The association said although they had cried out to the Lagos state government, the security agencies and other stakeholders, nobody gave them attention.
In an interview with The POINT, Odeyemi said, “We wrote to the Local Government Chairperson, Princess Olabisi Adebajo, who is the Chief Security Officer of the local government. We copied about nine security agencies but she ignored the letter. Some of the agencies invited us for meetings, one of which was the security task force at Oshodi.
“An emergency meeting was called in December 2019. At that meeting, someone influential in the estate called a friend of his, who was a DIG. He directed the Commissioner of Police to do something about our situation. So, at that security meeting that day, the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer came and it was decided that our estate gate should be manned with people going in and out being screened, which we did. Prior to that time, crime was rife and there were cases of kidnapping of people with heavy ransom paid.
“The security situation in the area, according to the association, was such that urgent steps must be taken in addressing the menace or it could spin out of control”
“The LG chairperson said no, we could not do that. That was after she ignored us. We then had series of meetings and there were threats but the police were on our side so we were able to lock the gate for a period of time until she (the LCDA chairperson) forcefully came to break the padlock. One of the requests we made of her was to let us profile the transporters in our community because most of these crimes were being perpetuated with motorcycles, tricycles or buses.”
“Those involved in kidnapping people usually come early in the morning. They’ll abduct those who are going to work early in the morning and beat them mercilessly. They snatch residents’ valuables and withdraw cash in people’s accounts through POS machines. The situation is bad and we need urgent help. Unfortunately, the chairperson thwarted all our plans.
“The community decided to provide a means of identification to the commercial drivers in the estate. We said let us profile them so that buses would be registered. With the ID number, we would know the owners of the vehicles and in case crime is committed with a vehicle it would be easy to track those involved down. Also, any bus that is not marked or without an ID, the people would simply ignore the bus.
That was our plan but the chairperson said if we profile the transporters, maybe they won’t be able to get as much revenue as they currently get. So, up till now, nothing has been done in that respect. The estate is now too porous.
“The foreign elements continue to throng the estate in droves. They are brought in trailers. They live on the streets; they mess up the whole estate. If something happens now, you will see them entering houses, burning houses and injuring people. Our security is paramount to us; that’s why we are calling on government and other stakeholders to help us.”
The Divisional Police Officer at Ipaja, Tokumbo Abaniwonda, has however, allayed the fears of the community, saying that the community has been provided with a Police patrol van with security personnel who are manning the area.
Abaniwonda said, “I can beat my chest that as far as security threat is concerned, we have taken total charge of that place. Myself, the Area Commander in conjunction with the CP of Lagos State, had several meetings with the residents.
“With the help of the community, we have stationed a patrol vehicle at Abesan with security personnel provided by the Lagos Commissioner of Police. So, as far as Abesan is concerned now, there is no security threat there. Yes, there might be challenges, but we are doing our best so that the people can sleep with their eyes closed.”
Reacting to the allegation of government’s insensitivity to their plights, Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that their complaints should be addressed by the police.
“It’s the duty of the police. It’s got nothing to do with the state government. For us, the state government is doing the needful to ensure security of lives and property. If there are some pressing issues in the localities, the local government chairmen are expected to take charge of them and if there is a community that is not pleased with the performance of any local government chairman, it can report such a person to the appropriate organ, say to the House of Assembly. It is also for them to reject the person at the polls. This is democracy; nobody can impose anybody on the people.”
All efforts to reach the council chairperson for her comments proved abortive as she did not pick calls to her mobile phone as at the time of writing this report.
The Abesan community has scheduled another security meeting for Sunday, June 20 with the youths, stakeholders and security agencies in a bid to find lasting solution to the ugly trend.
