For several years, engaging in shady business was known to be the trademark of most of the people living within and around Oluwole – a small but notorious community in Lagos Island.
But 12 years ago, a combined team of security operatives stormed the area in an attempt to clean the Augean stables that the community had become.
In the wake of the invasion of the community that was notorious for forgery and other sleazy businesses by security agencies, which included the police, the Department of State
Security Services, the Nigeria Army Intelligence and the Navy, hundreds of people were arrested, screened and those who had cases to answer were tried and jailed under the relevant laws.
The fallout was a temporary respite. But soon after, it was discovered that those who escaped arrest by the whiskers during the raid, had regrouped at the Tafawa Balewa Square, which is just a stone throw from where they were dislodged, to continue the illicit
business from where their arrested colleagues had left it.
Investigations revealed that since TBS is just a stone throw from a police post within the complex and a shouting distance to the Police Zone II headquarters, the suspected criminals had no hiding place as the police and other security agencies continued to raid
most of the suspected shops around the area and in most cases, made spectacular arrests.
Lagos Island parades the very top drug dealers and often serves as a battleground between antinarcotic agents and the dealers.
When the heat was too much on the forgers at their new abode, they decided to change their trade to a deadlier one. This time around, they simply peddle hard-drugs, which fetch them quick money that has today made the area the country’s most notorious top distribution centre.
According to a source at the Shaw Road office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, “Lagos Island parades the very top drug dealers and often serves as a battleground between anti-narcotic agents and these dealers.”
“Some years back, our government gave in to international pressure by working on some top suspects, which led to the arrest and conviction of one Oluwatoyin a.k.a Ile-Eru and harsh imprisonment terms were recommended for those caught in the web.
Nigeria does not produce any of these drugs, save hemp, which is today taking a centre-stage among the Island boys, who sell and distribute”, he said.
It was gathered that at Oju, a sleepy enclave, both marijuana and cocaine have been “indigenised” by the local people, who make brisk business, especially during festivities.
An officer told The Point that one could easily identify a user of the illicit drugs by their dry but peeling lips. But one Kamoru Alagbigba, who said he migrated from Agege to settle on the Island, explained that the weed had become part of their tradition.
Spokesperson of the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, confirmed to The Point that Lagos Island had continually played leading role in illicit drugs’ distribution, with the big guns
residing there.
Ofoyeju said that the wings of some of the major players had been clipped, following painstaking investigations. He, however, admitted that majority of those who ran into the NDLEA’s net were once in petty crimes at the Oluwole axis of Lagos Island.
He said that the Agency would not relent until the entire country had been cleansed of illicit drugs.
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that the agency had a way of identifying potential drug dealers.
