Panic As Hoodlums Loot Evacuated Building In Flooded Ogun Community
Residents of Isheri Estate Community at the OPIC end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have expressed worries over the safety of their properties as hoodlums looted an evacuated building in the area.
It was gathered that the hoodlums after looting the property, scaled the fence of the building and tried to escape.
The security guard who was on duty at the time however sighted them and decided to give them a hot chase.
One of them was arrested while others were said to have escaped.
The chairman of Riverview Estate, Abayomi Akinde, said some items looted in the building were abandoned by others who escaped.
He said, “I was on my balcony when I heard the security guard shouting ‘thief, thief’ and by the time I came out to check, I saw him chasing one of them while they were both on the street. I put on my boots and decided to join to apprehend the thief. Although I decided to return because I was not holding anything, I later learnt that one of them was caught. He was new to the environment and could not navigate his way out. Meanwhile, others abandoned the looted items while trying to escape.”
Akinde added that the arrested suspect was detained by security awaiting the return of the building owner.
According to him, the suspect was badly injured in his legs as he was pierced by some thorny weeds in the flood while trying to flee.
“We later discovered that the person who led them had worked in a company in the community before after he led the police to his accomplice.”
Another resident, Kingsley, who spoke to our correspondent, said the incident caused panic in the community and fear in the minds of some residents who had left temporarily.
He said, “We were shocked when we heard about the incident because it looked like some hoodlums are trying to exploit our situation now. Although such hardly happened during the flood, this has made people more security conscious.”
While citing instances of some residents returning to the community to check on their properties, another resident, Kola Balogun, said others who could not come around had made several calls to ascertain the safety of their homes.
“Since the incident happened, people have been coming home to examine their properties to be sure thieves had not broken into them. Some have also been calling to be sure if they were not affected. I have received many calls, too, like some people I know.”
Meanwhile, Akinde said the extent of the break-ins could only be known once the flood receded and residents returned to their homes.
“We have to wait till the flood recedes and when people return to their homes to be sure if there are similar cases,” he added.
Some residents had evacuated the community following the flood occasioned by the release of water from the Oyan River Dam by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority.
