Gunmen lay siege to Lagos residents

Residents of Ayobo, in the Alimosho local government area of Lagos, say their homes are now under siege by gunmen who daily storm their communities, killing, kidnapping and physical torture of their victims.

This is also as relocation and mass exodus of residents have taken over the area of Lagos.

There was confusion between Friday and Sunday particularly in the Ayobo Housing Scheme Extension, Oshin area as the gunmen allegedly kidnapped three persons and killed two others.

Some yet-to-be- identified gunmen on Friday allegedly kidnapped two married women before a repeat of the same incident on Sunday in the area.

The Financial Secretary of the Landlords’ Association in the area , Mr James Ojuade, told NAN on Sunday that the gunmen, who allegedly killed two men and kidnapped two sisters on Friday, allegedly kidnapped another man on Sunday.

He said that the gunmen came through the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun and escaped with their victims inside a boat.

“About 6.00 p.m. on Friday, four men, who were armed with guns, broke into the residence of one Mr Rashidi Salami, beat his wife mercilessly and took away his two married daughters who came to visit them.

“Two neighbours, who intercepted and wanted to prevent them from escaping with the women, were shot dead, before they escaped with their victims.

“The deceased: Messrs Nurudeen Olanrenwaju and Idris Olowolayemo were buried yesterday according to Muslim rites,” Ojuade said.

Ojuade added that the gunmen came again on Sunday at 1.00 p.m. to the building next to where they allegedly kidnapped the two women on Friday and kidnapped one Mr Kehinde, whom he said had just returned from church.

“Immediately Kehinde parked his car, the gunmen jumped into his compound and started shooting bullets into his building.

“They captured him and escaped again to Ogun through a canoe.”

He called on the state government to come to their aid and provide security for the area.

“We want the government to erect police post in Oshin to reduce criminality in the area.

“We want the police to help us rescue the three people who had been kidnapped,” he said.

Another resident, who only identified himself as Kunle said that many residents had abandoned their houses in the area due to the incessant kidnappings.

“The community is now deserted as many residents had packed out of their houses for fear of the unknown.

“We can no longer sleep and close our eyes as our lives are not safe.”

Parents of the two women allegedly kidnapped on Friday were currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

As at the time of filling this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, was yet to respond to calls and text messages sent to his cell phones.

However, some police officers had been drafted to the scene of the incident.

Additional report by NAN