Crime
Armed Robbery, Burglary, Petty Theft On The Increase In Osogbo
By Our Correspondents
Residents of Osogbo, the Osun state capital are now leaving in fear as a result of the increase in armed robbery, burglary and petty theft in some parts of the city.
Findings by CityMirrorNews revealed that armed robbers have laid siege to some developing areas, know as new sites, of Osogbo, terrorizing residents of the area at will.
The incessant armed robbery attacks is threatening the peace of the adjudged most peaceful state in Nigeria.
Investigation revealed that light armed robbery and petty theft have been occurring on regular basis in the state capital in the last one month.
In recent weeks, different communities in Osogbo have been attacked with properties worth millions of Naira carted away in cash and material variables.
Among the communities are Omigade Estate, Ayedun Estate, Okonfo, Our Club, Ajobo Street where electricity cables were stolen, Rinsayo Area, Hallelujah Estate.
Others observed by our correspondent include Agunbelewo Area, Oroki Estate, Oke Ayepe, Costain Area, Oke Baale and many that have not been widely reported.
CityMirrorNews reporter who was at Halleluyah Estate around 9pm some days ago noted the presence of vigilante officers who barricaded some roads to check vehicles coming in and out of the estate.
The reporter, who was amazed by the numbers of the vigilantes operating at the hour of 9pm enquired into why there was security consciousness in the area and he was told that it was due to the prevalence of armed robbery and snatching of motorcycles.
It was gathered that residents of the area engaged the service of the vigilante to checkmate the activities of the criminals who had been forcing residents of the community to their shelter at 7:30-8:00pm.
Some residents of the area told the CityMirrorNews reporter that the criminals do operate with dane guns, machetes and axes.
A resident of Oke Ayepe whose shop was burgled in the dead of the night with her cash and valuables stolen about a fortnight ago, described the incessant robbery incident as unfortunate.
According to the trader who craved anonymity, the men of the underworld numbering eight stormed her house around 11:30pm when most neighbours were asleep and threatened to kill her if she raises alarm.
She added that when the operation was going on, no member of the community could notice as there was neither a night guard nor vigilante in the area.
“When they came, we were all asleep, I noticed they were all around the area as they had successfully maneuvered my shop and took away many valuables.”
Another resident of Osogbo, Mrs Kehinde Sefiyat told our reporter that although the miscreants were unable to gain access to her house during their planned operation, the scourge of recent developments is worrisome.
Mrs Sefiyat said “When they tried to gain access, my husband who was sleeping near the window threatened to shoot them and dared the rrmed robbers. It was this singular act that saved us from attack that day. They nearly tore the net of our window before he threatened to shoot them.
“But the scourge is worrisome. Last week, one of my friends told me how they attacked them in the next community. Government should step up their game in ensuring that there is security everywhere.”
The duo stated that places attacked by the miscreants are new settlements and locations springing up in the town and that security needs to be beefed up to curb the wave of attacks in the state capital.
Other residents who pleaded to be anonymous on the issue said apart from the engagement of local vigilantes in the neighborhood for security, the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and others security agencies should also be mobilized to save the situation.
They also challenged community leaders to partner the law enforcement agents and monitor activities in their neighborhood through constant verification of visitors or new tenants on their job, background and mission in the locality.
A beer palour at Ayedun Estate, Heritage Area, Osogbo was last week robbed by the armed robbers around 9pm. The owner of the beer palour was said to have been shot twice on the leg when the armed robbers.
One of the Suspected Armed Robbers, Raheem Kabiru recently paraded by the police in Osun
In her reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Mrs Folashade Odoro told CityMirrorNews that efforts are on by the Police to nip in the bud activities of nefarious people in the town.
She however was quick to disagree with residents of the town saying that the Police have not been effective boasting that the command has put in place various efforts to guard against hoodlums in communities across the state.
Odoro said “When you move round the whole State now you will see our police on thorough check and to prevent all acts of criminal activities including the highways. The Commissioner of Police has put up this strategy for visibility policing before, during and after the yuletide.
“It will be an understatement that communities were been attacked as far as this State is concerned the police is making all efforts to guard against any hoodlums attacking any community,” the PPRO said.
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