Residents of Lawani and its environs at the Fadeyi area of Ikorodu Road, Lagos, have appealed to the Lagos State Police Command not to withdraw its men from the area as their absence will only encourage more attacks in the community.
The area, which the police have described as a hotspot, has experienced outbreaks of violence which have often led to destruction of lives and property.
The police, who took control of the situation in the area when the recurring crisis reached its climax in the middle of May have begun to withdraw from the area as there is a relative peace in the community.
But a cross-section of residents of the area, who spoke with PUNCH METRO expressed fear that the area boys would seize the opportunity of the withdrawal of police personnel to unleash mayhem on them again.
A resident, who has lived in the area for over 40 years, and identified himself simply as Taofeeq, alleged that the violence was being fomented by two factions of area boys from Ogunjobi, Ereko and Fadeyi streets.
He said the area boys were in the habit of collecting tolls from Plaster of Paris traders, house builders, and commercial bus drivers among others in the area.
“If a truckload of POP is to be offloaded, the people could collect as much as N30,000 from the owner and if a customer comes to buy anything, they collect a toll of N200 from the person. Also, if you are building a duplex, they demand as much as N250, 000 from you,” Taofeeq said.
Taofeeq added that residents of Kadiri; Lawani; Ogidi lane; Adewusi and Ojelade, resisted the area boys after much endurance.
“We wondered why they should be coming from their own area to control trade in our own area? Have we gone to their place to collect tolls from anyone? The police should continue to stay in the area,” he said.
As for the Chief Imam, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Fadeyi Branch, Alhaji AbdulLateef Ekundayo, he said in the past, the area was very safe.
“Lawani and Ogidi lane used to be so safe to the extent that one could leave one’s door unlocked and go to bed. Now, everyone cringes in fear once they hear any sudden noise. Even children can’t play on the streets and are afraid to go to school,” Ekundayo said.
He said the violence escalated on January 14, 2011, adding that on that day, some men invaded Lawani Street wielding sophisticated weapons, adding that in the process some residents and passers-by were killed. He added that some people sustained injuries, while property were also destroyed.
He said not long after that, no fewer than four corpses were discovered in a manhole, including that of a man identified simply as Gbenga, a 300 level student of Lagos State University, Ojo.
A POP trader, who identified himself simply as Azu, said he had closed his shop and would not return to the area until the police were able to contain the conflict completely.
Azu, who claimed he witnessed the murder of a man in front of his shop last month, said those behind the violence could go to any length to achieve their sinister motives.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, said the police were very much aware of the situation in the area.
“Police have been carrying out foot patrols and we will continue to take shifts in the area. For now, everything is under control,” Jinadu said.
However, another policeman, who spoke with PUNCH METRO in confidence, said the crisis had a political undertone and that the police knew the people causing trouble in the area but had not been authorised to take action.
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