Armed Robbers operate for five hours, kill three guards, abduct resident

Afeez Hanafi

Twenty six days after a gang abducted pupils and staff members of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges, gunmen said to be members of the gang stormed Isheri North Estate, Lagos State, on Thursday, seizing the secretary of the estate’s residents association, Mr. Dayo Adekoya.

Three of the estate security guards, identified simply as Dugbe, Oluyole and Friday aka Fayo, were shot dead by the assailants while two other guards sustained gunshot injuries.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the kidnappers had at about 7pm announced their presence on the waterway around the estate with some shots before they invaded the estate at about 12.30am.

As the gunmen headed for Adekoya’s house, the guards reportedly chased them.

“But unknown to them, some of the kidnappers had laid in ambush near the secretary’s house. They opened fire on the guards and three of them died instantly while two were injured,” a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Our correspondent gathered that one of the kidnappers scaled the fence into Adekoya’s premises and opened the gate for his accomplices.

“They cut through the burglar-proof bars and shattered the window glasses to enter his room. They took him away shooting indiscriminately,” the resident added.

PUNCH Metro observed the fingerprints suspected to be those of the kidnappers on wall, while their footprints could be seen on the path leading to the waterway, through which they escaped.

On the premises, our correspondent heard a relative of the victim telling somebody on the telephone that the kidnappers had contacted Adekoya’s wife.

“They have called his wife; they are demanding N80m ransom,” the relative said.

The man, who did not identify himself, however, declined further comment when he was approached.

Distraught Adekoya’s wife said, “I am not speaking with the press now. His life is precious to us. I can grant interview after his release.”

A member of the estate’s executive lamented spate of kidnapping on the estate, stating that poor infrastructure made it to be vulnerable to attacks.

He said, “The roads here are bad; there is no government’s presence in this estate. We pay land use charges, but provide security for ourselves. There are nine zones on this estate. Each zone has three security guards and they are provided with walkie-talkies and motorcycles.

“We were awake when the kidnappers struck and the security guards tried to pursue them. Unfortunately, they (the kidnappers) shot three guards dead.”

A security guard, who did not want his name in print, said the three deceased resumed work last week.

The guard, who spoke in Yoruba, said, “Around 7.30pm on Wednesday, I heard gunshots and in my observation, the shootings were from the waterside. They would pause for some minutes and shoot again. We were all vigilant.

“A few minutes after 12am, they came into the estate through the creeks. We went after them and three of our men were shot dead in the process, while two are in a hospital.”

The estate chairman, Mr. Remi Osijo, in a statement, commiserated with the families of the deceased and wished the kidnap victim a safe return.

Osijo said the incident devastated residents, adding that the estate’s executive had started discussions with security operatives to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

“At about 12.30am on Thursday, February 9, 2017, a group of armed men numbering about 11 stormed a home on our estate. They laid siege to the house for about one hour trying to gain entrance.

“Our security team that responded swiftly to distress calls from occupants put up a gallant fight, but succumbed to the superior firepower of the assailants. Three of our security men lost their lives. A resident, Mr. Dayo Adekoya, was kidnapped,” the statement read in part.

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, led by the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and soldiers from the 81 Division, Ikeja, visited the landlord’s house and the waterside.

Owoseni stated that the kidnappers had wanted to abduct another resident, but were prevented by the police, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue Adekoya.

“This estate is porous and vulnerable. We are here to do a thorough assessment of the estate and see how we can work with the households in relation to policing an estate of this nature to ensure that we don’t have a recurrence,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed the state police command to ensure the arrest of the kidnappers.

The governor, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, also assured residents of the government’s commitment to safety of lives and property.

“While the state government commiserates with the families of the three dead estate security guards, it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that lives and property of residents in the state are protected.

“Last week, the governor had demonstrated his determination to eradicate the menace of kidnapping when he signed into law the anti-kidnapping bill recently passed by the state House of Assembly.

“The law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom and death penalty in the event of death of a kidnapped victim,” the statement read in part.

Source: Punch