As suspected militants continue to ravage the Ikorodu community in Lagos state, the community has yet again been thrown into gloom as the militants have murdered 8 landlords in the Lagos community.
Following the increased attacks on the community, several many residents have been forced to move out of their homes while seeking temporary refuge till the situation comes under control.
A resident of Kajola community, Bola Omotunde, a self-employed woman recounted her experience of the incident which occurred on Sunday. She said: “It was a terrible experience. Those boys wreaked so much havoc here. We thank God that the government has started dealing with them. Throughout yesterday, the sound of gunshots would not let us sleep. It has been a traumatic experience and my children are not back yet. I paid N10,000 per night in a hotel for three days before a friend took my family in. My children did not write their third term examination before trouble broke out here. Those boys were going from house to house, kidnapping people. I know they will never come back, but it will take time for things to be normal around here”.
Another resident of the area said: “The harm has been done already. Eight landlords in this community were murdered. They were vigilantes who volunteered to keep our community safe from petty thieves. Only one of them was spared because he was nursing his sick child that night. He thought he would be able to join the others, but he slept off. We woke up to the sight of their dead bodies in the morning of the next day.
“No matter what the government is doing now, it cannot bring back those men. Who will compensate their families? We have more widows and fatherless children than ever in the community. One man was kidnapped in his house. I learnt that he paid N5m as ransom. I think this effort of the government is too late”.