Some members of a notorious gang called the One Million Boys have threatened Lagos state.
According to The Nation, about 18 members of the terror gang, whose ages range between 14 and 17, allegedly invaded and robbed not less than 15 houses in Isheri-Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Saturday.
The gangsters were said to have announced their presence with sporadic gunshots.
It was revealed that those who put up any form of resistance were brutally dealt with machete cuts during the operation.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, said: “We were having a party in front of our house when the boys, numbering about 20, passed through our street, but we did not know that they were hoodlums. Suddenly, we started hearing gunshots from adjoining streets, and before we knew what was happening, one of my husband’s family members who live on one of the streets raided, ran towards our house to ask for help. He had blood all over him and said that he was attacked with matchete by the boys when they threatened to kill his wife, because they could not find valuables in their home.
“The wicked boys also threatened to kill a three-month-old baby when his parents explained that they did not have money at home. They later spared the baby after carting away valuables in the apartment.”
The source added: “The hoodlums fled after residents confronted them, but we succeeded in arresting some of them with the aid of policemen who answered our distress calls. We would have killed them, but for the DPO who asked us not to take the law into our hands.”
Un-arrested members have threatened fresh attacks unless their detained members are released by the Nigerian police.
The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun, urged the police to step up patrol and surveillance activities in order to flush out criminals from the community. “This is the first time the so-called One Milliion Boys would terrorise my domain. It is sad that these boys, who are mostly teenagers, armed themselves with sophisticated guns or rifles to brutalise and rob hapless residents.
“Although, I want to commend the DPO of Idimu Police Station for leading out his men to contain the rampaging boys, but I want to advise the police to carry out proactive surveillance and patrol in this community to checkmate these boys and other criminals. The boys must not be allowed to return to carry out their threats of further attacks on innocent residents.”