We’re not ready to return home, Ikorodu attacks — Victims

Following assurances from the security operatives of adequate protection of lives and property, residents of Igbo Olomu and Ita Oluwo, Ikorodu areas of Lagos and Ogun states, who were displaced due to the attacks by militants, have vowed not to return home until normalcy is restored to the communities.

This came as indications emerged that the security personnel detached to the crises prone areas are having difficulty in having access to food items and portable water in the area due to the desertion of the towns. 

 

Meanwhile, as a means of preventing the spate of killings in the affected communities, some eminent Nigerians, including Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti have agreed to hold an emergency summit to nip the crisis in the bud. Some communities in Lagos and Ogun states have been deserted following series of attacks by some suspected militants. 

This has led to many residents seeking refuge in neighbouring communities until the situation is brought under control. When Vanguard visited the affected communities, soldiers and other security personnel were seen manning strategic places like Psychiatric, Ola Imam, Iyana-Igbo Olomu, Chemist, Kajola and Oke-Ayo. We won’t return home, displaced persons speak One of the displaced persons, who gave his name as Ayobami, said he will not return home until the government takes over the creeks by dislodging the militants just as it is done in other places. 

Ayobami said: “I am in Isolo squatting with my elder brother, while my family has relocated to Egbeda, Ogun State. Though the places are not comfortable, it is better than being killed.” Another displaced person, Ms Victoria Aarinola, told Vanguard that she now stays in her office while her family stays in the church. Victoria, a school teacher said her colleagues and church members have donated clothings and food items to them pending when normalcy is restored. Narrating her ordeal, she said, “We were in a vigil last Thursday when neighbours called to inform us that the militants have attacked again and I told my family to stay in the church while I sleep in the school. 

I won’t return home because the militants are better armed than the government.” Security operatives’ blues Meanwhile, there were strong indications that security personnel drafted to maintain law and order in the affected communities are unable to get access to portable water and food items in the communities. 

Source was made to understand that community leaders who could have assisted them have fled the community. It was gathered that hunger seems to be ravaging the communities such that the security personnel attached to the affected places could not get food to buy. Also, security presence in the communities has heightened as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, has been stationed to Ereko, one of the hotspots. A combined team of military and para-military personnel have so been patrolling the area. 

Source also gathered that the chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Mr Omosanya Awoniyi, whose local government covers one of the crisis-ridden area, has been summoned by the state governor. Ijaw, Yoruba leaders plan emergency summit In a bid to nip the crisis in the bud, Ijaw leader, Chief Clark and Afenifere leader, Chief Fasoranti have agreed that a joint consultative meeting of Ijaw and Yoruba nations must hold quickly to stop further hostilities. In a statement signed on behalf of the leaders by National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said that the recent spate of mindless killings of innocent people in some Ogun and Lagos communities by some bandits “have created worries in the Yoruba and Ijaw nations because of the shared respect of the right to life and given the insinuations about the identity of these killers.”