PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JULY 3, 2016
IKORODU MASSACRE Fear of the unknown reigns in Lagos/Ogun border communities
By Bose Adelaja
T
here is an adage in Yoruba language which says, ‘’Eni ti Sango ba ti oju e wo’le, ko ni ba won bu Obakoso’’, meaning that he who witnesses the wrath of thunder will never abuse its gods. This can be likened to the situation in Elepete and Imuti, two Lagos and Ogun border communities near Ikorodu which, for about two weeks, became a war zone, following three separate attacks by suspected militants. The attacks generated controversy as some people said they were masterminded by some Niger-Delta militants suspected to be Ijaw while others alleged they were carried out by pipeline vandals located in the area, especially as no group has claimed responsibiliy. The attacks claimed no fewer than 30 lives and property worth millions of naira destroyed and this has grounded economic and economic activities which led to people fleeing the area. The said communities were said to be at peace before government established its presence in the area to check petroleum pipeline vandals in Arepo, Majidun and Oke-Oko who are neighbours but located differently. Arepo, Majidun, Elepete and Imuti are connected through water, a distance that can be done in thirty minutes, and the communities had been at peace though engaged in illicit trade of petroleum products until government came to tackle pipeline vandalisation which was said to have been traced to the communities and this led to the vandals relocating. Sources said that the petroleum vandalisation business had not been easy as it was in the past, a situation which made some of the vandals to quit the illicit business
while the hardened ones remained in it, not minding the risks involved. The crisis was said to have emerged from an illicit dealer (names withheld) who resides in Elepete but operates a filling station at Imuti. His terms of business was said to have included delivery of products to him before payment to the vandals. Meanwhile, supply of products was no longer regular as government had effectively checked the activities of vandals in the area. The illicit dealer failed to meet up with payment of the previous supply made to him which led to threats by his suppliers. As he refused to pay, the vandals mobilized and attacked the petrol station. The said owner of the petrol station was said to have used his connection to engage the men of Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS, Lagos. Subsequently, the vandals were traced to a hotel in Elepete where two of them were killed. After the killing, the vandals mobilized for reprisal attack on the night of Friday, June 17, killing 15 residents of Imuti. As if that was not enough, another attack was launched on Monday, June 20, on Elepe where the petroleum dealer resides and three people were killed. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the petrol station owner then mobilized landlords to protect both communities against continuous attacks by the vandals. It was gathered that the information filtered to the vandals who saw it as an affront and decided to strike again on the night of Thursday, June 23, during which 10 of the landlords from Elepete and Imuti were killed. The following morning, Friday, June 24, three more landlords were killed. Sources told Sunday Vanguard
The mother of three, who came from Ilogbo, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, was killed by stray bullets while the brother-inlaw sustained injuries. She has since been buried according to Muslim rites
that, that Friday was supposed to be for candle light procession, for the two vandals killed by the police but his colleagues got to know that some landlords of the two communities had been engaged in vigilante activities since after their previous attacks. This triggered the third action that led to more killings. About 30 lives were said to have been lost and the communities and environs like Iyana-IgboOlomu, Imagbon, Kajola, OkeAyo, Oke-Imuti and parts of ItaOluwo deserted. Lagos and Ogun state governments have, in the meantime, waded into the crisis by deploying military and paramilitary groups to the affected communities to ensure sanity but the communities remainsd scanty for fear of further attacks. The residents were even scared of giving out information about the incidents for fear of future attacks. One of the victims was said to be an auto electrician, Waheed Buhari, aka Yah Alau, alleged to have been shot dead in front of his room, while his daughter, Mariam, 13, a pupil of AUD Primary School, Idi-Agbalumo, was said to have sustained bullet
•Some residents fleeing Elepete in a pick up van
wounds and is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital. Another pathetic killing was that of a visitor, Mrs Mariam Afees, aged 40, who was said to be on a visit to her younger sister but her untimely death, while in company of her brother-in-law in their home unknown to them that there was a crisis. The mother of three, who came from Ilogbo, in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, was killed by stray bullets while the brother-in-law sustained injuries. She has since been buried according to Muslim rites. Another victim, Peter Gbenga Dehinbo, a transporter, met his death on his way home from work. He drove into the crisis but narrowly escaped the attack. Meanwhile, on arrival at home, the wife had gone for church vigil but the house help came to open the door. The assailants were said to have shot the house help and, while Dehinbo dashed to rescue her, they rushed at him and shot him dead on the spot. The Beninoise house help survived. Last Monday, Ogun State deputy governor, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, on a tour of the troubled area, had her convoy attacked by some suspected militants at Arepo. Sunday Vanguard had a chat with the founder\leader of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun, who said the incident was a rare discord which may have been masterminded by some politicians. He claimed he was in constant touch with Ijaw leaders, ‘’The leaders and I interact often. I believe the incident was a rare discord as some politicians may be playing pranks but there is no cause for alarm since we are in accord with the Ijaw leaders. Also, we have our intelligence network and the issue on ground will be well handled. A fortnight ago, I met with some Ijaw leaders; so, if there had been discord, we will find a way to settle it, it is more of smoke without fire.’’ Some of the communities fall under Sagamu LGA, whose Chairman, Honourable Omosanya Awoniyi, condemned the killings, saying he had reported the incident to appropriate authorities. He sued for peace.“Similarly, the National Task Force on Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons and Pipeline Vandalisation, has urged the Federal Government to curb illegal importation of ammunition into the country in order to tackle security challenges in the area. The South West Coordinator of the Task Force, Col. Anthony Olawale Awote, said government's effort to eradicate criminal activities would only be fruitful if illegal arms could be stopped from entering the country. Awote appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill on the establishment of the Task Force.“Efforts to reach the Ayangburen of Ikorodu proved abortive. Despite the presence of security personnel, the embattled communities remained deserted as the villagers only come to study the environment at day-time only to return to neighbouring communities for shelter in the night. During one of our visits to the communities, scared residents, who pleaded anonymity, said only a few of the villagers had returned while others come to study the environment and go for fear of the unknown.