By Joy Anyim
Residents of Ikotun Egbe and environs now live in fear, as suspected cultist cum robbery gang, identified as ‘No-Salary-Boys’ unleash terror on the Lagos community.
The gangsters, who go about robbing houses, shops and attacking anyone, who tries to challenge them are said to be deadly.
They had recently unleashed terror at 32, Tijani Street of Iyana-Era, stabbing a 27-year-old electrician to death.
The deceased, Awugo Job, an indigene of Benue State, met an untimely death after he had intervened in a fight between his friend, simply identified as Wasiu, and the friend’s 19-year-old wife, Boluwatife.
On April 18, 2019, Wasiu, who lives in Agnifa Street, not too far from Job’s house, had a serious fight with his wife.
Job, who heard them fighting had gone to make peace, when Boluwatife, who felt he was taking sides with her husband, threatened to deal with him.
Later that day, Boluwatife was alleged to have gone to invite the ‘No-Salary-Boys’ to deal with Job.
The criminal gang stormed Job’s house, beat him up, dealt him machete blows on the chest and ribs.
Job’s uncle, Sunday Omekah, told The Nigerian Xpress that his nephew died from the stab wounds before he could get medical help.
Omekah said: “I am a commercial tricycle, operator. On the day of the incident, I had left home early for work. About 11:30 a.m., my phone rang. It was my son, Linus, who called me.
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“He told me that some group of boys came to the house, machetted and stabbed Job. I quickly rushed home, but on my way home, I met my wife and son taking him to the hospital. I quickly put him in my tricycle and drove to a nearby hospital. On getting there, they rejected him. They advised us to take him to the General Hospital, which we did. When we got there, he was taken to the emergency ward where a doctor confirmed him dead.
“l was confused and pained. I wondered how it was possible that someone I left at home before going to work could have died just like that. He was like my own son. He started living with me when he was just seven years old. I saw him through his primary and secondary school and even enrolled him to train as an electrician.
“I, however, went to the Ikotun Police Division to report the incident. Seven persons were arrested by the Division and transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.”
It was learnt that five of the seven arrested suspects were later freed. Omekah said, “I don’t know how the police released five of the arrested suspects, leaving two.”
A source at the SCIID, however, revealed that the five suspects were released because they were found not to have any connection with the murder.
“The police at the division just went to raid the area and arrested those people. On interrogation, it was discovered that they had nothing to do with the crime,” he explained.
The police source also disclosed that the two suspects in the matter, Boluwatife and Quam Suleimon, had been charged to court since May 3, and remanded in prison custody.
He said: “The suspects have identified the prime suspect, who stabbed Job to death. We are still looking for him. Once he is arrested, he will be charged to court. Boluwatife and Suleimon were charged to Ebute-Meta Magistrates Court. The case was adjourned to June 3, 2019.”
Speaking on the activities of the gang, a residents of the community said, they needed heavy presence of security agents to curb their excesses.
The resident, who declined to be named for security reasons, said: “‘The ‘No-Salary Boys’ are just a bunch of jobless youths, who have taken to crime, as a means of livelihood. During the day, you will see them gathering at one joint, smoking and drinking.
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“Some of them are children of some landlords. While others moved in from other areas. They have become a nightmare, as we no longer have peace here. Nobody can confront them. If you do, they waste you. I don’t even know if the police are afraid of them.
“When they don’t see anyone to attack or fight, they fight themselves. They are a set of bloodthirsty youths. We really need the police and the Army to be domiciled here. This is because, if something is not done soon, they may take to raping our daughters or even attacking our young and responsible sons, who live here.”
Another resident and businesswoman in the area alleged the gang members extort money from traders. “They can just be passing and pick something from your shop; you cannot ask them for money or even stop them. They are lords in this area. On days when they start fighting, shop owners close down. If you don’t, they may end up destroying your wares.
“They sometimes come to collect money from shop to shop. We will just respect ourselves and give them. It is obvious they don’t fear the police. We want the Army deployed here,” she said.