Daniel Anokwuru
Like the days of Shina Rambo, the most dreaded armed robber, Ojo community is currently under the siege of robbery and killing perpetrated by a one-man squad, simply identified as Shola, (aka Surely).
Residents of the area believe that the robber, who has killed many in recent times, forced business to close in the area, and sending fun seekers back home, has a mythical power.
Those that spoke with our reporter said that Shola has had many encounters with the police, but the bullet never penetrated his body.
They said on several occasions, Shola had entered Alaba International Market to attack those he believes that they are feeding the police information about him.
Speaking on his activities, one Mrs. Chinyere, a trader, said that the most wanted robber had in the past killed a girl close to her shop, when he entered to rob the shop where the victim was serving as a sales girl.
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According to her: “About last two months, he came here at the PAGA shop near my shop and shot the sales girl there dead. The girl raised alarm after he had robbed her, and he reentered the shop and shot her dead. Immediately he killed her, he mounted his motorcycle and drove away. He also killed a pharmacy owner around the area same period.”
Also speaking, a hotelier in the area, who preferred not to be mentioned for fear of being attacked, noted that she had been robbed by the suspect many times.
She said: “The boy has robbed almost all the hotels and shops in this community. He operates with a motorcycle. People hardly patronise us again for fear of being attacked. He had robbed my place up to three times. It got to the extent that he usually sent his boys to go around and collect money for him. If you refuse to give, he will come and attack your place. Everyone is afraid of him because he has a lot of magical power. He changes his face during operation. The police are still trailing him. He is well known in the community; he is about 22 years old. Since he joined crime, he vacated the community. He only comes to attack and rob.”
Lamenting their plight in the hand of Shola, a boutique owner, who identified himself as Chiboy noted that they had decided to be closing on time out of fear.
“All the businesses here now close on time. Aka Road is seriously under his attack. Though the boy operates both in the day and night, it is better for us to go home on time. Everyone is afraid to talk about him; he has informants all over the place. Besides, bullet does not penetrate his body,” he said.
Another resident of Ilogbo area, said that the robber also killed a motorcyclist (Okada rider) early last month at Tope Bus stop, after he robbing a shop owner. He said he had robbed about six shops that fateful day before the victim pursued him with his own bike, and he came back and shot him dead.
A police officer in the area, who preferred not to be named, added that the suspect also killed a mobile police officer in Afromedia Estate, along the Lagos Badagry Expressway and took away his riffle.
The Nigerian Xpress had reported that Sergeant Tubosun Owolabi was shot dead on February 13, 2019, when he was on guard duty at Captain Close in Afromedia Estate. He was shot around 10pm by two robbers, operating on a bike, and his service riffle seized from him. He was rushed to Igando General Hopsital by officers from Okokomaiko Police Station. Unfortunately, he died three days after the attack.
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However, for most housewives in the area, especially those that their husbands trade at Alaba International market, the ugly situation has become a blessing of sorts. It has restored love and peace in their home again.
Mrs. Nwanneka Obi, told the reporter that since the invasion of the community by the one-man squad, there is peace in her home. She said: “My husband now comes home on time. Before, if he closes, he would enter drinking joint and stay till late night before coming home. But now, the fear of Shola has made him to be coming home early, because the boy always attacks beer parlours. My husband and his friends now shun going to beer parlours. Sometimes, I will remind him that he needs to go and drink, but he will tell me to go and buy the drink and bring it home.”
Another housewife, Mrs. Chioma Ezike, stressed that if not that the situation is a bad one, she would have wanted it to continue, because her husband also comes home on time when the children are awake.
Calls to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, did not go through, as his number was not reachable. Also, he was yet to reply to the text message sent to his phone.