SECURITY ALERT: BEWARE OF THE BLACK SPOTS IN EJIGBO
By Abolaji Adebayo
No fewer than 40 black spots where hoodlums commit crimes in Ejigbo have been uncovered by the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The discovery is the result of consultations with over 110 Community Development Associations (CDAs) by the CDC to assess the insecurity in the LCDA following the destruction and clashes which trailed the #EndSARS protests.
Shocked by scores of rampaging youths who burnt vehicles and looted public and private properties, the CDC chairman, Prince Jelili Atiku led the committee on a fact-finding mission round the wards to engage residents on the threats in each neighbourhood.
The CDC kicked off the meetings by holding a joint ward assembly of Ifoshi and Aigbaka wards on Thursday, November 12, 2020, holding another meeting with the CDAs in Ailegun and Oke-Afa wards on Friday, November 13, this year.
The final meeting, comprising the CDAs in Ilamoshe and Fadu wards held on Saturday November 14, this year.
Earlier, the committee had met with various stakeholders such as the councillors, the youth organisations like National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Police and Community Relations Committee (PCRC) as well as the coordinators of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in each zone across Ejigbo LCDA.
At the meetings, various black spots were identified across the local council area.
Within Ifoshi and Aigbaka wards, the black spots include the shanties at Pipeline; Aderemi Street in Ganiu Olukotun community; Oluopa bus stop up to the airport fence; uncompleted buildings, abandoned vehicles and containers in Oboye area; Agbede Street; Ifetedo CDA – boundary lines with Ifoshi and Kila; Adegoroye Street where drinking spots are formed early in the morning; Olutimehin Street; a shop on Jemme and the football pitch in Caroline; Ona-Ara and korobo in Ifesowopo; Balogun Ogunde in Olorunsogo which serves as a haven to hemp smokers; a house beside bakery in Ogunseye CDA; the two entrances to Docas where smoking and drinking start by 9pm as well as Sewande links to Oboye.
Others include Fayemi Street; Catholic Church to link Disu which has been taken over by narcotics drinkers who waylay innocent passers-by; Ifelodun lane; Oluwole in United CDA – a relaxation center providing abode for questionable characters; Alaba/Anu Oluwapo junction; entrance to Jubril Olabisi/Dauda Ilo; Adegoroye by Holy Cross and Adewoyin/Ifoshi junction.
In Ailegun ward the dens of the criminals allegedly include the public primary school which has no perimeter fence and has become an abode for miscreants to smoke, gamble and plan their activities; Brethen Street; Grace land to Pinckrron up to Nnewi area; Duduyemi to Iseri Road which is dangerous at night.
Others are relaxation centres that harbour miscreants along Ejigbo -Egbe road and Mechanic village that, allegedly has criminals who specialise in robbery and car vandalisation;
The list also covers uncompleted buildings on Ansardeen Street to Esan; Back of Oceanic bank and some abandoned buildings on Sheriff Street.
There are allegations of serious drug traficking that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency must investigate at Graceland.
According to the report, excusively obtained by Echonews, the black spots in Fadu ward include he black areas include: loitering places around Holy School; Kunle Okunola/Pst. Ojediran junction; Agbayin Street, behind the school on Emilagba Street; the abandoned Ageke Primary School; Apata – down the street; Dabiri Street where notorious joints abound; a house along Moshalashi Street where the miscreants converge at night and Pipeline/Orole area where snatching of bags as early as 5am is rampart.
One of the factors hampering security in some communities was identified to be nonpayment of security levies.
At these spots, robbery, maiming of innocent residents, car theft, car vandalization, consumption of dangerous drugs, Indian hemp smoking, raping, etc are the common criminal activities perpetrated by hoodlums.
The major causes of the social vices in those areas were identified to include the negligence of the residents and noncompliance with security measures.
According to the stakeholders, there are many flash points as a result of lack of effective policing, noting that a lot of idle hands exist due to high rate of unemployment.
“Some are not willing to work but prefer easy money coming from “orita” Yahoo outlet, etc.” the report stated.
“On the part of residents, insecurity exists because of care free attitude to securing their environments; no security outfit in some streets; non payment of security levy even by some
landlords andlow attendance at CDA meetings.
The report also highlighted growing number of “paraga” joints which operate from early morning till dead night,” they lamented.
“To reduce the impact of tough boys in Ejigbo as a community, we need to examine the causes which include the following: breakdown of home front, bad family upbringing resulting in breeding miscreants,” the stakeholders suggested.
Proposing proactive solutions to the menace of insecurity in the community, the stakeholders said residents should know their neighbours, adding that security outfits and regular payment of levy must be sustained.
They further suggested that security should be the principal responsibility of CDA chairmen.
“Engaging the boys in leadership responsibility, lighting up the streets, organising programmes to educate the youths, effective parenting as well as empowerment/entrepreneurship programmes. Task force on security must be put in place at street and CDA levels.” the report stated.
It was also suggested that bills on security should be sponsored by the executive council chairman.
In his remark, the CDC chairman said: “Peace and security is everybody’s responsibility. Most of those who attacked Ejigbo during the protest are not residents of Ejigbo. It is therefore incumbent on all of us to be vigilant and demonstrate sense of belonging. The aftermath, casualties now are our responsibility. This is not palatable.”
