*Police debunk claims, assure Lagosians of adequate security
By Florencemary Nwabueze
Residents of Eleko in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State have called for increased security presence following reports of the alleged infiltration of the community by suspected bandits.
The residents were thrown into panic on Monday, June 1, after a video allegedly showing a group of armed young Fulani men and women being apprehended by angry residents went viral on social media.
Although the Lagos State Police Command had earlier described reports of the invasion as a false alarm intended to create unnecessary fear among residents, insisting that there was no security crisis, or coordinated attack in Ibeju-Lekki, Imota, Oke-Afo or any other part of Lagos State, some residents maintained that the incident actually occurred and called for urgent intervention by security agencies to prevent a repeat of the attack recently witnessed in Oyo State.
Visit by Vanguard
When Vanguard visited the area yesterday, many residents appeared apprehensive. One resident who claimed to have witnessed the arrest of the suspects said: “I was here yesterday when the whole thing happened. A group of young Fulani boys were apprehended with a gun, a knife and bundles of cash that an ordinary person would not be carrying around.
“They claimed they had come for Sallah and would be returning home afterwards, but they did not look ordinary. We need the Police, the Army and the government to protect us,” he added.
Another resident, who also claimed to have participated in confronting the suspects, said the incident began after guests at a hotel near Eleko Beach raised an alarm.
According to him, “We received information from people lodging at a hotel near Eleko Beach that a group of suspected bandits had checked into the same hotel and occupied about 30 rooms.
“Given the security challenges facing the country, we decided to confront them. We found guns, knives and bundles of cash that ordinary people would not normally carry around.”
However, none of the residents interviewed disclosed the name of the hotel where the suspects allegedly lodged.
Residents further claimed that police officers later arrived at the scene and took some of the suspects away.
A resident said, “We don’t know who called the police. They released those who were not carrying weapons and took away those allegedly found with weapons. One of the young men was shot while attempting to flee. The police took him away along with the others on Monday.
“This was how they invaded Oyo State. We cannot wait until our fate becomes like that of the people of Oyo,” he said.
Also speaking, a trader at Eleko Junction recalled the incident, saying , “I was here when it happened. We became suspicious because the number of Fulani people in Eleko has been increasing. They often come during the Sallah period. We don’t feel safe anymore. Many of them operate commercial motorcycles and transport us around. They know where we live and our movements.
“Just last week, one of them carried me on his motorcycle. When we reached a deserted area, he stopped and tried to take me elsewhere. I warned him that he would regret harming me. When he realised I would not cooperate, he immediately drove off. We need the government and the police to protect us,” she said.
Police response
However, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the Lagos State Police Command described the reports as false and misleading.
The statement read in part: “Regrettably, the spread of this false alarm has already resulted in a tragic and avoidable loss of life. One Kulaha Ayuba, male, aged 24, a commercial motorcycle rider, was allegedly labelled a Fulani bandit by some youths in the community, acting on unverified information. He was attacked and fatally assaulted.
“His motorcycle was reportedly stolen, while his body was later discovered in a swamp within the community. Following swift police intervention, 15 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently under investigation. All those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
“The Command condemns the deliberate dissemination of unverified information capable of causing chaos, inciting public disorder and promoting ethnic profiling, mob action or hatred against any group of people. Residents are advised to disregard such posts and refrain from sharing materials whose authenticity has not been verified through official channels.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, urges residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding while going about their lawful activities without fear. The Command remains fully committed to the protection of lives and property and assures Lagosians that adequate security measures have been put in place across the state to sustain the prevailing peace and security.”
