By Bose Adelaja

WHILE some Lagos and Ogun communities in Igbo-Olomu and Ita-Oluwo areas of Ikorodu are still counting their losses following the invasion of their communities by some suspected militants, 13 riverine villages located in different areas of the two states have suffered same fate following fresh attacks launched by the rampaging invaders.

According to eyewitnesses, some villagers were killed in the process.

Parts of some of the deserted villages

In the event, most residents have fled the affected communities which now look deserted, with socio-economic activities paralyzed and some students unable to participate in the just concluded end of term examination in public and private schools.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the affected areas  were Totowu, Ejila Awori, Imushe, Odonla, Odo Abuja, Ikogbo, Ipatira, Igbo-Odo, Iteku, Agelete, Imuta , Odo-Ore, and Itagbe. It was learned that the communities are under Ado-Odo/Ota, Agbara, Ipaja/Ayobo and Igando/Ikotun  local council areas.

Accusing fingers are presently being pointed at Ijaw militants as being behind the incidents. Most residents categorically hold them responsible for the attacks, since, according to them, the militants have for some time been unleashing mayhem on the said communities.

Urgent intervention

Alarmed by the worsening situation, the residents had called on the State Police Command for urgent intervention. And the desired response was not long in coming as the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the Divisional Police Officer of Ayobo had promptly visited the affected areas.

However, their visit appears not to have yielded positive results, as the vulnerable communities are still at the mercy of the suspected militants who have since intensified their attacks.

The situation has forced more residents to flee their homes, while those who stayed back have formed vigilante groups to protect themselves and their communities.

The latest attack occurred last week Thursday at Imushe, but the residents were quick to launch a counter-attack leading to three of the militants sustaining serious injuries.

VM was informed that a fortnight ago, a Police sergeant, Mr. Yusuf Hadi, was ambushed and shot dead by the suspects.

Hadi, who was newly posted to the Mobile Police Force 43, was said to have boarded an 18-seater passenger boat when the gunmen, who were in another boat, attacked him. Apart from the murder of Yusuf, scores of boat passengers had been ambushed and killed.

VM also gathered that the genesis of the invasion and attacks on these communities has been traced to last March 2016. It all began with the sudden disappearance and killing of some residents, a development which immediately triggered fear in the affected communities, leading to panicky relocation of residents.

When VM visited the communities, only few persons were seen and they were too fear-stricken to speak to this reporter. But those who spoke on condition of anonymity accused an unnamed chief in Totowu community of masterminding the attacks.

According to them, the attacks started as an internal fight between this chief and some petroleum pipeline vandals who are his business partners. The residents also accused the state government and other concerned authorities of handling the matter with kid gloves.

However, the Baale of Totowu, Chief Moshood Bamgbose, said government has been intimated of the worrisome development, noting that urgent action is required.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said government is taking action on  the matter, but his Lagos State counterpart, Dolapo Badmus, did not respond to calls made to her phone.