By DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA—Fear has gripped marketers in Itoku market, the main textile market of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital following incessant robbery attacks on  traders from which millions of naira have been stolen. This apparently signals a shift of attention by the robbers from banks to less resistant traders.

Reacting to last week’s robbery attacks in the market, the welfare officer of the Jewellers’ Sellers Section, Mrs. Rasidat Adeleye, expressed outrage at what she described as the incessant attacks on  them by men of the underworld.

Giving graphic details of the robbers modus operandi, Adeleye said the  robbers invaded jewellers shops in unregistered salon cars  about 1.45pm especially when most traders have gone for the Friday prayers.

She said: “We are fed up with the situation around our markets. We now come to market in fear as nobody knows who the next victim would be.”

Vanguard however gathered that the robbers will position themselves strategically in the market  after which they swing into action, shooting sporadically into the air to scare traders and passers-by.

In the last attack, the leader of the gang,  wore a flowing Agbada under which he hid his AK 47 rifle. Others were said to be  in security agents outfit.

They were said to have targeted the shop of a middle aged woman, who, fortunately was said to have left her shop.
According to sources the robbers usually operate unchallenged.

Efforts to get the police command to comment on the development proved abortive as Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi could not be reached at press time.