…Ambode commiserates with families of the dead
…Stop building houses close to canal, CP Owoseni cautions Lagosians

By Evelyn Usman & Joseph Undu

Lagos—Rampaging gunmen suspected to be militants, Wednesday night, stormed Isheri North Estate   Government Reserved Area,  GRA , leaving in their trail the death of three private guards. The  assailants numbering 20, also abducted  the estate’s secretary, Mr Dayo Adekoya.

Three other members of a vigilante group in the area, sustained varying degrees of injury in their attempt to withstand the gunmen who announced  their presence with sporadic gunshots.

The incident, occurred barely five months after four landlords were abducted in the area.

Security operatives at the scene of crime yesterday.

Vanguard learnt that the gunmen believed to be militants that have been disturbing the peace of Lagosians in recent time, started the firing spree from the creeks at about 7pm.

Members of the vigilante group who were said to have sensed trouble, reportedly positioned themselves strategically  but they were still taken unawares  as two of the  gunmen scaled  Adekoya’s perimeter fence located  off Olusegun Tawoju Avenue, with a ladder, while others  advanced through the front gate.

Although the private guards  reportedly put up resistance but their fire power could  not match those of the abductors, as three of them were killed instantly.

An eye witness told Vanguard  that after entering through the back fence, the gunmen opened the main gate for their colleagues.  Thereafter, they attempted to forcefully open the main door leading into  Adekoya’s sitting room but could not, as it was bullet-proofed .

The suspected militants who came prepared, broke the burglary of the front door with a sledge hammer. They were said to have entered the sitting room through the window, from where they made straight for one of the rooms upstairs where Adekoya was.

Thereafter, he was ushered out of the room and taken out through the window.  Report said they led Adekoya to other buildings, to knock on his neighbours’ doors , using him to lure the occupiers  to open up their apartments.

Residents recount ordeal

When Vanguard visited the estate yesterday, none volunteered to speak  openly as they claimed that they were under strict directive not to talk .

Some residents  were contemplating moving out of the area  in order not to be the next victim.

However, Some of them who spoke on strict condition of anonymity stated that the gunmen were more than 15.

One of them, simply called Chionye, said: “My family was having its morning devotion when we heard the first gun shot. We went on with the prayer session  but stopped abruptly when we discovered that the gun shots were right in the estate. We suspected all was not well. I wanted to go out of the balcony to see what was happening but my wife prevented me.

‘’We had to tell the children to hide in safe places to avoid being hit by stray bullets,  before we did same. From our hiding positions, we were praying. We concluded they were robbers and brought out N50,000 which was the only the cash in the house, with the intention to give it to them should they brake in to our home.”

Another resident who did not disclose his name called this reporter aside and said; “The shooting lasted for  hours. They broke into Adekoya’s house at about 12 midnight. By the time they were taking him away through the same route they came from, I counted over 15 of them. Some of them wore black shirts and black trousers while some tied strings that looked like charms round their heads.

“We have been warned not to speak with anyone so as not to divulge  any information to their members who could be lurking around”.

Ambode orders prompt arrest of culprits

A visibly worried Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has directed the State Police Command to ensure prompt arrest of  the kidnappers

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde,  Ambode  directed the command boss,  Mr. Fatai Owoseni to promptly arrest the perpetrators as well as rescue the kidnapped man. He informed that government was on top of the situation and was also working with security agencies to effect Adekoya’s release.

Commiserates with families of killed guards

Governor Ambode, also  commiserated with  families of the killed security guards.

The statement read;  “While the State Government commiserates with families of the three dead estate security guards, it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that lives and property of residents in the State are protected.

“A while ago, the CP ,  Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police, confirmed that Police have commenced investigation as well as put in place necessary rescue operation to ensure the release of the victim.

“It would be recalled that just last week, Governor Ambode had demonstrated his seriousness and determination to eradicate the menace of kidnapping when he signed into law the anti-kidnapping bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

The law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom and death penalty in the event of death of a kidnapped victim”.

CP Lagos, Army 9th  Brigade commander visit scene

Commissioner of Police , Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni was at the estate yesterday with senior police officers comprising the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department , Mr Bolaji Salami ; Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Mr Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police;  Commander, Anti-Kidnapping, Mr Adejobi Akinade, a Chief Superintendent of Police, and  the command’s spokes person, Dolapo Badmos .  Also at the scene  to conduct on the spot assessment, was the Commander,  9th  Brigade of the Nigerian Army,  Brigadier General Elias Attu .

Speaking , Owoseni said : “The militants came in through the swampy canal. But the timely arrival of the police prevented them from getting more victims because they were using Adekoya to go to people’s houses.

‘’That was the time we came in and we prevented them. They ran towards the swamp and as they were running, they were firing and the bullets hit some of the local guards.

‘’We have also made some progress in our investigation during  stop and search. We are quite hopeful. Both expended and unexpended AK47 bullets were recovered . For now, due to the porosity of the area, land owners should stop building homes near the canal until security agents put measures in place”, Owoseni advised.

Our security team succumbed superior power of the assailants — Chairman, ERA 

Reacting to the abduction of the Estate Residents Association secretary, chairman of the association,  Mr. Remi Osijo in a statement issued yesterday said : “On February 9, 2017, a group of armed men numbering about 11 stormed a home in our estate Isheri North, GRA, Lagos and laid siege to the house for about one hour trying to gain entrance.

“Our security team that responded swiftly to distress call from the occupants put up a gallant fight but succumbed to the superior power of the assailants. Three of our security men lost their lives while one of the residents  Mr. Dayo Adekoya was also kidnapped.

“Residents of Isheri North GRA are devastated and struggling to come to terms with this dastardly act. The estate executive is already working with the Lagos State Police Command and other State security apparatus towards finding swift resolution to this crisis.   We are also condoling with the families of the deceased while praying for the safe return of the kidnapped victim to the family”, the  statement reads.