Ikorodu attacks: Victims remain unwilling to return home

Ikorodu—A week after series of attacks by some suspected militants on Igbo Olomu and Ita Oluwo, Ikorodu areas of Lagos and Ogun states, last Friday, the community still remains deserted as the residents say they are scared of returning home. As at 5pm yesterday, some displaced residents were seen sneaking in by daytime to check their properties but return to their places of refuge out of fear of fresh attacks. Also, some of them who were afraid to go to the place were said to depend on telephones to know the state of the deserted area. On Igbo Olomu road, some shop owners especially the Igbos have opened their shops for business though they complained of low patronage. At Elepete, Oke-Imuti, Kajola, Imagbon, Oke-Ayo and several other places, shops, offices, churches, hotels and mosques remain shut despite the security presence. Few residents who were noticed complained of hunger and lack of vehicles to buy food. Meantime, in a bid to curb pipeline vandalisation and excesses of suspected militants, the National Task force on illegal importation of small arms, ammunitions, light weapons and pipeline vandalisation has urged the federal government to curb illegal importations of ammunitions into the country in order to tackle security challenges facing it. The South West Coordinator of the Task Force, Col. Anthony Olawale Awote who spoke at the official inauguration of the Ogun state command of the task force, held in Abeokuta, the state capital, disclosed that the efforts of the government to eradicate criminal activities would only be fruitful if illegal arms could be stopped from entering the country. Awote, however, appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill on the establishment of the National Task Force to combat illegal importation of arms, ammunitions, light weapons and pipeline vandalization, in order to be gazetted by the federal government. Also speaking at the event, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, said the state government will identify with the task-force and collaborate with it to enhance security of lives and property. Ashiru, who spoke through the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Mr. Olaoluwa Olufemi, noted that no investment can thrive in the face of insecurity urging the national taskforce to work with the existing security agencies in ensuring Nigeria is rid of illegal weapons capable of jeopardizing the security of lives and property.