Islanders Magazine

Ikorodu residents flee as militants embark on killing spree





There is currently tension in communities in the Ikorodu area of Lagos over attacks by suspected Niger Delta militants.

Shola Adeniran, a resident of Igbo Olomu, one of the affected communities, told TheCable at least six landlords were killed in the early hours of Friday.

He said many people have deserted their homes out of the fear of being victims of the outlaws who are allegedly on a reprisal mission.

“As I speak to you now, many houses have been deserted. There is tension everywhere,” he said.

“The militants, who are on a revenge mission, started attacking us after operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) killed two of them. They claimed that members of the community tipped of security personnel.

“Today is the candle light of those killed last week, and 6 landlords were killed just this morning.”

He listed Bolorunduro, Ajegunle, and Oke Muti, as some of the affected areas.

Dolapo Badmos, spokeswoman of the Lagos state police command, could not be reached for comment, as she did not answer her phone, and there has been no response to the text message sent.

However, NAN later quoted Badmus as saying peace had been restored.

Last week, militants invaded Ogijo, a community in Ogun state, wreaking havoc. A travel agent, Oladele Ogundare, was said to be returning home in his car, when the rampaging gunmen opened fire on his car and killed him.

Another resident, Umoru, who was said to be eating noodles, was chased, hacked and shot to death, along with a friend, Danladi.

A mosque in the community, was reportedly attacked and a Muslim cleric killed. Two hotels were said to have also been raided and their customers robbed and injured.

By the time the attack was over, at least 15 people had been killed, while many sustained injuries.

Days after the incident, militants also attacked a passenger boat heading to Totowu, an Ogun community, from Isuti in the Alimosho local government area of Lagos.

Unlike the past when they operated only in the Niger Delta, the presence of the creek manors is felt in different communities in the south-west.