Residents and business owners in Ibafo community of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have been plagued by a recent surge in burglary in the area.
The development, it was learnt, had left residents anxious and demanding stronger security measures.
Reports of burglaries and thefts have become increasingly common, prompting concerned citizens and victims of the crimes to raise the alarm.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the areas affected include Hallelujah Quarters, Liberty Estate, Ebute, Akoka.
It was gathered that shops around First Bank and mechanic workshops amongst others in the area had been hit by a series of break-ins that left residents feeling vulnerable and frustrated.
It was learnt that there had also been reports of stolen car parts in the communities, making mechanic workshops to avoid bringing vehicles to their shops for repairs
A concerned resident, who preferred anonymity, recounted her experience with one of our correspondents.
She said, “It was around few minutes before 4am. My husband and I were in bed; we just saw the hand and the plank the guy was holding.
“He literally opened our net and we asked, ‘who is that?’ Immediately, my husband wanted to hold the hand, but the guy quickly dropped the plank and my husband’s phone which he had already picked.
“So, he wanted to pick mine because we had three phones charging by the bedside. So, he (burglar) wanted to pick the next one. My husband ran outside and shouted, ‘thief, thief’. That was when the guy jumped our fence. It’s a high fence but I don’t know how he did it. I was scared.”
Another resident, who identified himself as Davies, said the residents were experiencing sleepless night as a result of these activities while also lamenting the state of insecurity in the community.
“The first time they came, they burgled the wires and electrical cables. We thought it was the end of it; next, they entered the compound and took time to steal the entire set of a generator.
The generator was chained down tightly. The insecurity in the area is becoming another thing, and I’m beginning to look for where to keep my head or I get out of this area,” Davies said.
Speaking, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, acknowledged the concerns of the residents, adding that the police were intensifying efforts to combat the rising crime rate.
Omolola said, “We receive complaints of breaking and entry every day, and the divisional police officers are winning the fight against such crime.”
