Lagos: Ifesowapo community decries incessant attack by unknown gunmen

From Matthew Aramunde and Lucky Lawal, Lagos

The residents of Ifesowapo Community Development Authority in Lagos state have alerted the state government of persistent attacks on residents by unknown gunmen.

The community in a message tagged Save-our-Soul (SOS) sent to the Lagos state government, the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti and other security agencies they said that the community in the past weeks have been under siege by some unknown gunmen.

Peoples Daily gathered that the unknown gunmen are after one Agbodemu Ishola,a community leader and Human Rights Activist who is said to have fallen apart with some members of the community.

Sources alleged that some people who they suspected to be the agents of the incumbent local government chairman hon Lado and the royal ruler of Otto HRM Oba Ganiu Odesanya invaded the sleepy community unleashing terror and mayhem on the residents.

The rampaging hoodlums, who brazenly manhandled anyone on their trail, set several buildings ablaze and in the process the Secretary to Agbodemu Ishola and the human rights activist himself almost lost their lives.Also attacked was the eldest son of the human rights activist who though belongs to the local vigilante group was not spared.

What has however become a puzzle to the community is that in spite of the fact that the matter was reported at Iponri Police Station no action has been taken to bring back peace to the community.

When contacted, Oba Odesanya denied the allegation stressing that the land the community member resides belongs to his father and that they are illegal occupant.

He also alleged that the said Agbodemu is a tout and has severally come with his members to extort money from him in other to vacate the land for him but that when he became tired of them, he refused stressing that it could have been the reason for the attack on his person and his community.

Efforts to get the local government chairman to respond to the plethora of allegations and state his side of the story was unsuccessful as he was said not to be on seat and several phone calls and text messages sent to his mobile set, were not responded to as at press time.