TheCable

Suspected Niger Delta militants, who have been raiding coastal communities in Lagos and Ogun states, have launched yet another attack in the Ibafo area of Ogun.

According to PUNCH, at the end of their latest operation in Gideon village, Oke Cele, and Asiwaju communities, all in Ibafo, on Tuesday, two landlords had been abducted and three women raped, including a nursing mother who was reportedly assaulted in the presence of her husband.

The armed men reportedly carted away property.

Residents and community leaders, who spoke to PUNCH on condition of anonymity, lamented that security agencies could not confront the militants.

“Before any attack, these militants would write letters and ask residents to prepare for them,” a resident was quoted as saying.

“When they get to their target community, they move in groups of 30s and 50s. They would go from one house to another, raping young ladies and beating up young men.”

Another resident said: “In Gideon village, two landlords were kidnapped. The first, Mr. Joel, was released on Tuesday after 10 days in captivity. They demanded N50m for his release; I don’t know how much was paid after negotiation.

“Lucas was kidnapped last Saturday. He has not been released since then.”

“Ibafo is under siege. A policeman told us that the militants are too powerful for the security agents and only God can deliver us.”

When contacted, Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesman of the Ogun police command, was quoted as saying: “We are making efforts to increase security presence in the area and to rescue the second victim.”

Adejobi’s response is similar to the ones he gave under similar circumstances in the past.

In Lagos, residents of Igbo-Olomu, Elepete and Logbologbo communities in Ikorodu have fled as a result of frequent attacks, but the hoodlums still break into their houses to cart away property.

A resident said the police cannot withstand the creek lords, saying policemen have decided to mount checkpoints miles away from where the militants operate, and that they have been extorting motorists and commercial motorcyclists.

“We have two police check points from Igbo-Olomu to Logbogbo, and what they do is to stop commercial motorcyclists and motorists to extort money,” he said.

“When it is seven O’clock we won’t see them again.

“When we complain about the attacks to the police, they will tell us that they were asked to mount the check points and not run after the suspected militants into the creeks.”

On Wednesday, the Odu’a Peoples Congress (OPC) gave the militants a 14-day ultimatum to halt attacks in south-west, vowing to take them on if they refuse to heed the warning.