Residents of Magboro Community in Ogun State are living in fear following a surge in burglaries that have plagued their homes in recent months, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
An investigation by NAN reveals growing concern and anxiety, particularly among those living in Happyland Estate, over the activities of suspected criminals.
According to residents, the burglaries appear to originate from within the community, rather than from external intruders.
The residents say they have identified a particular house where the suspected criminals reside, but feel helpless because the building is allegedly owned by a senior officer of a security agency.
Members of the Community Development Association (CDA) of happyland estate expressed their concerns in interviews with NAN, describing the presence of unfamiliar individuals in the area as troubling.
Mr Mose Mutwang, a resident and CDA executive, stated that the issue had escalated significantly between December and February, prompting the community to involve the Warewa Police Station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“We’ve been witnessing a steady rise in burglary cases since December. By February, we escalated the matter to the Warewa Police Station.
“Following that, we convened an emergency CDA meeting to assess the situation. Our investigation led us to a house on Unity Street harboring several unidentified young men and women,” Mutwang said.
He further described the building as an unregistered hotel, raising additional concerns about its security risk to the community.
“The property does not appear to be residential in the normal sense. It is an open environment with minimal security, and the landlord doesn’t live there.
“When we visited with the CDA Chairman, we discovered the setting posed a danger to the community,” he added.
Another resident, Adekunle Sogbehin, noted the increasing presence of unfamiliar faces in the estate. He also revealed a possible case of human trafficking linked to the same house.
“One of the boys in that compound confided in us. He said he’s from Cameroon and was lured to Nigeria with promises of being taken to Europe.
“After paying a huge sum to an agent, he found himself stranded in Magboro. The boy now depends on his mother for feeding and is clearly in a helpless situation,” Sogbehin said.
He called on the government and security agencies to investigate the situation urgently.
“We’re concerned. That house reportedly houses about 30 people in a single flat, with no proper sleeping arrangements.
“We suspect human trafficking or possible recruitment for internet fraud. We need the authorities to investigate and ensure the safety of these young individuals,” he said.
Sogbehin emphasised the importance of saving both the community and the victims from criminal exploitation.
“We don’t want to be labelled a community that harbours criminals. This is beyond us now; we need outside help,” he added.
Also speaking, CDA Chairman, Mr Bolade Awopetu echoed the community’s concerns and urged the government to intervene.
“We are appealing to the authorities to come to our aid. The house on Unity Street is a serious security risk.
“I personally visited the location, and some of the occupants admitted they feel trapped. Since they moved in, we’ve noticed a spike in criminal activity.
“For peace to reign, something must be done,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, advised the residents to formally petition the Commissioner of Police for appropriate action.(NAN)
