There
is tension in New Haven Estate, Igbelaju, in the Iba area of Lagos
State, after some gunmen in military uniform abducted three landlords in
the estate.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunmen attacked the estate on Saturday and on Monday.
Two of the landlords were reportedly abducted while going to their workplaces.
It
was gathered that in the attack on Saturday, a woman, identified only
as Mrs. Nwoche, was abducted from her residence and had yet to be
released.
Our correspondent learnt
that as residents grappled with the shock, the gunmen on Monday at about
11am, reportedly waylaid two other landlords driving out of the estate
and ordered them to the creek at gunpoint.
While one of the victims was identified only as Mr. Chima, the name of the other had yet to be ascertained.
The
matter was said to have been reported at the Ojo Police Division, which
sent operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, to comb the area.
When PUNCH Metro visited the area on Wednesday, it was gathered that the three landlords had yet to be found.
Although
most of the estate residents were unwilling to comment on the incident,
a commercial motorcyclist, who gave his name only as Ebuka, showed our
correspondent the narrow bushy path through which the gunmen reportedly
sneaked into the estate.
He said, “I
did not witness the Saturday incident because it was around 9pm and
people only heard some gunshots and ran inside their houses. The gunmen
went away with a woman who stayed in a luxury apartment. She has yet to
return.
“On Monday, the hoodlums came
out in the morning. You would think they were soldiers who came to
inspect the area. I saw them in military uniform standing near the plank
bridge and holding a rifle.
“I was
passing by with a passenger, but I saw that one of them held a
pump-action rifle. Seconds later, they stopped two men who were driving
out of the estate. The men were in different Sport Utility Vehicles, but
were behind each other.
“They
ordered them to come out and follow them. That was how they led the
victims away into the swamp. We have yet to see either of them. Everyone
is afraid. We suspect that the hoodlums are the militants who escaped
from the military bombardments of the creeks.”
A
worker on a building site, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said,
“I was going to the site when I saw the soldiers standing by the bridge.
They looked as if they had come to make an arrest.
“No
one knew they were kidnappers. The family members of the victims have
not been contacted. They are still in the dark. Some residents have fled
from the estate for fear of abduction.
“Policemen
in three vans came after the incident to patrol the area. They have
been patrolling the estate since Monday, but the abducted landlords have
yet to return.”
Our correspondent observed an armoured tank belonging to the RRS driving into the swamp as he was leaving the estate.
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos,
confirmed the attack. She said operatives of the command were already on
a rescue mission.
She said, “The
command received the report that some men in military camouflage came
under the guise of making an arrest and whisked away a landlord.
“Effort is on to ensure his release and subsequent arrest of the suspects.”
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