Vandals boast, say ‘Govt cannot stop us, we’ll match them gun for gun,
money for money’
ON March 12, 20161:37 AM/IN Crime Guard, News /Comments

By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

The success recorded by security agents recently, over the abduction of three
students at Ikorodu Lagos, has sent shock waves amongst different gangs
that hibernate the creeks around Arepo, Ikorodu and Mosimi areas . Security
sources hinted that while the most dreaded ones amongst the numerous
gangs that litter the creeks are nursing the wound inflicted by the easy rescue
of the students which they see as an affront that has punctured their
invisibility, others believe that the time was up for them to relocate based on
the tactic used by security agents in tracking the abductors.
Anger over non-payment of ransom
Worse still, the fact that the anticipated ransom did not eventually materialize
is said to have pained their ring leaders who normally benefit from the
proceeds, whether they participated in the operation or not. A source close to
the vandals intimated Crime Guard that the vandals doubted claims by the
police that they have rescued the girls and arrested some of their members
until the last minute after the suspects were paraded. This, according to the
sources, sparked off serious disagreement amongst the leaders as they kept
on blaming each other for the loop hole that made it possible for security
agents to demystify them. This is because, all along, they have been claiming
that their abode in the creeks is a no-go area and highly impenetrable by any
force.

But this time, a combined force of the police, DSS and the military were able to
penetrate into one of their main bases inside the creeks and that was how they
succeeded in arresting the first suspect, Arigidi, who then led them to expose
others leading to the release of the abducted girls.
So far, it was gathered that the arrest of some of their gang members caused
commotion in the creeks to the extent that there was fierce infighting amongst
their leaders. This has resulted in mass desertion of members from the creeks
especially, after the police stated unequivocally that they were still on the trail
of other fleeing members of the 12-man gang that kidnapped the students.
Crime Guard learnt that members of one of the most notorious gangs which
belongs to General Osy have, however, vowed never to move an inch from
their camp. They had earlier in a telephone call made to Vanguard denied
complicity in the abduction but the revelation from one of the arrested
suspects proved otherwise.
The call from the Creeks
At exactly 2.30pm, after Saturday Vanguard hit the streets with a bold, incisive
story captioned,’Abductors of Lagos Students behind past killings of security
operatives, bank robberies’, a call came from the creeks. The caller who
identified himself as ‘De Don’ spoke with cautious optimism but bared his
mind in unmistakable terms over the vexatious issue of vandalism and
militancy in Nigeria.
The conversation with our Crime Editor ran thus;
De Don: Mr. Emma, this story you wrote today saying that General Osy’s gang
are responsible for the kidnap of these Ikorodu girls, why did you do that?
Editor : Its from our investigation. Who are you?
De Don: I am De Don, a vandal. I am speaking from the creeks, inside the
forest.
Editor : What! Are you proud of being a vandal?
De Don: Yes, very proud. Why did you say we did it? We do not kidnap or
abduct people. What we do is to reap from our natural resources, that is our
oil. We belong to General Osy militant group. You people are fond of attributing
all sorts of criminality to us. This is wrong.
Editor : But you know that vandalism is a crime. Why do you people abduct, kill
and maim innocent citizens of this country including security agents?
De Don: What do you expect from us, after suffering to go to school, no job,
poverty everywhere? Yet, few individuals are benefiting from our natural
resources. This is the crux of the matter. We are poverty-stricken and
members of our families are suffering. Most of us here, inside the mosquitoe-
infested creeks are graduates that passed out with flying colours yet, nothing
to show for it. Every time, they say Niger Delta militants, are we not the g ooze
that lay the golden egg? Yet, we are dying.
Editor : Is that enough for you people to be killing Nigerians and terrorizing all
of us?
De Don: We don’t kill deliberately. But, if you block our way, we will not have
any option and nobody, including security agents, can stop us from engaging
in vandalism (shouts of yessooo, yessoo in the background). We do not kill
unless you confront us. All I am saying is that we did not kidnap those girls as
you wrote in your paper which we bought but we are vandals and we must
continue with our trade and government cannot stop us. We can match them
money for money, gun for gun. I am warning you to be careful with what you
write because we can easily fish you out.
Editor : That will not stop others from writing.
De Don: We know but we can use you to show example to others that tell lies
against us.
Editor : Let me advise you, you can see my e-mail in the publication. You are
at liberty to state your own side of the story and tell the world why you do
what you are doing. I assure you we will publish it.
De Don: Are you sure? ( good, that”s better from voices in the background).
Ok, we have agreed and we are going to do a comprehensive write-up and
send to your mail. Please, publish our story so that people will know why we
are doing what we are doing and the way forward. Expect the write-up on or
before Monday next week.
Editor : That’s better. Please include your photographs.
De Don: Which photograph? Save this my number as De Don of Vandals in
Nigeria. If you like, give it to security agents, they cannot do anything. They
know where we are in the creeks but they cannot come there. Till then. (call
ends)