Two communities in Lagos and Ogun states have been deserted following attacks by some
suspected militants. The adjourning communities
Elepete and Muti both in Igbo-Olomu, Ikorodu and
Ita-Oluwo, Ifo local government of Ogun State
have been deserted for days after about 18 of the
residents were killed by the suspected militants. Scores of the residents have fled for safety for fear of attacks.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the attacks started last weekend at Muti where15 people were feared dead but later degenerated and spread to Elepete and its environs claiming the lives of three people in the process.

The suspected militants who are mostly Ijaws were said to have invaded the communities at about 4am through the creeks using sophisticated weapons. Worse hit areas were Elepete Phases 1 and 2, Kajola Phases A to F and Muti. It was gathered that shops, schools, churches and mosques were closed down during the attacks. The communities comprised of migrants from Majidun-Ikorodu and Arepo, Ikorodu and Ogun State who settled in the communities after they were dislodged by the Task force on Petroleum/vandalisation of pipelines.

The Federal Government war against pipeline
vandalisation was said to have checkmated some of the militants who then took to robbery, and
other crimes to make ends meet. They robbed one
of the hotels located in Muti. The problem started
when some militants robbed a hotel last Friday in
a hotel in Elepete. Unfortunately for them, their
faces were captured by CCTV cameras at the
hotel while the hotelier intimated Special Anti-
robbery Squad SARS operatives who commenced
investigations.

After a tip off, two of the suspects were traced to
another hotel located in Kajola area of Elepete but
they were said to have resisted arrest and made
phone calls to their colleagues who mobilised and
rushed to the scene. However, two of the
suspects were killed while the hotelier was
arrested. The militants then invaded Muti with
sophisticated weapons in a reprisal attack killing
15 innocent residents. According to eye-
witnesses, people were seen scampering for
safety just as they took refuge in Elepete and
neighbouring communities.

A few days ago, the militants reinforced and
launched another attack on Elepete. Saturday
Vanguard gathered that they first barricaded all
entrances to the town to prevent movement and
later unleashed terror on residents. Vehicles and
properties were vandalised as they succeeded in
looting shops, houses, mosques and churches
carting away valuable items and cash.

Saturday Vanguard also gathered that three of
those who resisted the militants were killed while
others were injured as scores of the residents fled
the town for fear of the unknown. When Saturday
Vanguard visited the communities, they were
deserted. Vehicular and commercial activities
were grounded and there was tension all over the
areas.

At the entrance of Oke-Ayo in Elepete, some
youths were seen appealing to people to return
to their homes. One of them Abdul Gafaru said
the attacks have paralysed the communities. He
said, “no community can exist without people, we
are the indigenes of this town and all we want is
peace. We cannot operate successfully unless
people return to the homes.” The Olumushin of
Imushin, Oba Taiwo Bamgbose, has since
appealed for calm while both Lagos and Ogun
Police Public Relations Officers Dolapo Badmus
and Muyiwa Adejobi, respectively said they were
on top of the situation.

A survivor of the attacks who is a Policeman,
haven spoken to Saturday Vanguard on condition
of anonymity, said that he escaped death by
whiskers. He said, “I narrowly escaped death in
the hands of the militants who seized somebody
elsewhere and slaughtered him behind my house.
In the process, the blood splashed and stained
the wall of my house. On sighting the blood,
people thought I have been murdered and started
calling me.”

Also, one of the residents, Madam Rabiu Amina
who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said she
narrowly escaped the attacks, “I had leg pains
and was indoor for days with my grand daughter.
I never knew my community had been deserted
until Tuesday when I got a call from my younger
sister who lives in PortHacourt. She said she read
it in newspapers and decided to know my
whereabout and that was when I opened the door
only to discover there’s nobody in the
community. I managed to trek a long distance
before a motorcyclist helped me.”
At Ola Imam bus-stop, only two commercial
motorcyclists were available but they complained
of low patronage since people have fled the
communities.

Saturday Vanguard succeeded in getting the
telephone numbers of some of those who fled.
Some Kajola residents blamed Ogun State
government for not answering their distress calls.
According to them, Ogun State government has
been insensitive to their plight since the invasion
of the militants. A resident who pleaded
anonymity said only Lagos government has
shown concern.

bamirotola:
So how did that concern Christian? Tiri gbosa for your MUMU.... Get well soon OP, Get well soon Nigeria...

habtund:


they are Christian terrorist since they are Christians .... if they were Muslim they ll b called Muslim terrorists
or ll u tell me if d ijaws are Christians or Muslims................ d Christian terrorists invade ikorodu, d government should pls save us from them

nanauju:
How do you know they are Christians? Have they been caught? Have u interrogated them? Or don't you know that they're Muslims even in a Christian-tag region. Get ur facts straight op, even Asari Dokubo, a former militant, is a Muslim

nanauju:
How do you know they are Christians? Have they been caught? Have u interrogated them? Or don't you know that they're Muslims even in a Christian-tag region. Get ur facts straight op, even Asari Dokubo, a former militant, is a Muslim

habtund:


they are Christian terrorist since they are Christians .... if they were Muslim they ll b called Muslim terrorists
or ll u tell me if d ijaws are Christians or Muslims................ d Christian terrorists invade ikorodu, d government should pls save us from them

bamirotola:


Recieve your healing #Puah!!!!!!

FriendChoice:


Caught or not caught. We are not concern about that. All we know is they are Christian terrorist.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/07/13/most-boko-haram-members-are-christians-report/

Not all boko haram members are Muslim. But you and your hypocritical media went to say your rubbish. Its time for the world media to pay for it actions.

nanauju:

I think you should go through your comment and know how ignorant it sound. Terrorism is not a competition among religions. What u should try to do is to educate the illiterate ones associated with the religion of violence on how to live in peace

FriendChoice:


Caught or not caught. We are not concern about that. All we know is they are Christian terrorist.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/07/13/most-boko-haram-members-are-christians-report/

Not all boko haram members are Muslim. But you and your hypocritical media went to say your rubbish. Its time for the world media to pay for it actions.