Fear has gripped residents of Mercyland (Jabe CDA), 3rd Power Line, Oke Eletu, Ijede, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, following a string of violent armed robbery attacks that culminated in the killing of a Community Development Association (CDA) executive.
The latest attack, which occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, claimed the life of Mr. Abdulazeez Olaoye T.A., a respected community leader who was reportedly hacked to death with machetes during the invasion.
Residents said the incident has intensified panic within the neighbourhood, with many families abandoning their homes over fears of continued attacks. Community members claimed the latest incident marked the sixth armed robbery attack recorded in the area since the beginning of the year, with several occurring within the past month.
According to residents, the armed men stormed the community shortly after 1 a.m., operating for nearly two hours before escaping around 3 a.m. after looting homes of cash, mobile phones and other valuables worth millions of naira.
A resident, Adekunle Olamide, said about seven houses were targeted during the operation. He explained that one homeowner’s surveillance camera was deliberately destroyed before the robbers forced their way into the building.
According to him, the attackers attempted to strike the homeowner on the head with a machete, but the victim raised his hand in self-defence, suffering severe injuries to one of his fingers, which later required medical treatment.
Another resident, Obisesan Taiye, disclosed that the assailants also invaded a block containing eight flats, successfully gaining entry into five apartments, while occupants of the remaining three managed to avoid the attack. He added that two other residents sustained serious machete wounds during the robbery and were receiving treatment at a hospital.
Residents alleged that Olaoye lost his life while trying to alert neighbours about the ongoing robbery in an effort to stop the attackers from extending their operation to nearby compounds. They claimed he was repeatedly attacked with machetes and later died from the injuries he sustained.
Taiye also alleged that the community had previously recorded other disturbing incidents linked to the recurring attacks, including the alleged rape of a female resident during an earlier robbery and another victim who suffered deep machete wounds to the leg.
He further claimed that Olaoye had expressed fears for his safety weeks before the incident. According to residents, the deceased reportedly confided in neighbours that he and another elderly resident had received threats from unidentified individuals and feared for their lives.
The community said several streets, including Kamoru Street, Albert Street and Badejo Ososanya Street, have repeatedly come under attack in recent months. One resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described the situation as unbearable, saying repeated robberies had left many families traumatised and financially devastated.
Another victim recalled that robbers had invaded his compound about four weeks earlier, breaking into almost every apartment and stealing cash, phones and other valuables before escaping. Residents said the persistent insecurity has forced some households to relocate from what was once considered a peaceful neighbourhood.
They appealed to the Lagos State Government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to urgently deploy more security personnel and strengthen patrols across the affected community.
The residents also called for a thorough investigation into the killing of the CDA executive, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and sustained security measures capable of restoring peace and confidence in the area. They warned that unless decisive action is taken, more residents may be forced to abandon the community due to the growing threat posed by recurring armed robbery attacks.
