Residents of Onibuku, Ajayi-Egan and Mesan communities in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State, have sought the help of the state government as a three-man robbery gang continues to unleash terror on the area.

According the residents, the gang had been operating for over two months, reportedly attacks victims at night, leaving behind injured residents and empty homes.

The community members said the robbers would strike anytime and cart away cash, mobile phones, motorcycles and other valuables running into several millions of naira.

BEYOND AFRICA gathered that anxiety has gripped the community as many residents said the ordeal has gone beyond statistics and has become a daily struggle for survival.

“I was coming back from work around 9 p.m. when they stopped me,” said a middle-aged artisan in Mesan, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. “They beat me with sticks and a cutlass because I delayed in handing over my phone. To this day, my hand is still swollen. They took everything I had.”

Another resident, a petty trader in Onibuku, said she had stopped opening her shop early in the morning after she was robbed on her way to the market.

“I am a widow with three children. The little money I saved was taken from me. Since then, I’ve been scared. Once it gets dark, we lock ourselves inside. We can’t even sleep with both eyes closed,” she lamented.

Residents accused the Iju Police Station of failing to respond adequately to distress calls during attacks. According to them, repeated appeals for help have yielded little or no results, leaving the communities exposed.

“When we call the police, they tell us they don’t have fuel, or there is no vehicle,” said a youth leader in Ajayi-Egan. “Sometimes, they come hours after the robbers have escaped. We feel abandoned.”