The residents of the Akerele and Atobaje communities in the Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State are gripped with fear over the high crime rate in the areas.

Residents say they are scared to walk on the streets, especially at night, due to the presence of fierce-looking hoodlums who are often under the influence of hard drugs or alcohol.

Suspected hoodlums are said to commit all crimes, including rape, burglary, and robbery when they are high on substance.

A trader living in the area said that the main threat to the community’s peace is the youths who are involved in drugs.

“You will see young girls and boys smoking and making themselves useless,” Lekan said. “The parents see these children and never caution them. The rate at which this menace is going is really dangerous.

“You will see young girls as young as 18 with all manners of illicit drugs. You cannot pass these two major areas known as Akerele and Atobaje at night.”

Another resident, Abiodun, said it is difficult for residents to walk freely at night due to the threat of suspected hoodlums committing various crimes.

“The rate at which the youths in this area take hard drugs in the environment is really alarming,” Abiodun said. “The moment they are high on drugs, they commit all manner of crimes such as rape, fighting, and so on.

“Once they are drunk, they start robbing and using sharp objects such as cutlasses to fight residents in the area. Some of the youths in the area can do and undo.“

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, is yet to make any comment on the report