Earlier in the month, an unusual letter caused residents of Olosan community in Leme area of Abeokuta, Ogun State to panic.
Frightened residents proceeded to urge the police to save them from suspected robbers who had written a letter to tell the community to prepare for an invasion.
In the letter that was indiscreetly pasted on walls around the community, the robbers warned residents to prepare for dire consequences if the police were informed about their mission.
The hoodlums instructed the residents to keep money for them or be prepared for death if they fail to yield to their request for cash.
The notice read, “Important notice to residents of Olosan community: We the oga, oga (big bosses) are coming to greet you in no distance time (sic). If you like, you can report to the police, that does not concern us.
“Whoever we visit and refuse to give a good amount of money to us shall be killed or the person might even lose both money and his life.”
Crying out for help, the embattled residents cried, “Please help us beg them. We don’t have money. Please!”
Like the Abeokuta episode, residents of Olofa Estate, Ofatedo community in Osun State were also gripped by fear on June 24 this year after suspected robbers informed them of an impending attack unless a sum of N20 million was contributed and paid to them.
In the letters, the suspected robbers threatened to kill all the guards in the community, adding that no house would be spared during the attack.
The notice written in both Yoruba and English, read in part: “This is to inform you all that we thieves are coming to this community. We won’t spare any house or else you contribute a sum of N20m and keep it with the chairman.
“We will only visit and take the money from him. We will kill all your watchmen if they try to stop us. We are coming with full force.”
Worried by the threat letters fearful residents, among other security measures, resorted to fleeing the communities while the leadership of the communities hired the services of local guards.
Sources said that residents since then been returning home early and shutting their doors as early as possible in the evenings.
A resident of Olosan community in Abeokuta, Jamiu Alao, said: “As residents, we are troubled by the audacity of the suspected robbers.“We don’t want to leave things to chance, hence we have encouraged ourselves to return home early and lock our doors as early as 7.30 pm.
“Although they are yet to make good their threat to invade our community, some residents have started relocating from this community.
“However, we have decided to sustain these security measures in order to protect ourselves from the robbers while we have also informed the police.”
“The landlords association has also contracted vigilance groups to protect lives and property in the community and carry out regular surveillance especially at nights.
A community leader, who asked not to be named, said the robbers’ notice unsettled the residents when it was sighted in the community.
He said that police had been patrolling the community since the notice was pasted, adding that landlords in the community too had formed a vigilance team to support the police.
Some residents of Olofa Estate in Ofatedo, Osun State where a similar notice was pasted by robbers were said to have also relocated for fear of becoming victims.
“I relocated my family to Ede because I did not want to fall victim to dare devil robbers,” a resident who spoke in confidence said.
The Field Commandant, Osun Amotekun Corps, Amitolu Shittu, had allayed fears over the development, saying: “Although there was no formal report yet from the community, immediately we saw the letters from the robbers on the social media, I met some residents of the area and I asked some relevant questions.
“We have not met with the representatives of the community as a group, but we are on top of the situation. We, however, cannot disclose in full our strategy in the media.”
