The One Million Boys, have threatened to return to deal with residents of a Lagos community, after some members of the gang were arrested for robbery.
Some members of the notorious One Million boys, arrested by the police.
According to The Nation, about 18 members of the terror gang, whose ages range between 14 and 17, allegedly invaded and robbed not less than 15 houses in Isheri-Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Saturday.
Our correspondent gathered that the boys, who were armed with matchetes, guns and other dangerous weapons, raided houses on Fasasi, Anuoluwapo, Fasasi Balogun and Orelope Streets from 12 am to 3am.
The gangsters were said to have announced their presence with sporadic gunshots.
Items, including DVD players, undisclosed cash, jewelry and sundry phones, were carted away in Ghana-must-go bags by the hoodlums.
It was learnt that those who hesitated to release their belongings were brutally dealt with matchete cuts during the operation.
Residents, who spoke with our correspondent, said that about five landlords who sustained injuries during the robbery operation are in critical condition at the state General Hospital, Igando.
An elderly member of a local vigilance group, identified simply as Baba Kazeem, who was dealt several matchete blows and shot during the operation, is said to be on danger list at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
A 60-year-old woman, simply known as Iya Rotimi, was wounded by the hoodlums, while an unidentified man and his wife were wounded by the hoodlums for not having valuables at home.
It was learnt that the dare-devil boys took to their heels with their loots after they were confronted by angry residents.
One of the suspects, called Babyface, was, however, caught at Idimu, and led the police to arrest three other members of the group, including one Yar'Adua.
The Nation gathered that their arrest was carried out by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Idimu Police Station, Mr. Solomon Adebayo Fayomi, who led his men to the scene of the incident following distress calls by residents.
The arrested suspects would have been lynched by the angry residents, but for the intervention of the DPO, who pleaded with residents not to resort to jungle justice.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, said: "We were having a party in front of our house when the boys, numbering about 20, passed through our street, but we did not know that they were hoodlums. Suddenly, we started hearing gunshots from adjoining streets, and before we knew what was happening, one of my husband's family members who live on one of the streets raided, ran towards our house to ask for help. He had blood all over him and said that he was attacked with matchete by the boys when they threatened to kill his wife, because they could not find valuables in their home.
"The wicked boys also threatened to kill a three-month-old baby when his parents explained that they did not have money at home. They later spared the baby after carting away valuables in the apartment."
The source added: "The hoodlums fled after residents confronted them, but we succeeded in arresting some of them with the aid of policemen who answered our distress calls. We would have killed them, but for the DPO who asked us not to take the law into our hands
Surprisingly, while the boys arrested were being taken away to the station in a police van, they boasted that they would return to deal with us. They said that was not the first time they would be arrested and snapped their fingers at us, threatening to further terrorise us on their return from detention. "Their threats have created palpable fear in this community, because we learnt that their 'godfathers' have started making contacts to secure their release and they might carry out their threats by further attacking us."
Another resident, who identified herself as Barakat, urged the police not to release the boys because of their criminal activities.
She said: "The police should not release the boys at all, because we gathered that some people have been making moves to secure their freedom. Their return will spell doom for residents following the threats they made to deal with us while they were being taken to the station."
Speaking with our correspondent during a visit to his palace, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun, urged the police to step up patrol and surveillance activities in order to flush out criminals from the community.
"This is the first time the so-called One Milliion Boys would terrorise my domain. It is sad that these boys, who are mostly teenagers, armed themselves with sophisticated guns or rifles to brutalise and rob hapless residents.
"Although, I want to commend the DPO of Idimu Police Station for leading out his men to contain the rampaging boys, but I want to advise the police to carry out proactive surveillance and patrol in this community to checkmate these boys and other criminals. The boys must not be allowed to return to carry out their threats of further attacks on innocent residents."
At press time, Lagos police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, did not pick calls or respond to a text message forwarded to her phone by our correspondent.
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