For the past couple of days, armed hoodlums have taken the opportunity of the coronavirus compulsory lock-down to steal from residents of Lagos and Ogun state. It’s bad enough that we are trying to navigate a life-threatening pandemic, but adding robbery to it is a nightmare most of us didn’t envisage.
From purchasing hand-sanitizers in bulk to staying at home, to now becoming vigilantes in their respective communities, since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, many Nigerians have been doing everything in their power to stay safe and alive.
For days in a row, the residents of Ogun were left with no choice but to stay awake at night to safeguard their loved ones and properties from the attacks of the robbers. Thankfully, yesterday, the Ogun State Government reported that at least 150 persons have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command in connection with the armed robbery attacks within the Agbado Ijaiye, Sango, Ijoko and Ifo Axis of the State.
While the people of Ogun state celebrated a form of victory, the tension in Lagos state increased. Between last night and this morning, a certain sect called ‘Awawa boys’ were reported to have stormed Agege, Iyana-ipaja, Abule Egba, Egbeda and their environs, stealing from the residents and terrorising the neighbourhood.
As usual, several Nigerians took to Twitter to express their frustration, and surprisingly not everybody felt the same way about the heartbreaking incidence. Some justified the alleged robbery and blamed the government for their failure to provide relief to citizens on lockdown while others believe there really is a thin line between activism and endorsing criminality.
An NGO tweeted from their official handle,@sewuesebumkengs
Lets expect social unrest if this lockdown continues, without appropriate security and actual support.
Peoples livelihood hv been taken frm them.
They cant afford to eat so their next meal will b from criminal activity.@MBuhari Lekki Iyana Ipaja Nara Bello Nigeria #AgegeUnrest pic.twitter.com/pWULrwf7TD— BumkengSelizzCarefoundation (BSCF) (@sewuesebumkengs) April 13, 2020
Another twitter user @Danny_Walterr urged people to stop making excuses for robbery saying,
The Robbers were hungry- Blocked
The Govt did not give them relief fund- Blocked
The Lockdown made them Rob – BlockedStop justifying robbery with your woke teks. If you feel so welcoming you can drop your address so when they come we’ll direct them to your house.
#AgegeUnrest— DANNY WALTER ? (@Danny_Walterr) April 13, 2020
While the government could do better, it is quite bothersome to see some Nigerians boldly make excuses for the robbery of fellow citizens who are equally trying to make do with the little resources they have.
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