Posted by By Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye on
Some residents of Shomolu and Bariga areas of Lagos have debunked claims that they were being terrorised by a group of armed robbers known as 36 lions. According to one of them, Mr. Femi Sanya who lives at Palmgrove, concerned friends had been calling him to ask about his welfare since they learnt that the area was no longer safe.
Some residents of Shomolu and Bariga areas of Lagos have debunked claims that they were being terrorised by a group of armed robbers known as 36 lions.
According to one of them, Mr. Femi Sanya who lives at Palmgrove, concerned friends had been calling him to ask about his welfare since they learnt that the area was no longer safe.
He said: "I was stupefied when my friend in Ibadan called and asked about the 36 Lions in my area. I asked him where he got the information from. He said that news reached him that the robbers had seized the area by the throat. As I was trying to explain to him that my area is very peaceful, my other phone rang and my mother was asking about the Lions. I have lived in this area for over 10 years and the last time thieves came here was five years ago. They could not even get away because they were apprehended by the police."
Another resident of Ilaje Bariga, Emma Philip said that rather than worry about thieves, he was more concerned about some members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) who were in the habit of making trouble in the area.
He said: "Thieves ke! Armed robbers don't even come to Bariga because they know that they won't leave alive. We are very united against armed robbery and robbers know that. The only problem we have is that of the OPC who have become a thorn in our flesh. I don't know about the Lions.'
Bunmi Oshin who also lives in Bariga, however, said that she had heard about the Lions.
She said: "I have heard about them but that was a very long time ago. You know that everybody fears the anti-robbery team at Pedro Police Station. I am sure that they have gone under or relocated."
When Daily Sun sought the opinion of the Divisional Police Officer at Pedro, Mr. Friday Ibadin, he said that he had never heard about the lions, adding " I resumed here a few months ago and I have never heard about Tigers or Lions. Shomolu is a very peaceful area and we have a competent team of anti-robbery policemen who are well known all over Lagos State to always rise up to challenges."