Punch gathered that the residents of the communities have been witnessing raids by the bandits almost on a daily basis with many being killed, raped and kidnapped in the process.
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Some of the residents who narrated their experiences said despite protests by women in the area against the killings and rapes, the police had refused to intensify patrols of the communities, while some of the perpetrators arrested have been freed only for them to come back with renewed gusto.
It was learned that in the months of June and July 2016, a Ghanaian lady identified as Grace Obinna, who raped and killed while a 60-year-old woman identified as Francisca, who was stabbed in the cheek while her 10-year-old daughter, was also injured in the attack.
On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, a woman and her two children, were attacked on Ahmadiyya Estate where severe injuries were inflicted on them by the rapists.
A pastor in the estate the woman was about to follow her children to school at about 9am when they were attacked.
“They are still receiving treatments in a hospital. People are beginning to flee Igbo Agbowa community. After several months of enduring attacks, people are fed up. Women are scared. No one knows whose house is next.”
Likewise, a landlord in one of the affected communities said the rapists attacked houses where women and their children stayed alone.
“There is panic in our area. The rapists usually targeted homes where the men were not around. They would loot property and rape female victims. This does not leave out the elderly.”
A youth leader also posited that the police are not helping matters as they are quick to release any suspect arrested.
“A few weeks ago, we caught one of them trying to rape a woman. He was beaten and burnt to death in Ibeshe.
But at other times, the police did not allow jungle justice. However, the rapists had not stopped their onslaughts on the residents.”
The State Police Public Relations (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, disagreed with the stand of the people, saying that the police had met the leaders in the communities and had arrested some culprits, adding that operations in the area would be sustained.