A wave of panic swept through the Oke Ogba community in Akure, the Ondo state capital, as armed robbers struck, making off with three vehicles over a 24-hour period.
The thefts, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday nights, have left residents shaken and alarmed.
The vehicle owners, who had parked their cars in familiar spots, discovered upon waking up the next morning that their cars were gone.
Sources confirmed that two Toyota Camry models, including one pencil variant, were stolen. At the time of reporting, the details of the third vehicle were still unclear.
It was also revealed that the two security guards hired by the community reportedly abandoned their duties on the night of the incidents.
The guards, who had requested a salary increase from the landlord association chairman, allegedly stopped working after their request was denied.
A resident, wishing to remain anonymous, expressed concern over the security guards’ possible involvement, stating, “The security guards approached the chairman and unexpectedly said they would no longer work. The chairman told them they couldn’t quit without giving proper notice, but they stopped working nonetheless.”
The resident added, “On Thursday night, they didn’t show up for their shift, leaving the community’s entrance unguarded. The next morning, two cars were missing, with one being stolen the night before. This is both shocking and troubling.”
The matter has been reported to the Fanibi police station, and the suspects are said to be in police custody.
The string of robberies is not new to Oke Ogba, as similar crimes, including the theft of a transformer cable last month, have plagued the community. Despite numerous reports, no arrests have been made.
Many residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of resolution and are urging the police to take more action. One resident noted, “This area has gained a reputation for frequent robberies and burglaries, and although the landlords are doing what they can to protect the neighborhood, it hasn’t been enough.”
They continued, “Since May of last year, there have been more than nine cases of thefts, all reported to the Fanibi police station, but no real progress has been made in solving the crimes.”