The community
Residents of Otumara in the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos state have called on the Lagos state government to address the nefarious activities of hoodlums in the community.
The community head, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye and some of the residents that spoke with Nigerian Tribune, alleged that hoodlums have turned most part of the community, including the premises of primary schools into gambling and smoking spot where they rape and physically assault residents and steal their property.
Kalejaiye cautioned that the rate at which hoodlums foment trouble and waylay residents, if left unchecked, would affect the good morals of young ones especially pupils who run errand for them while they engage in their immoral acts.
He however call on the State ministry of the environment and the police to comb the shanties in the community and rid them of bad elements, while also noting that giving qualitative education with high moral value to children is immutable.
Reacting to the gift of blocks of Senior Secondary School to the community by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kalejaiye described as disappointing the resistance put up by some residents who prioritised their personal gains over the actualisation of Senior Secondary School which has been the community’s long term dream.
It would be recalled that Kalejaiye has been at the forefront of agitation for the construction of senior high school in Otumara until it was approved to be built within the premises of Ilogbo Junior High school.
He said, “We know how we have suffered for so my years before the Lagos state government approved of the construction of Senior Secondary School in Otumara community. We know the amount of stress our children went journeying from Ebute-meta to Surulere to complete their secondary education especially with the ban on motorcycle and tricycle operations.
And when Gov. Sanwo-Olu finally approved of our request, why should some residents with the help of some hired hoodlums hindered the realisation of our collective dreams? The future security of our children is paramount to us. We need education as much as conducive environment for our children to thrive.
Again are the troubling acts of hoodlums who rob and assault residents and escape through the DTV route which is notoriously known for being their hideout.
While I call on the police to address this ugly menace, I also want to appeal to all residents to join hands with the leadership of the community towards the actualisation of this historic project.
And to traders and residents within the school premises, they should know that they are encroaching on the schools’ property which was reserved for a day like this and not to be used as a motor park and trading.”
Narrating the story behind the premises that has been turned into a gambling and trading spot, an elder and politician, an elder in the community, Mr Fagba Abiodun disclosed that the premises which extends to Church Street was barricaded to keep criminals.
He said, “There were Ilogbo High School, Banjo Primary School and Ebenezer Primary school within the premises. But when hoodlums started terrorising residents and pupils of these schools, we approached the former Executive Secretary for Education in Lagos Mainland Local Government who is now the current Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Hon Kayode Omiyale to erect a fence so that the school children would be protected from the danger. We felt barricade was needed to keep the criminals away and for it to be used for sporting activities and the other portion for trading.
When the community decided to use the space for the construction of Senior Secondary School, some aggrieved residents who don’t know how it came about and don’t mean well for the community are antagonising it.
This is not about an individual or a group of people but it has to do about our future of our children and the generation yet unborn.
I am appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu to wade into the matter and ensure that the senior secondary school is constructed for our children to comfortably complete their secondary education with ease in the community without having to travel as far as Surulere.
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