FEAR UNRAVEL UGBEKWANKWO AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO DEFEND THEIR HOMES

This is more than four days that residents in Ugbekwankwo and other neighbouring streets hardly go to bed with eyes closed. Since Saturday 2 March, 2019 the whole entire neighbourhood has been boiling. People are now living with fear. Afraid of what might possibly happens to them the next minute. For a lot of people, the community is turning something else. 

According to one of the community leader (no name disclosed) who was engaged with certain questions said.  "since Saturday the whole area hasn't known peace". He continued.  "since that Saturday, residents are highly tense. Every body is on the guard. Vigilant at what might possibly greets them whether in the day or in the night. No body wants to be taken unaware because of previous antecedent".

He bitterly expressed what happened to him, a day after when this clash started. His room was invaded while asleep where the sum of N300, 000 and other items stolen. More so, shops, homes and properties worth hundred and thousands of naira were all looted. On top of it, two teenage girls were raped and a little girl was stabbed because the parents belated to hand over money to them.  Sadly enough, the police was no where to be found.

Seeing how the first day went, with tension and fear registered at every faces. From findings, it was mentioned that two of the boys were attacked at the scene of the clashed the second day which landed them in the hospital: Tolu Medical Center. While the tension for now has melt-down. Rank and file residents according to one of the victim who spoke said. 

"to keep the community safe, we have resolved to raise fundraising where at least a room should pay N200 for us to buy bulbs that will be hang at every strategic electricity poles. Also, for other logistic that will be needed to tackle this unraveling crises, putting the whole entire neighbourhood in tension". The purpose he continued "was to keep people alert being the Nigerian Police is not up and doing".

He further said that as part of keeping the community safe with the little they have and can do. There is a plan on ground to have volunteers especially from among those teenagers who reside in the community. They leaders and residents (after a meeting that was called) believe, are capable of doing the job as "vigilante". For majority of the opinion gathered, enough is enough for this nonsense. Failing to do something will get worsen. 

For hundred of families affected said, they are tired of running away from their homes they have stayed for years. Where they have groom their children, where they have spend their entire lives and now, they are seeing their live is being haunted by this unraveling gang war caused by joblessness. The worst is seeing young boys killing each other over what, according to a women "I can't understand". 

As mentioned, there is an immediate plan to use the formed "vigilante" as a means to apprehend those culprits. Either to lynch or hand them over to the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad. A lot believe this will help to reduce boys raiding the community. Although, tension has gone down because of the responses of residents especially boys in the neighborhood who have resolved to come all out to defend their community.

However, the fundamental challenge of what largely is responsible to this unravelling crises, post a question of what is the role of the government in all these. People believe that the government on their part has fail to do the needful. Has fail to arrest this ravaging crises especially the Council Government. And being the government has failed, residents has no choice than to defend their homes.

©Davy Fidel
LIFEINSLUM