Ilesa is a rather calm community. Nonetheless, residents are suffering. This time, there are no cult-related attacks or pockets of violent conflict in some parts of town. It is about burglary and theft. These two crimes are most prevalent in Idasa, Iroye, Isokun, Anaye, Bonke Quarters, and some parts of Atakunmosa West, such as Imola—a neighborhood near the University of Ilesa campus.
Findings by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that Idasa, Bonke Quarters, and Imola are the communities with the highest records of burglary and theft. Statistics acquired from crime boards across police stations in the Ilesa metropolis also supported our findings.
Residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that these neighborhoods have suffered at the hands of burglars and criminals, causing the collapse of some small enterprises.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that burglars would break into businesses and steal food items, while thieves would steal transformer cables and fuses at midnight during power outages.
Stakeholders when contacted by WITHIN NIGERIA disclosed that incessant cable theft is caused by frequent power outages, and remarked that when power supply is not stable, residents not only live in complete darkness, but also allow criminals, particularly thieves, to plunder people’s shops, causing commercial losses.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that three shops in Bonke Quarters had just been burgled. Omowumi Ojo, a woman in her late forties, had one of her shops burgled, and drinks, including luxury wines, were stolen. Burglars stole tomato paste, vegetable oil, indomies, eggs, onions, and salt from other shops.
Omowumi told WITHIN NIGERIA that robbers stole N200,000 from her shop. The mother of four, who narrated how she met her shop and padlocks on the floor the next morning, stated that pricey wines and yogurts had been removed from her freezer and shelves.
According to Omowumi, the criminals emptied her freezer and shelves without hesitation, scattering other items over the shop floor.
‘That was an unpleasant sight for me. I wish you were present when I entered the shop. I couldn’t hold back my tears. I only thank God that I took my money from where I usually keep it, because they would have taken it as well,” said a fairly depressed mother of four.
Sunday, an Iroye resident, told WITHIN NIGERIA that the community’s transformer gets repaired every two weeks due to a missing cable or fuse.
The man in his early thirties expressed his discontent with the situation, citing recurring power outages as a cause that enabled the crime.
“These burglars utilize power outages to steal cables or fuses. Residents and shop owners will contribute money to replace stolen items that will be taken after a few weeks. People are already tired. “If we catch anyone who steals a cable or a fuse, I doubt residents will not mob him or her,” Sunday explained.
While encouraging the electricity firm to enhance their supply at midnight to protect the transformer, he expressed hope that the presence of local vigilantes in the community would prevent or slow the cable theft spree.
Ebenezer, a resident of Idasa in Ilesa, told WITHIN NIGERIA that shop burglaries are not uncommon in the community.
He stated that some business owners take their goods home, especially the valuable ones, because they don’t want to lose money in this horrible economy.
According to Ebenezer, shop burglary is now common in the Ilesa metropolis, and the police’s lack of attention further annoys the residents.
“We reported multiple incidents to them, but they took no action. Idasa is a dangerous community. There are cultists,touts and drug dealers who have no jobs or businesses but roam the community. I suspect they are responsible for shop burglaries, among other crimes in the community,” he added.
Kunle Oladosu, a member of the Imola village, told WITHIN NIGERIA that he has lost track of how many shops have been burgled in the past four months.
According to Kunle, when burglars steal into establishments, they loot food goods, particularly indomies and rice grains.
“Illegal miners from the north, along with some are responsible for shop burglaries in our neighborhood. Most mining locations have been abandoned, and these illegal miners come from faraway states like Zamfara. “They break into shops and loot food to survive,” he added.
When asked why they did not report the matter to the police, Kunle stated that the police were aware because some victims went to the station to report the incident, but they did nothing.
“There is no one to confide in. If you point fingers or report them to the police and they are released, you’re in deep trouble. Furthermore, you can report them in secret, and certain police officers may reveal your identity. “Most cases do not even make it to court,” he noted.
In a phone interview with WITHIN NIGERIA, a crime analyst named Stephen Olusayo advised the police to launch extensive raids in such communities especially black spots.
Stephen, who recognized residents’ lack of trust in the police as a stumbling block, claimed that a positive relationship between police and civilians is required to uphold the law and make our society safer.
Stephen believes that in order to catch criminals, the police must gain residents’ trust by delivering accurate information.
“We cannot allow criminals to wander freely. We need to campaign for community policing. Local vigilante groups should be encouraged. “Traders should not be robbed in this terrible economy,” he said.
