The peaceful ambience of Alaafia Estate, Orogun, Ibadan was altered around 11pm on Sunday as a gang of armed robbers reportedly invaded the community.
The men of the underworld were reported to have raided the estate between 11pm on Sunday and 2am on Monday.
It was gathered that the suspected robbers dispossessed their victims of valuables running into millions of naira.
Some robbers were said to have earlier robbed a Superintendent of Police living in the estate during an attack on three flats.
During the Sunday operation, the robbers reportedly carted away money, laptops, mobile phones and ATM cards.
Report has it that the robbers, who were armed with machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons, broke into the estate through the carnal linking the neighbourhood to Barika, Agbowo and Orogun.
No fewer than 20 families were said to have been sacked by the robbers. One of the victims, whose name was simply given as Peter, reportedly sustained machete cuts on his left hand while his wife was said to have been beaten with machete.
The robbers were said to have used POS machines which they brought to make withdrawals and later went away with other ATM cards belonging to their victims as they were unable to transfer money due to network failure.
Some of the residents said that at House 25, the robbers destroyed several properties on the allegation that the inhabitants peeped to watch their activities through the window.
A resident said, “As they battled to break into the house, one of them was telling the other that someone was peeping through the window. They threatened that we would see hell.”
The robbers allegedly bolted away as the men from the Ojoo Police Division approached the estate. Four machetes and a locally made pistol were said to have been recovered from the scene of the robbery.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Mr Adewale Osifeso, said, “In response to a distress call received on the early hours of Monday, 31/05/2021 at about 0300hours by residents of Alafia Estate, Ojoo area of Ibadan, a team of operational and intelligence assets were swiftly deployed to the area.
“On sighting the Police, the hoodlums fled the scene after they were thoroughly resisted. In the process, a pistol was recovered along with three cutlasses and a bag containing both male undergarments and Sim cards.
“Efforts are actively ongoing to apprehend the culprits and, as well, crack down their criminal chain please.”
