Robbers write Lagos residents to pay Christmas dues

Some suspected armed robbers have written some Lagos residents urging them to prepare to the pay season’s dues due to them on a date not mentioned.

Residents of Joseph Harrison Estate, Yaba area of Lagos State got the letter from the bandits on Wednesday notifying them of their impending attack to collect their “dues” for the festive season.

The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the letter was placed on the vehicle of one of the residents and was discovered in the morning when he was about to wash his car.

It said in part: “We are coming this week to collect our dues and to visit you tenants and landlords of Joseph Harrison Street in the week. If you like go and bring police or soldiers, we are coming to perform our duties.

“If you cooperate, we will not kill, but if you fail to cooperate, blood will flow.”

NAN check at the estate on Tuesday revealed that sterner security measures have been put in place to protect lives and properties in the community.

Bolanle Akinyemi, the Chairman, Community Development Association, said the estate had enjoyed some peace for a long while as it was protected by guards and the police from Sabo Police Post.

Akinyemi said: “We are also mindful of the slum that surrounds us and we have been conscious of suspected criminals.

“No one has received such letter before, but there was a case in 2013 when a company in the estate was robbed.”

The chairman said they have reported the threat to Sabo Police Division and more guards have been engaged at the estate.

Concerned residents urged the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to deploy more men to patrol the estate regularly.