Iju Station: Haven for criminals by Olusegun Akinleye

A banned substance- Marijuana

For the residents of Orile- iju community of Ifako- Ijaye, the fear of criminals is the beginning of wisdom. 419ers and Indian hemp smokers have taken over the community.

A walk around the popular railway station during the day will make you wonder if  the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is still active to its duties.

Youths and able bodied men have decided to make the place a point of gathering to carry out their illegal activities which include defrauding innocent people from far and near. Most of these miscreants are seen smoking during the day with impunity.

LIVING IN FEAR

A resident of the community, Adebayo Azeez laments how everybody, both old and young live in fear in the area.

He said '' we really find it difficult to go out at night because these miscreants loiter around smoking weed and looking for innocent victims to prey .The railway side is becoming dangerous at night as fierce looking people now prowl".

Another resident, Mrs. Falilat Jimoh blamed the community leaders who have failed to take any meaningful action against the miscreants.

She said " these people coming here to carry out this shameful act of duping people are not from this area. They come as far as Ogba, Ikeja and even Mushin. we have reported them to the Community Development Association many times but they are yet to take any meaningful actions against them".

IMPLICATION

Mrs Jimoh concluded by saying "the implication of these is that the area will be given a bad name and the future of the youths is at stake. Most of the youths in the community now refuse to go to school during school hours".

Picture source: Google