Gunmen Raid Ex-Ogun Local Government Chairman’s Home, Steal Valuables and Vehicle

In the early hours of Thursday morning, former Ijebu-Ode Local Government Chairman and publisher of The Roots Magazine, Alhaji Emilola Gazal, became the latest target in a disturbing surge of violent home invasions in Ogun State. According to Gazal, three armed intruders broke into his residence located in the Ijebu-Ode Government Residential Area (GRA) at about 2 a.m., where they forcefully seized valuables, cash, and his vehicle.

Speaking to our correspondent via phone, Gazal detailed the ordeal: “The gunmen took all the cash I had on me and coerced me to open my bank applications on my phone to transfer all my funds to an account they controlled, leaving just N5,000 in my bank balance. They also took my wife’s jewelry and my ash-colored car. They explicitly told me they intended to take the car away.”

He added that he intended to formally report the incident to police stations at Igbeba and Obalende in Ijebu-Ode.

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This incident comes amid an increase in armed robberies and home invasions across Ogun State, particularly in the Ijebu area. Earlier this year, Ogun State Police Command engaged in a deadly gun battle with a suspected armed robber along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Expressway, resulting in the suspect’s death. The command also recently arrested a suspect linked to a burglary and armed robbery in Ayetoro, where stolen goods valued at about N1.5 million were recovered.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State regional security network, Amotekun Corps, has intensified their operations targeting criminal gangs. They have engaged suspects in shootouts and successfully neutralized dangerous criminals in border zones and highways. Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has also boosted the Corps’ strength by approving recruitment drives and provisioning of logistics to enhance security across the state.

Despite these efforts, incidents like the invasion of Alhaji Gazal’s home highlight ongoing security challenges in the state, underlining the urgent need for continuous vigilance and law enforcement cooperation to curb the upsurge in violent crime within the community.