Gunmen, again, overrun Lagos community

Gunmen, dressed in military camouflage, on Sunday overran Igbodu, a community in Epe area of Lagos State.
Numbering over 20, the gunmen specifically targeted Kodjo Farm, from where they abducted five people.
Those abducted were 65-year-old Kakaja Joseph, four poultry workers of Kodjo Farm and two travellers.
The two travellers were abducted during a second raid on the town that saw them blocking a road.
The gunmen returned to the community on Monday morning, attempting to abduct students of Molajoye Community High School during their assembly.
However, operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Area N, and officers and men of the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army foiled the attempt.
The gunmen were said to have arrived at the poultry at about 8am on Sunday, shooting sporadically.
They were said to have whisked away their victims in a waiting boat.
The gunmen carted away about 50 live chickens and several crates of eggs.
The kidnappers, armed with sophisticated guns, allegedly blocked a road in Igbodu, where they engaged law enforcement officers in a gun duel.
People were said to have scampered into the bush, with many of them spending the night there.
Before now, gunmen had in September in Epe abducted three female farmers and a six-month-old baby.
The victims were kidnapped at Igbodu-Isiwo Road area of the town.
On November 15, they also invaded a farm settlement in Epe, also located on Igbodu-Isiwo Road.
They abducted four farmers.
But the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, denied the kidnap news.
Badmos said: “The command wishes to state that this publication is not only false and misleading, but a figment of imagination of the writer.
“Epe axis and Lagos State is totally safe.
“There is no invasion by militants or any other criminal elements on any part of Lagos.
“The command hereby advises anyone peddling this falsehood to desist or be made answerable to the law.
“Residents of Epe and Lagos at large should disregard this falsehood and carry on their lawful activities as the command has devised operational strategies to ensure safety of lives and property during this festive season.
“Members of the public are enjoined to report any suspicious movement to the command through its emergency numbers 767 or 112.”