Residents of 111 Off 11 Road, H Close in Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, are raising concerns about growing insecurity after suspected criminals vandalized a parked vehicle in the area early on a Friday morning.
According to residents, the perpetrators smashed the rear window of a white Toyota Camry parked along the close, leaving shattered glass and damage to the car’s interior.
The incident comes weeks after the security house at H Close was demolished during the Lagos State government’s ongoing environmental cleanup exercise across Festac Town. The operation, led by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in collaboration with Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, was aimed at clearing waste and removing illegal structures to restore environmental order.
However, residents say the removal of the security house, which was among the illegal sitting structures in the area , might have left the close vulnerable to criminal attacks. They noted that while security houses and adjoining shops in other nearby closes (A to E) on 11 Road were left untouched, H Close’s security post was torn down, forcing security guards to vacate the area.
One concerned resident, Rotimi Toriola, took to social media to condemn the demolition, describing it as a “superficial job” done without proper consideration for safety.
“This left our close open to criminals,” Toriola wrote. “We plead with authorities to take bold steps and correct this.”
Some residents now fear that the absence of security presence which they were used to could embolden more criminal activities in the area if urgent action is not taken.
While the ongoing cleanup efforts have been praised by Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab for improving sanitation and aesthetics in Festac Town, complaints like this highlight potential gaps in the enforcement process.
The residents are calling on the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government and relevant agencies to see to the rebuild of the demolished security house or provide alternative security measures to protect lives and property in H Close.
As of the time of this report we have not contacted local authorities, Update coming soon.