Residents of the Magboro area in Ogun State have raised serious concerns over a growing wave of burglary and suspected human trafficking, particularly within Happyland Estate, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
An investigation by NAN revealed heightened anxiety among community members, who suspect that the criminal activities are being orchestrated from within the neighborhood rather than by outsiders.
According to the residents, a particular house on Unity Street has drawn suspicion due to the frequent movement of unfamiliar individuals. They allege the property is occupied by suspected criminals and is owned by a senior officer of a security agency, which has made efforts to address the issue more complicated.
Members of the Happyland Estate Community Development Association (CDA) spoke to NAN, expressing deep concern over the situation. One of the CDA executives, Mr. Mose Mutwang, said the issue escalated between December and February, prompting the community to report the matter to Warewa Police Station along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“We’ve experienced a steady increase in burglary cases since December. By February, the situation had worsened to the point that we had to involve the police,” Mutwang said.
He added that during an emergency CDA meeting, the group identified a house on Unity Street that functions more like an unregistered hotel than a residential property.
“The house is not a typical residence. It’s an open facility with minimal security, and the landlord doesn’t live there. We discovered multiple unidentified young men and women residing in cramped conditions, which we believe poses a major risk to the estate,” he said.
Another resident, Mr. Adekunle Sogbehin, voiced similar concerns, revealing a troubling case that may point to human trafficking.
“One of the young men in that house told us he’s from Cameroon. He said he was promised passage to Europe after paying a large sum to an agent, but ended up stranded here in Magboro,” Sogbehin explained.
The boy, now dependent on his mother for food, appears to be in a dire and vulnerable state. Sogbehin also claimed the house accommodates up to 30 people in a single flat, with no proper sleeping arrangements.
“We suspect human trafficking or even recruitment for cybercrime. This situation is beyond our control. We are urging the authorities to act swiftly and protect both the community and these young individuals from further exploitation,” he said.
CDA Chairman Mr. Bolade Awopetu echoed the alarm raised by residents and called for immediate intervention from government and security agencies.
“That house is a major security threat. I visited it personally, and some occupants even confessed to feeling trapped. Since they moved in, there has been a noticeable increase in crime within the estate,” Awopetu said.
He stressed that for peace to return to the community, urgent action must be taken.
In response to the situation, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, advised the community to formally petition the Commissioner of Police to initiate appropriate investigations and action.
