Why Akinwale Street Was Spared From The #EndSARS violence

BY EUNICE AYOBAMI

It is rare to find a neighbourhood in mainland Lagos, that was not touched by the violence trailing the #End Sars protest in Lagos.

This has put the Akinwale neighborhood in the Ogba area of Lagos on the frontline.

To a large extent, you could conclude that Akinwale is not in Lagos in the sense that the residents enjoy some level of safety while other areas were burning.

Our correspondent who investigated the area has discovered what the secret for Akinwale is.

While some of the residents attested to the fact that it was the presence of the community vigilantes, who were smart enough to shut all points of entries when the killings started, some said it was Almighty God that vindicated the community out.

Yet other indications point to the presence of elites in the community.

Majority of the residents on Akinwale are enlightened, providing their kids with quality education that birthed their compartment and reduced the level of hooliganism in the community.

In the same vein, the nearby “Area G” police station was not razed as well, despite its level of popularity within the axis; it is believed that the smartness of police officers in the command saved the situation.

These officers barricaded the road that led to the command. The only thing that the protesters could do was to burn tires, before moving down east where they razed another police checkpoint at Aguda.  

This, apparently was to vent frustration and failure in doing too much damage from where they were coming.

Speaking on the reason for serenity in the Akinwale community, Peter Urube, accountant, made it known that the Police officers in Ogba, Area G command were proactive, which led to them handling the situation maturely.

The youths also supported the Police which hindered the thugs from invading the community.

“Though they tried to burn down Excellence Hotel, thinking it was a public property, but they didn’t on knowing that it was private owned”

He added that the youths in the community are also exposed people, compared to some other communities where the protest happened.

“We also don’t have gathering of smokers in Ogba, it is a peaceful area, though the youths were fully into the protest”.

In the same Vein, Victor Idowu, clergy stated that the Police used a logic by scattering any group of guys they saw together so as to avoid a team-up against the Police Station.

“When the thugs came from Oke Ira, the police were already on ground. The Area Commander from Oke Ira was the one that begged them.

“The NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers) for Ogba from Yaya Abatan mosque also came to beg the youths that they shouldn’t touch anything, of which they went back.

“Almost 30 youths came with arms but they couldn’t tamper with anybody because the Police ensured that they block every route of entry, the Police were also equipped by surrounding all the Police Station,” Victor stressed.

The Clergyman also noted that it is important to note that the Police has lost its respect in the society because of the way they had been comporting themselves.

According to him, these uniformed officials gallivant around and also engage in dirty acts with the thugs.

He therefore pleaded with Police officers to caution themselves whenever they are on duty instead of mingling with the thugs.

Fatoki Taiwo, however reverenced God for all that happened;

“It is unfathomable, we thank God for shielding us.

“When crisis like this happen, it is always scary but it is basically God because something happened, we have touts here too but God ministered to them.”

“These people might not believe in Jesus but He ministered to them. It is only God that has actually made that happen,” she added.

Biodun Busari, writer, however shared his thought this way;

“It is not about what the community had done aforetime. it was all about the concentration of the tension and chaos that happened.”

“I can not say they are places that we’re not touched but with the information I had, Lagos boiled.”

The writer stressed that some places were not touched too like lekki, Victoria Island Ikoyi and even on the mainland.

“I think it depends in the nature of the people involved, if they are common masses.”

READ ALSO: ‘Our Experience During The #EndSARS Protests Was A Nightmare’

“Places that were unscathed means people there are living below average. Where palliatives were kept also aided pandemonium.  Where the palliative were kept and where aggrieved and angry people were,” he stated.