Concerned residents from several communities in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, have urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to step in urgently as criminal activities worsen along the Long Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According to the residents, the area has become a dangerous zone for commuters and locals alike, plagued by armed robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults.
Criminal gangs are said to operate from the overgrown bushland and sidewalks near the bridge.
Speaking to Punch, a resident named Kola recounted how criminals once used a ladder to access the bridge for attacks and escape. “Hardly a day goes by without a reported incident,” he said.
Another resident, Jela, described how a woman was recently caught by local security while attempting to dispose of a corpse by the roadside in the middle of the night.
Ganiyu Kazeem, Chairman of the Arepo Area Community Development Committee, revealed that human remains were discovered under the bridge during a community-organised bush-clearing exercise aimed at improving visibility and eliminating hideouts.
Communities such as Arepo, Warewa, Arigbede, Mokore, Banku, Mawere, Magboro, and Oke-Afa signed a letter describing the bridge as a “kidnappers’ den,” warning that it poses a significant risk to travellers.
“This bridge is a vital route that connects Lagos to the rest of the country, yet it has become a hotbed of crime, especially during traffic congestion, when cars are attacked, passengers wounded, or even abducted,” the letter stated.
Despite the challenges, residents praised the efforts of Superintendent of Police John Ayegbede of the Warewa Division.
Under his leadership, tactical changes have led to the arrest of several suspects and improved patrols, with two new police posts set up on either side of the bridge.
SP Ayegbede also collaborated with community groups, such as the Police Community Relations Committee, Arepo CDC, and the Warewa Security Council, to maintain regular bush clearing and support police operations.
However, residents insist that the local response alone is insufficient, calling on the IGP to bolster security infrastructure and personnel in the area to better protect commuters and nearby communities.
“SP Ayegbede and his team are working tirelessly, but these criminals are relentless. We need the IGP and the federal government to provide more support to secure this crucial route,” one resident emphasised.
Efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
The same criminal group is believed to have been behind the abduction of a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police’s wife earlier this year.
She was rescued four days later by the Ogun State Police Command.
