Residents of Happyland Estate in Magboro, Ogun State, have raised an alarm over a troubling rise in burglary incidents and suspected human trafficking activities within their community, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria.
A NAN investigation highlights mounting anxiety among the estate’s residents, who say criminal activities appear to be carried out by individuals residing within the area, rather than outsiders.
The focus of their concern is a particular house identified by the community, which they claim harbors suspicious individuals.
However, residents feel powerless to act as the building is allegedly owned by a high-ranking officer from a security agency.
Members of the Community Development Association of Happyland Estate voiced their concerns in separate interviews, pointing out the unsettling increase in the presence of unfamiliar people.
, a resident and CDA executive, Mr. Mose Mutwang, said the issue worsened between December and February, prompting the community to alert the Warewa Police Station, located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“We’ve been witnessing a steady rise in burglary cases since December. By February, we escalated the matter to the Warewa Police Station.
“Following that, we convened an emergency CDA meeting to assess the situation. Our investigation led us to a house on Unity Street harboring several unidentified young men and women,” Mutwang explained.
He described the property in question as resembling an unregistered hotel, further compounding concerns about its potential threat to neighborhood safety.
“The property does not appear to be residential in the normal sense. It is an open environment with minimal security, and the landlord doesn’t live there.
“When we visited with the CDA Chairman, we discovered the setting posed a danger to the community,” he added.
Another resident, Mr. Adekunle Sogbehin, highlighted the growing number of unfamiliar faces and shared an alarming case linked to the same house, which he believes could be tied to human trafficking.
“One of the boys in that compound confided in us. He said he’s from Cameroon and was lured to Nigeria with promises of being taken to Europe.
“After paying a huge sum to an agent, he found himself stranded in Magboro. The boy now depends on his mother for feeding and is clearly in a helpless situation,” Sogbehin recounted.
He urged both the government and relevant security agencies to act quickly and investigate the situation.
“We’re concerned. That house reportedly houses about 30 people in a single flat, with no proper sleeping arrangements.
“We suspect human trafficking or possible recruitment for internet fraud. We need the authorities to investigate and ensure the safety of these young individuals,” he stated.
Sogbehin stressed that the situation now requires external intervention to protect both the community and the potential victims.
“We don’t want to be labelled a community that harbours criminals. This is beyond us now; we need outside help,” he added.
Supporting these concerns, the CDA Chairman, Mr. Bolade Awopetu, appealed to the authorities for swift intervention.
“We are appealing to the authorities to come to our aid. The house on Unity Street is a serious security risk.
“I personally visited the location, and some of the occupants admitted they feel trapped. Since they moved in, we’ve noticed a spike in criminal activity.
“For peace to reign, something must be done,” he said.
In response, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, advised the residents to submit a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police for further action.
