By Ramson Acheme
In the early hours of Wednesday morning on February 26, 2025, men of the vigilante group apprehended one Bode Aderibigbe with a piece of fabricated metal grille.
The metal frame was used to cover a hollow in the ground, to protect vehicles and pedestrians from accidents.
The incident which took place at about 3 a.m., was quickly brought under control by the vigilante men patrolling the area.
According to sources in the Parafa Balogun community in Ikorodu, this is the third time such metal object was stolen in the last two weeks.
One of the residents, a new landlord in the area, name withheld, alleged that his metal grille used for protecting his water reserviour was stolen just last week.
Aderibigbe, a man in his mid-40s, who was caught in the act early this morning, confessed to have removed two other iron frames from the Parafa neighbourhood in recent time.
He had committed the crime alone, and this is not his first. With tears pouring down his cheeks, he pleaded for mercy.
Aderibigbe was paraded at the Vigilante office at Obanle Road, opposite Checkers factory, off Parafa Balogun as early as 6 a.m., where passersby looked on in disappointment.
When asked why he stole the iron frame, he simply whimpered ‘It is the work of the devil.’ He pleaded for mercy and promised never to do such ever again.
When asked further, Bode Aderibigbe said he lost his job and has three kids to cater for. According to him, he is a widower and is left alone to cater for the children in this hard economic time.
One of the spectators who listened to his confession, blurted out ‘I don’t have a job yet, I didn’t go about stealing.’ The stolen metal grille is a constructed six feet frame, made of wrought iron and used for various purposes like water reserviour cover, roadside hollow cover, beast cage and many other domestic utility.
The vigilante men of Parafa area in the Lucky Fibre along Imota Road, led by Commander Fashola, said they have gathered enough evidence and would soon hand over the thief to the police along Shagamu Road, Ikorodu.
‘I am about taking him (the thief) to the Shagamu Road Police station, I will hand him over to the available IPO for further prosecution,’ Fashola told our reporter.
According to the vigilante commander, there have been complain in the neighbourhood regarding stolen metal iron frames in recent times.
This morning’s event led them to know that the same person was connected to the other burglaries that was committed recently.
Lately, there are cases of heightened insecurity across communities and it has become a major concern as many families are stepping up security measures to protect their domestic properties.
While the economic hardship is intensifying by the day, some people have resort to petty and calculated stealing for survival. People are also making efforts to protect their meagre resources and items through every means.