Residents within the Trailer Park axis of Eleme local government area of Rivers State are now living in fear following the reappearance of criminals in the area.
Israel Abbey, President of Ola Obor Eleme (the apex socio-cultural organization of the Eleme people), told reporters on Thursday that criminals have reoccupied the demolished shanties of the trailer park making life unbearable for residents.
Abbey regretted that the people loss their monies and other valuables to hoodlums as they are being attacked on weekly basis.
He called on the government and security agencies to urgently step into action to ensure safety of the residents.
“I get calls every week from law abiding people of Eleme on how they are being attacked by hoodlums around the trailer park.
“These criminals have gone back to the demolished shanties of the trailer park. They spread at evenings to the adjoined areas of the trailer park looking for people they will rob.
“They rob their victims and run back into the demolished shanties of the trailer park.
“When those shanties were demolished, crime within the axis of the trailer park reduced substantially but now it has increased.
“The reason is because the area still does not have security presence. So, the area is still serving as den for criminals.”
Recalled that in a bid to dislodge criminals from the Eleme trailer park, the Eleme council chairman, Obarilomate Ollor had in June this year demolished the shanties at the trailer park.
The council chairman who supervised the demolition himself had said that the shanties at the trailer park were serving as the operational base for kidnappers, armed robbers and other vicious criminals.
Reacting to the criminal activities in the state, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni said the command will go after all criminal elements and make the state unbearable for them to operate.
