The space was so serene at a point they seemed to be on holiday. But the ‘bad boys’ are back, tearing into betting centres where controversial fortunes are also being made.
For some time now, the various communities in Lagos City have enjoyed relative peace owing to low crime rate. But going by recent happenings, the economic situation and worsening unemployment among young graduates and youth generally may have seen to a return of criminals.
Given the manner of their operation, as recorded in the past weeks, however, burglars seem to have taken a fancy to game centres and similar businesses, many of whom are now operating with fear.
Findings by Saturday Tribune around the Bammeke/Orisumbare axis of Shasha showed that four of such centres have been attacked in the last two weeks.
One Rilwan, who runs one of the mega game centres at Bammeke in Alimosho Local Government Area, told of how he woke up about two weeks ago but had his hope of making more money from the booming business dashed. According to him, on getting to his shop the fateful morning, he met a crowd in front of his workplace. He soon discovered that the locked door to the game centre had been forced open with all equipment therein carted away.
Rilwan told Saturday Tribune that he lost over N200,000 to the theft of two flat-screen television sets, four laptops and other items at the centre. Although Rilwan said he reported the case at the nearest police station, no suspect has yet been arrested.
The operator of another game centre behind Bamisile market, still at Bammeke, was, however, lucky as burglars found an empty stall. The operator was said to have the habit of taking home all the electronic gadgets.
Orisumbare, a stone’s throw from Bammeke, is not immune to the experience. Burglars have reportedly succeeded in attacking two centres of a popular gaming company there and stealing all the electronic gadgets.
The sudden shift towards game centres by burglars has become a cause for concern to the owners.
