TOP 5 UNSAFE ZONES IN LAGOS

There are lots of beautiful cities around the world that people crave to visit and spend quality time. However those cities are not perfect wonders, they do have some factors that smear their beauty and Lagos is no exception. In as much as some parts of the city defile all odds in terms of finesse, there are some places that dent the image of a city that is constantly besieged by a bee-hive of activities. If you visit some parts of Lagos you may want to think you are having a bad dream that you need to bolt out from. This is because those places fall short of the standard of the Lagos metropolis and is a far cry from what we ordinarily know as Lagos. Amid the beauty, grandeur, style and magnificence, there are some ugly parts of Lagos that you may not want to spend time in. Even people in those areas know that if they had the power and privilege to choose where to make their dwelling place, such areas won’t come to mind.

This is done not in an attempt to belittle residents of such area rather this article serves as a wake up call to Government agencies saddled with the responsibilities of making Lagos state a better place for all and not for some selected few. This list below shows “Top 5 places in Lagos” that needs the full attention of the government. Places on this list form the core areas that have been classified unsafe due to environmental hazards, health hazards, lack of development, security breaches and criminality. Call them: top 5 unsafe zones in Lagos.

5. MILE 12/KETU

Ketu and environs like other parts of Lagos on this list is a peculiar spot for hooligans who function most effectively at nights. Alaperu district of Ketu is also noted for property scam of all sorts. Killings and kidnappings are common features of this area of Lagos that is not too far from Ikorodu.  The crime situation here got so serious that the government had to build a police station to checkmate the activities of the criminals that have been having a field day in the area. Two years ago, guns and ammunitions, local charms among other dangerous weapons were discovered when the Lagos State government demolished ‘Ajelogo’ market, a sub section of Mile 12. At night, snatching of mobile handsets from commuters who sit at the window side of buses/cars, is also a common trend. The Popular Mile 12 market, where many Lagosians converge to buy, sell and possibly steal is one of the busiest and filthiest market in Lagos. Its presence in the Ketu/Mile 12 district is one of the reasons why there is usually traffic congestion in the area.

Attacks are carried-out both day and night in Estate bus stop at Alapere.

4. OSHODI AND ENVIRONS

If you don’t know any other place in Lagos, I’m sure you will know Oshodi. Coming to Lagos without a visit to Oshodi market is like going to Mecca without throwing the anti-Satan stone. This is one of the busiest markets in Lagos. Even with the transformation undergone by the popular Oshodi, it is still a common place for pick-pockets, chain-cutters and territory for the street urchins fondly called ‘Area Boys’, where their notoriety has consistently flourished. Oshodi is very dangerous mostly early in the morning around 5-am or at night.

Isolo also around Oshodi, is another area where social miscreants learn the rudiments of their nefarious acts before graduating to full armed criminals. It has also been reported in the past that the Isolo under-bridge was a training ground for bank robbers.

The Oshodi area is notorious for manhandling of innocent people. The railway line is what works for the touts who wait patiently for innocent commuters. The place witnessed some level of violence during the 2015 general elections.

3. AGEGE

This is another area of Lagos State where street urchins usually establish their dynasties. The black spot is known for selling of hard drugs like cocaine and marijuana. Petty thieves thrive in this zone while rape, mugging, bank robbery among other social ills have become a mainstay. The area is an haven for miscreants . Among other deadly spots in Agege include: Akerele near AP filling station, Oke-koto, Kasumun Street, Agbotrikuyo, Pen Cinema, New Oko-Oba and host of others. Residents of Old Abeokuta Motor Road, Abattoir in Oko-Oba and other areas in Agege, Lagos, have had to cope with the offensive odour from the abattoir located in the area.

Apart from the health hazards and damage to the environment, the abattoir is a stop over for flood any time it rains as most of the drainage around are blocked by refuse discharged from there. The area is always flooded as the canal from Fagba to the abattoir and another one in Oko-Oba Estate are blocked completely. The disgusting odour which is a source of worry to the residents in the area is as a result of flushing of blood and other wastes from slaughtered cows into the canal.

On a lighter mood, one good thing you can’t take away from this place is its affiliation with the popular ‘Agege bread’
Several stories abound about the genesis of this bread. One version has it that the bread began to gain prominence in the early ‘70s. As the story goes, it was first produced in Agege. From there it eased its way into other parts of the state. Originally known as Ayokuno Bread, when it attained a degree of popularity, it became known as Agege Bread.

The National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp is located at Iyana-Ipaja Road,Agege. Agege boast of very few industries, it is the hub of the Popular Aluminium Village which connects with the popular Abeokuta Express road.

2. MUSHIN

Mushin, town, Lagos state, southwestern Nigeria is a densely populated suburb of Lagos city, and its inhabitants are mostly Yoruba people. Continuing expansion from 1950 led to problems of overcrowding, inadequate housing, and poor sanitation. Mushin is the site of a large industrial estate. Commercial enterprises include spinning and weaving cotton, shoe manufacturing, bicycle and motorized-cycle assembly, and the production of powdered milk. Agricultural produce is brought for sale in the large central market. The town is served by secondary schools and has a hospital. Mushin lies on the railway from Lagos and at the intersection of roads from Lagos, Shomolu, and Ikeja.
adjacent to the main road to Ikeja, and is a largely congested residential area with inadequate sanitation and low-quality housing.

Mushin is one of the dangerous areas in Lagos State. It was formerly referred to as ‘Mushin Olosa’ meaning “Mushin the den of thieves”. Though, Mushin has other fine areas and has also produced bundles of talents and men of integrity, the big ‘M’ city as fondly called has other deadly spots where drugs, marijuana and others are sold freely. Places like ‘Oduduwa’ Street, among others are somewhat unsafe for strangers most especially at night.

1. AJEGUNLE

This one has no rival when it comes to the number one spot. Ajegunle is king of them all, in fact other areas ‘dey learn where AJ  dey’

Ajegunle is probably the biggest and most ‘unsafe’ ghetto in Lagos. It is a highly populated district in Lagos that gives credence to the extent of poverty and economic hardship in Nigeria. Ajegunle juggles an eclectic mix of ethnic groups and religions who manage to co-habit harmoniously despite the harsh living conditions. AJ city as its popularly called is a jungle of some sort; an haven for criminals. Open engorged sewers, a valley of garbage, frustrated and mean faces are some of the interesting sights to behold when you visit Ajegunle. A place where the quest for survival is at its highest and where the average young girl is expected to become a mother before her 18th birthday. Although the town is located on the outskirts of Lagos, near the sea, residents are forced to live with the constant challenge of water scarcity as water surrounding this part of the state is heavily contaminated with sewage and refuse. This scarcity has led to the boom in the water selling business.\

You can live in AJ for free but what happens afterwards can’t be guaranteed. Nonetheless one thing you can’t take away from Aj city is the closely knitted communal bond regardless of their population, little wonder there really hasn’t been any widely reported case of widespread violence asides crimes perpetrated.

In spite of the harsh living conditions, this section of Lagos State is popular for producing some of Nigeria’s greatest musicians and footballers. Stars like Daddy Showkey and Taribo West have their pasts rooted in Ajegunle. This probably accounts for the sense of pride its inhabitants have for the area.

Boundary bus stop in Ajegunle popularly referred to as the ‘one million boys’ gang territory where criminals attack passengers in vehicles is a no-go area for visitors. The popular Tolu complex; where 37 schools struggled for space is situated in Ajegunle.

Those are the top 5 unsafe zones in Lasgidi;a list to dread!

Do you live in any of these?

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