Following the recent lockdown as a result of the increased cases of COVID-19, some selected group of hoodlums decided to constitute a nuisance in the society, making the lockdown situation terrible for the residents in Lagos State and its environs.
Being stopped forcefully from going about your daily hustle is already depressing as there are little to no means of sustenance. Now, adding constant sleepless nights because of robbery attacks is enough to damage one’s mental state, even after the COVID-19 saga is over.
Popularly known as “One Million Boys”, this group of people goes from one neighbourhood to the other with dangerous weapons, including, guns, machetes, cutlasses, and among others, terrorizing, robbing and raping residents.
How do they operate?
These bandits see themselves above the laws of the state and country as they even rob in daylight without the fear of the police or other security agents.
They first send a letter to a community, informing them of their coming without an actual date, they will further tell their potential victims to keep money for them or risk losing their hands. While the residents panic in fear and confusion, they strike, robbing one building after another and carelessly shooting guns to scare residents.
The letter reads, “ALERT! ALERT!! ALERT!!! WE THE UNDEFEATED ONE MILLION BOYS ARE COMING TO VISIT YOUR AREA VERY SOON. SO, MAKE EVERYBODY PREPARE. IF YOU DON’T COMPLY, WE WILL CUT YOUR HANDS”.
Unfortunately, that they have been getting away with their evil acts and no one can actually sleep with their two eyes closed. It is like they are always one step ahead of the security agents.
After a series of attack from these recent famous terrorists, the residents of Lagos have lost confidence in the Police and other security units and have resolved to take the laws into their hands by fighting back.
Nigerians, as we all know, are survivors; we always find a way to get through things with or without the intervention of the Government.
Some communities like Ikorodu hired local security men, like the Vigilante boys; for others, it’s the street guys that have decided to do the work themselves.
In the recent news, the vigilante groups seem to be making progress as they have caught, fought back, or even carried out jungle justice on some of these boys.
Who are these boys?
How did they originate?
Are they really one million in number or is it just a brand name?
“One Million Boys” is a name given to a notorious gang, popularly known for its robbery activities within Lagos and other neighbouring states.
The group which was formerly created in Ajegunle with the purpose of “fighting perceived injustice in the city” started with about 20 persons. The “One Million Boys” group was hijacked by some of its members which became involved in banditry, maiming, and rape. This deadly gang terrorized and attacked neighbourhoods so bad that it inspired the production and release of a Nigerian movie titled “One Million Boyz” in 2014. On October 2012 the Lagos State Police Command arrested about 130 suspected members of the gang during a raid around Ajegunle and Apapa.
They are usually seen in a group of over 100 young boys with cutlasses, guns, and machetes violently attacking neighbourhoods.
Having felt the heat of their previous attacks, Lagosians are in a state of unrest as no one knows when the One Million Boys gang will strike.
One of the major contributing factor to the terroristic attack happening in this COVID-19 lockdown period if you ask is the failure of the Government to do their part by providing its citizens with palliatives to sustain them during this lockdown.
I also can’t help but wonder where the so-called SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) are and what they have been doing about this lockdown robbery case. This is the right time to exercise their power and authority.
However, with the new development of the youths of different neighbourhoods standing up to this robbery gang, beating them to their own game and making the work easier for the police, this could be the beginning of the end for One Million Boys, especially in Lagos.
G-Exotic World 
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