Dana plane crash site now robbers’ den

BARELY eight months after the Dana
plane crash, in Ojokoro Local Council
Development Area (LCDA), armed robbers
have turned the crash site into a
hideout.
Although the state government has
barricaded site, rubble from the
destroyed structures have not been
removed and weeds have overgrown
the once upon a residential area.
It will be recalled that over 153 persons
died on June 3, 2012 when the ill-fated
flight crashed into a two-storey building
on 12 Olaniyi Street.
The site of Dana Air crash
Vanguard gathered that residents of the
area are now gripped by fear of attack
from the robbers, who hide in the site at
night.
It was also learnt that the bad state of
the road which hinders vehicular
movement is also aiding robbers in
perpetuating their nefarious acts.
Mrs. Bashir, a resident of Olaniyi Street
said that her son was attacked by the
robbers while on his way to board the
early morning train.
According to her, “Since my son was
attacked, we have stopped leaving our
home before 6:00 am. We are gripped
by the fear of the robbers always.”
Engr. Adeleke Matthew, another resident,
decried the poor state of the site, saying
“it has contributed to insecurity in the
community.”
Matthew noted that the government
was not doing anything to improve the
state of the crash site and the roads.
Chairman Akande Community
Development Association, (CDA), Mr.
Adewale Oriowo said: “It is true that
anyone who passes through the site at
night or before 6:00 am would be
attacked by the robbers. At this time, the
crash site is always dark.
“In fact, over four residents have been
attacked. When the robbers are through
with their nefarious acts, they hide in
the crash site. And due to the present
state of the site, no one will be bold to
go inside to confront the robbers. The
state of the site gives the robbers
opportunity to see anyone trekking
along the street while those outside
wouldn’t be privileged to see them.”
The chairman of the CDA lamented that
“none of the roads in the community is
motorable. The state government has
neglected Akande, a community on the
border line between Lagos and Ogun
state.”
Commissioner for Economic Planning
and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze had
during the 2013 budget analysis said
the government would within the year
rehabilitate the network of roads linking
the site of the Dana Plane Crash.
Oriowo continued, “We are hoping that
the roads will be done this year as said
by the commissioner. Previously what
has been sustaining the road was the
yearly contribution of N5, 000 from the
each landlord.”