ARMED ROBBERY ROCKS IGBE TOWN IN EARLY HOURS OF MAY 20, 2025; SECURITY AGENCIES DISMISS BOKOHARAM CLAIMS AS FALSE

By Adeboye Prince Adetu, IgbeNews

IGBE, LAGOS STATE – In a terrifying incident that unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, armed robbers laid siege to parts of Igbe town in Igbogbo Baiyekun LCDA, operating for over two hours and making away with a white Lexus 350 Jeep. The ordeal, which began around 1:30 am and lasted until after 4:30 am, has left residents shaken, but community sources are now pushing back against viral social media claims that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram terrorists.

According to firsthand information gathered by IgbeNews from a resident who was awake and monitoring the situation throughout the incident, the robbery was a well-coordinated criminal operation, not an act of terrorism. The resident, who was not personally a victim but remained in his compound due to intelligence that the robbers were armed with guns and dangerous weapons, documented the timeline from start to finish.

"I was prepared to make videos of their exit from the Banana Estate area in Igbe, but I could not penetrate ground zero because of the risk. Only about two of us were awake in my area," the resident recounted.

At 4:00 am, a voice note was dropped on the IgbeNews platform by another concerned resident, providing real-time updates on the ongoing situation. Just two minutes later, at precisely 4:02 am, another person dropped a group call onto the Ipakodo-Igbogbo, Bola Hamed Way-Ginti Road Volunteer Group platform, alerting members that the stolen white Lexus 350 Jeep had just been driven out of a compound. The caller urged everyone in Igbe town to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

The robbery affected multiple locations within Igbe town, including Banana Estate, Efulawon Estate, and UNILAG Estate, all of which are situated in Igbe. Victims from these estates described the suspects as armed but not exclusively non-Yoruba speaking. While some of the robbers had covered faces and spoke other languages (including what some witnesses described as northern Nigerian dialects), other victims confirmed that some of the suspects also spoke Yoruba.

On the night of the incident—Tuesday, May 20, 2025—the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Area N, Ijede arrived in Igbe town for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The DPO, who was on the ground to evaluate the security breach, engaged with residents and victims alike.

During the visit, the DPO advised the community to take proactive security measures, including the installation of dwarf gates to act as vehicle stoppers at various entry and exit points within the community. He also recommended that residents and estate management consider employing trained security officers to man exit points in Igbe town, rather than relying solely on untrained vigilantes or complacent arrangements.

Residents who spoke with IgbeNews acknowledged the DPO's swift response and constructive suggestions, though many expressed concern that such advice has been given in the past without widespread implementation.

In the wake of the incident, traditional and community leaders across Igbe town have also added their voices. They include Baale of Dehinde, Baale of Laara, and other prominent leaders within Igbe town. The Baales and other stakeholders have been meeting with residents and security agencies to calm nerves and ensure that accurate information prevails over fear-mongering.

The situation took a different turn a day after the robbery when a TikTok user, @ikeoluwaoriginal0707, claiming to be the mother-in-law of the owner of the stolen Lexus Jeep, posted videos alleging that Boko Haram terrorists were responsible for the attack. The woman, who was not a victim and was not present during the robbery, broadcast to her followers that terrorist groups had now entered Lagos State.

Her claims have since caused panic and unnecessary fear across Igbe town and beyond.

IgbeNews has been receiving calls from all over the world—from Nigerians in the diaspora and other concerned individuals—seeking to confirm whether the Boko Haram narrative is true. Many have expressed anxiety about the safety of their relatives and properties in Igbe town.

However, IgbeNews can authoritatively report that there is no truth to the Boko Haram narrative. Security agencies have since stepped in and are actively investigating the incident. According to sources close to the matter, police and other security operatives have been going around the environment, appealing to residents and victims to provide accurate information. They are particularly asking for confirmation from residents—including those from northern extraction living within Igbe town—whether any credible evidence points to terrorist involvement. So far, no such evidence has been found.

"It was an exaggeration of what truly took place," the resident noted. "She was not a victim, just a mother-in-law and a content creator on TikTok. There is nothing like Boko Haram here. Igbe is safe, but this incident is a wake-up call."

While the robbery has exposed gaps in night-time vigilance, community leaders, including the Baales of Dehinde and Laara, are urging residents to be proactive rather than complacent. "We need to be ready to be our brothers' keeper and stop thinking that because we've employed security officers, we don't need to come out when there are emergencies in our surroundings," the resident added.

The DPO's recommendations—dwarf gates and trained security personnel at exit points—are now being discussed by community stakeholders. Residents are hopeful that this incident will finally spur concrete action.

As of press time, no arrests have been reported, but security agencies have assured the public that they are on the matter. They are appealing to anyone with useful information—especially the current whereabouts of the white Lexus 350 Jeep—to report to the nearest police station or through community volunteer groups.

This is a developing story. IgbeNews will provide updates as more facts emerge.

Reported from Igbe town, Igbogbo Baiyekun LCDA, Lagos State.