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There are worries regarding the attacks and killings by hoodlums targeting commuters traveling to Abeokuta and Sagamu from the Sagamu Interchange Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Sources indicate that these hoodlums have overtaken the area, ambushing unsuspecting travelers attempting to ascend the bridge to catch a bus to either Abeokuta or Sagamu.
They frequently intimidate passersby with machetes, coercing them to surrender their personal belongings. The situation has continued despite the presence of traders beneath the bridge and in the surrounding areas.
Concerns escalated following a message circulated on social media about an attack on a pastor returning from a vigil in Mowe on March 22, 2025. Recently, a man lost his life after suffering a machete wound inflicted by these hoodlums while they attempted to rob him.
In the message, an anonymous individual mentioned he was writing with a heavy heart but deemed it important for his community, families, and friends to be informed about the prevailing dangers.
He stated: “We must acknowledge that the Sagamu Interchange has become the most perilous area in Ogun State. A pastor, who is my wife's pastor, attended a vigil on March 21, 2025, at Mowe. On Saturday, March 22, as he returned to Wasinmi, where he lived and held prayers at Ori-Oke Asegun, a vehicle dropped him off around 6:00 a.m. under the bridge at the Sagamu interchange, where he intended to board another bus to Abeokuta.
"He was assaulted by hoodlums and was brutally attacked with cutlasses and other weapons. He didn’t receive help until about 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and was taken to a nearby hospital but unfortunately died later. A report from the hospital indicated that he was the fourth case from that location on the same day, without accounting for how many others were treated at different hospitals.
"My wife and I attended his funeral yesterday in Wasinmi, Ogun State, which was a very sorrowful occasion." He emphasized the urgent need for the Ogun State government to take decisive action to prevent the murder of innocent individuals. In the meantime, he advised everyone to steer clear of the Sagamu Interchange.
In response, the Ogun State Police Command has addressed the security issue by halting all trading activities and deploy police officers to the area. Traders have been given a deadline to remove their structures and goods, with a warning that anyone found trading there will face arrest and prosecution.
CSP Omolola Odutola, the command's spokesperson, confirmed that measures to enhance security at the four intersections of the Sagamu Interchange are ongoing to protect residents and commuters. According to Odutola, no such incidents had been formally reported at any police stations, yet the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has proactively initiated steps to strengthen security at the interchange.
As part of these efforts, personnel from the Quick Response Squad, OP Mesa, and Mobile Police Squadrons 71 have been strategically placed at key areas, such as under the bridge, at roundabouts, and along the inbound and outbound routes of the four intersections.
“A two-hour evaluation of the area carried out by the Commissioner of Police uncovered illegal trading activities and the presence of extortionists. Earlier that day, a criminal hideout was found in the bushes surrounding the interchange, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Following this discovery, immediate action was taken to disband illegal trading activities beneath the interchange bridge.”
