Olalekan Olabulo, in this piece, x-rays the silent cries of the rich in elite estates, as they lose billions of Naira to the activities of men of the underworld.

High-profile residential estates in Lagos State, such as Banana Island, Victoria Garden City, Lekki Phase 1 Estate, Parkview Estate, Mayflower and others, are residential dream of any successful business person who desires class and modest swagger. They consist of the homes of the decision-makers in the nation’s political space, captains of industries and boardroom gurus, since they are seen as safe havens, immune to the increasing insecurity that has been the nation’s lot of late.

Managers and operators of these upscale neighbourhoods are, therefore, not unmindful of the need for water-tight security around these estates, and therefore ensure that adequate security measures are put in place for this highly privileged class of Nigerians.

But events unfolding around these estates of late have, however, revealed that life is no longer a bed of roses for the occupiers of these estates. The rich have also begun to cry. Security around these ‘safe havens’ is increasingly being breached.

For instance, not too long ago, the police and other security agencies uncovered how residents of Banana Island and other estates lost billions of Naira to criminals, who devised unscrupulous ways to beat security around the areas to rob and steal valuables, and money in local and foreign currencies from the homes in the estate. Many suspects have since been arrested.

It was gathered that the perpetrators of these evil acts hide under the guise of working as labourers and artisans. Sometimes they pose as security agents, or simply come into the estates, pretending to be looking for short-let apartments. They understudy security architecture in these elite buildings and strike after concluding such ‘reconnaissance’ tasks.

Just a few days ago, operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, smashed one of the gangs of intruders who had made life miserable for the affluent in the high-profile estates. The gang had, reportedly, in the past few years, stolen valuables worth over three billion naira from those estates.

For instance, one of such gangs was that of 34-year-old Francis Fidelis, who was said to have hidden at short-let apartments on these estates to unleash mayhem on the residents.

Some of the items recovered from his gang only include: a Mercedes Benz SUV, 1 Lexus RX 350 SUV, 1 plastic pistol, 22 pairs of gold earrings, 6 wristwatches, 5 rings, gold bangles, leather strap bracelet, 4 hand chains, gold pendant, necklaces, 4 iPads, 7 mobile phones and other valuables.

The receiver of the stolen goods from the Lagos estates, identified as Hassan Attahiru, in his appreciation of the gang leader for his ‘patronage’ (always bringing the stolen items to him for sale), bought him a Mercedes Benz GLE, valued at N74 million. Other members of the gang have been identified as Johnson Ibiang and Aishatu Alli

The AIG in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, while speaking on the arrest of Fidelis and his gang, said the residents of Parkview, that is Parkview Residents Association Ikoyi Lagos, had this month, February, reported recurrent robbery incidents through a written petition to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, against some criminal syndicates where several houses were burgled and properties carted away.

“Other petitions were also received regarding similar incidents of armed robbery, which necessitated the matter to be referred to the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit for discreet investigation and report. A team of operatives swung into action after a tip-off which led to the arrest of the principal suspect Francis Fidelis and others at his hideout in a short-let apartment known as George Residence located along Femi-Pedro Street, Parkview Estate Ikoyi, Lagos on the 6th of February, 2026.”

The police boss stated that “the sting operation which lasted till early morning of 7th of February, 2026 led to the recovery of various exhibits including cars, jewelries and other valuables. The suspect, a resident of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, came to Lagos sometime last year and rented a short-let apartment located within high-brow gated communities for easy access to his target estate before committing the dastardly acts.”

According to the police, “The suspect, Francis Fidelis who always appears in a hoodie, masked with guns and other dangerous weapons during his robbery operations, confessed to be the sole perpetrator of several robbery incidents in Parkview Estate, Banana Island Estate Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1 and other notable estates within the Lagos Island axis.

The suspect also confessed to have carted away properties worth over N3 billion Naira before his apprehension. His confession led to the arrest of one Hassan Atahiru ‘m’ a receiver of the stolen items, who confessed to be the buyer of Gold and Diamond jewelries, Gold bar, several designer watches and other stolen items from Francis Fidelis whom he met in year 2024 during one of his visits to Lagos where he robbed Guiding Light Assembly in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

He stated further that most of the stolen items he purchased from Francis Fidelis was taken to Cotonou, Benin Republic by his brother in order to avoid being caught by the real owners in Nigeria. He also explained that he also used part of the proceeds of the robbery to purchase a 2018 Mercedes Benz GLE for Francis Fidelis, which cost about N74 million.

The Lagos State Police Command also uncovered how intruders to these estates posed as security agents to beat the estate security personnel. A member of one of the gangs that specialized in breaking into these estates to vandalize Porsche cars, Jude Onuoha, has also been arrested.

According to the police in Lagos State, Jude Is the kingpin and gang leader of a vicious and notorious criminal syndicate that specializes in disguising as security operatives in fake security outfit uniforms and using a Mercedes car jack modified to look like firearms to gain access into estates within Lagos metropolis.

The suspect and his gang specialized in disguising themselves as security operatives, wearing fake uniforms and using a modified Mercedes-Benz car jack, crafted to resemble a firearm, to deceive unsuspecting estate security personnel. Under the false pretense of conducting security investigations, they gained access to several residential estates.

The police further stated that “Once inside, the gang targeted high-end vehicles such as Toyota Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Lexus 650, Mercedes-Benz, and other SUVs, systematically vandalising them and removing vital and expensive components, including brain boxes, tapping glasses, wiring systems, side mirrors, and control devices.

They command, therefore, advised residents, particularly estate management and security guards, to exercise vigilance and utmost caution whenever person(s) present themselves as operatives of any security agency and seek to gain entrance into their estates.

In addition to basic verification, residents are urged to collaborate closely with the Police by contacting the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) covering their area to confirm the authenticity of any such security personnel before granting them access into their estates. “Where there is any doubt, such persons should immediately be referred to the nearest police station,” the police stated.

Recovered from the suspect were one Mercedes Benz car jack and a face cap with the inscription Special Force, which he used to disguise as a security operative.

Saturday Tribune also gathered that the police have also begun investigation into another gang of syndicate, who pose around these estates as artisans and labourers with the sole intention of looking for opportunities to find their way into them, and spy on buildings to be attacked.

A police source, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Saturday Tribune, said, “We are also aware that some people also pose as labourers around the estate. Their intention is to be hired as workers and when they gain entrance into the estate, they study the security situation around buildings and attack those ones, considered porous.

Banana Island

One of the estates, Banana Island in a recent move to curtail the activities of criminals in the estate announced a ban on short-let services for apartments within the estate.

The Banana Island Property Owners and Residents Association bemoaned the activities of criminals, who hide in short-let apartments to perpetuate crime in the estate. The estate management described the ban as an effort at “strengthening security, protecting residents’ privacy and preserving the estate’s traditionally peaceful environment.

The executive committee of the estate association said that its investigations revealed that criminals were exploiting the short-let services to gain access into the gated community, thereby posing increasing risk for residents.

The ban on short-let services, according to the association, covers both the residential and commercial properties in the elite estate. (Saturday Tribune)

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