Nothing
in the world prepares you for this kind of encounter. Not the fact that you
grew up in middle-income Surulere, Lagos or that you know Lawanson like the
back of your hand. Not the fact that you spent holidays with your cousins in
Mushin and played ‘set’ on the streets of Olodi Apapa which everyone insist on
calling Ajegunle.
Not that
you spent time in the gym training, boxing and keeping fit, not even the fact
that you have read so many James Hardley Chase thrillers or watched many movies
could give you an inkling of what happened to me at about 9.25pm on Sunday,
December 6, 2015.
We drove into the Gbagada Expressway turned into Ikorodu Road but this time we were heading towards Surulere. By now I have been dispossessed of my phones, ipad mini, wristwatch, wedding band and reading glasses.
The next question was “Oya how much do you have, where is all your money”. I told them I had some money in my pocket and in my bag. They took all those, “Is that all”, the leader and driver of my car shouted from the front. I said that should be all but I should have some foreign currencies in my briefcase ” He said “like how much?”I said “small dollars, pounds and some Ghana currencies”. I could spot the smile on his face “Ok good, very good” he said.
Are they going to kill me? What are their plans? What will happen to my family? Hundreds of other thoughts flowed through my dazed head. I just began to mumble prayers and kept calm. The leader pretended not to have seen what happened, he fired the next question “Give me your pin. I no go repeat am o”. By this time we were in Alaka in Surulere.
The ATM team soon returned and drove a few metres and saw a Toyota Sienna driving into Alaka Estate. Before, the huge black gate could be opened, they blocked the Sienna with my car, jumped out from all the cars and shot into the air. Interestingly none of those guarding me joined this operation. Their guns were pointed on my forehead .This was when I had time to count them: they were about 11 young men in their 20s. And in addition, none of them wore any hood! They had possession of that car because everyone scampered for safety.
Remembering that I had read somewhere that you needed to run in a zig-zag manner when sprinting away from someone with a loaded gun. I hit the pavement of Ilasamaja, heads down like Usain Bolt, I powered on. I was now confident enough to look behind me after about 100 metres. By then my car and the bus filled with the dare-devil robbers were out of sight. I had no shoes on but was just glad to have survived.
I crossed to other side of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. Luckily, I saw a young man whom I narrated my experience to and he graciously gave me his phone to call.
Earlier
that day, I had arrived Lagos from Accra, on a Medview Airline flight with my
Publisher, having just rounded off the production of the last issue of Ovation
Magazine for the year.
In fact,
I had a battle with our Production Manager, Isaac Edoh who was wondering why I
was taking all our hard drives to Lagos. I told him I may just need them to
plan a few pages during the holidays in preparation for 2016. On hindsight, I
should have listened to him.
Anyway,
on the flight, we met our good friends; Sammy Omai, a close ally of Olorogun
Oskar Ibru and Oye Balogun, a Director of First Atlantic Bank, Ghana and we all
as usual had a hearty chat on many issues most especially about Nigeria and our
current security challenges.
As soon
as we landed, we all wished one another well, said our goodbyes and went our
separate ways. I rode with our Publisher to his home in GRA, Ikeja before the
driver dropped me at the Ovation Magazine office located off Allen Avenue in
Ikeja.
I had a
few private engagements in Ajah, Lagos and at about 6.30pm I headed to the new
Lekki home of top Compere cum Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st who was hosting the
meeting of our Club called January 9 Collective (J9C)
The
meeting ended and as is the norm, we spent the rest of the time catching up,
eating and drinking. The jollity was in full swing when I decided to leave.
The
reason was that I had to cross the bridge to the Mainland and knowing full well
that I had my booth filled with all manner of office stuff including
international passports, I did not want to leave so late since our meetings
dragged till well after midnight a times.
Even our
General Secretary, Kingsley James tried to talk me into attending the Future
Awards with him, adding that we can then drive together to the Mainland. I
dismissed the idea with the excuse that I was not dressed for the occasion. So
I got into the car and was listening to CDs of Rev. Sam Adeyemi speaking at the
recent Excellence Leadership Conference as I cruised home.
The
journey was smooth and uneventful. That was until I got to Gbagada Expressway
and turned into Anthony and swung into Ikorodu Road towards Maryland. The
service lane leading to Maryland is quite narrow and just about 50 metres ahead
I spotted a Danfo bus (painted in the usual official Lagos colours: bright
yellow with black stripes) driving towards me in the wrong direction.
My first
thought was that it was the Police. And was wondering why they will be driving
against traffic (One Way) in a dimly lit area like that.
So I
moved to the left to give the Danfo some space. The bus then changed lane and
swerved to the left too. That was when I became alarmed, I slammed the breaks
and switched the car into reverse.
All hell broke loose. Some men jumped out of the bus and began to fire gun shots indiscriminately and at the same time, they were dashing towards me. There was pandemonium. The cars behind me were not fast enough. The men caught up with me, therefore, I had no choice but to unlock the vehicle and allow them access into my vehicle.
All hell broke loose. Some men jumped out of the bus and began to fire gun shots indiscriminately and at the same time, they were dashing towards me. There was pandemonium. The cars behind me were not fast enough. The men caught up with me, therefore, I had no choice but to unlock the vehicle and allow them access into my vehicle.
I was
pushed to the back seat as two armed guys kept guard on opposite sides. One
pinned my hands down, the other blocked my shoulder. One took the passenger’s
seat while one grabbed the steering.
Initially, they could not move the car as one of them may have pressed the hand brake. “You don stop the car abi, we go waste you now” one of them thundered.
Initially, they could not move the car as one of them may have pressed the hand brake. “You don stop the car abi, we go waste you now” one of them thundered.
I assured
them that the car was not locked and I then leaned forward, checked the
dashboard and sorted out the issue. They reversed into Anthony and in front of
GTbank-all those who know the area, know that is usually a busy place and my
car was used to block an oncoming vehicle. The robbers poured out from my car
and the bus. They operated there for a few minutes, snatched one car and we
screeched off.
We drove into the Gbagada Expressway turned into Ikorodu Road but this time we were heading towards Surulere. By now I have been dispossessed of my phones, ipad mini, wristwatch, wedding band and reading glasses.
The next question was “Oya how much do you have, where is all your money”. I told them I had some money in my pocket and in my bag. They took all those, “Is that all”, the leader and driver of my car shouted from the front. I said that should be all but I should have some foreign currencies in my briefcase ” He said “like how much?”I said “small dollars, pounds and some Ghana currencies”. I could spot the smile on his face “Ok good, very good” he said.
By now we
have approached Fadeyi area. He was on the phone to the Danfo bus, telling the
driver to drive directly behind us and also those who were in the newly-
hijacked car too. He instructed them to watch him and ensure no car crosses
their path. So in effect, we were “shunting” as we used to call it, swerving
left and right as we hit the bridge towards Ojuelegba. He then turned to me
“oya where is your ATM card?”. I said it must be in my briefcase in the booth.
By now fear had given way to survival instinct.
Having
identified the driver as the leader of the gang, my street sense kicked in. I
begged him that I was a hustler like them and the man shouted “you be hustler
abi, for this fuel scarcity, you get full tank”. I quickly replied that I was a
mere writer and that it was an official car which my office usually fuels. I
then gained some more confidence and fired my next line in Yoruba “Bros, I grew
up in Mushin and trust me I am also struggling, I know the country is tough
but”
He
roughly cut me off “Why are you lying, where did you grow up in Mushin”. I went
on tell him all the areas, where we used to play football, eat Amala and do
other things” That got him thinking. His next question was in pidgin “I bin ask
for your ATM where am? “I told him it was in my briefcase but I decided to
check my small hand bag and as soon as I found it. I announced to all of the guys
in the car. Big mistake!
One of
the guys from the front seat slammed the butt of his gun on my face.”We go
waste you, we go scatter you, so you been dey lie” Blood was seeping from the
scratch on the side of my face. One of the guys guarding me, as if on cue,
smashed his gun too on the same of my face. My fear instantly returned.
Are they going to kill me? What are their plans? What will happen to my family? Hundreds of other thoughts flowed through my dazed head. I just began to mumble prayers and kept calm. The leader pretended not to have seen what happened, he fired the next question “Give me your pin. I no go repeat am o”. By this time we were in Alaka in Surulere.
I know
the area well: a right turn would have taken us to Bode Thomas but they turned
left under the Bridge we were still on Western Avenue but facing the National
Stadium. I eventually gave them the Password and they spotted a Police Patrol
van nearby and then continued ahead towards Stadium turned around and returned
to the ATM near Alaka Estate. It is a very dark spot. We spent about 20 minutes
here, and while the two in front of the vehicle were dealing with the business
of withdrawal of cash from my account, the other two in the car with me decided
to play smart. They asked where I kept the dollars I mentioned earlier. I
insisted it was just some loose change and nothing large. They ordered me to
pull my case up, I did, opened it and they pocketed the money, threatening to
waste me if I said a word to the others. With their guns waving menacingly at
me, I knew that what was best for me was to obey…
The ATM team soon returned and drove a few metres and saw a Toyota Sienna driving into Alaka Estate. Before, the huge black gate could be opened, they blocked the Sienna with my car, jumped out from all the cars and shot into the air. Interestingly none of those guarding me joined this operation. Their guns were pointed on my forehead .This was when I had time to count them: they were about 11 young men in their 20s. And in addition, none of them wore any hood! They had possession of that car because everyone scampered for safety.
They did
not only snatch the car, they also cleared the Suya that was being grilled by
the gate. As we continued our journey, the guy on the passenger seat, the same
one who hit my face earlier, turned to me and showed me his hand “see my hand
na human being dem wound like this o, see blood”. I told him sorry and begged
him to take it easy.
We were
now heading towards Maryland but around the National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Igbobi, they saw a car they liked, it looked like a Toyota Corolla and they
wanted to double cross it. The driver was fast enough to escape and just then a
bus stopped to drop passengers and they pounced on the bus.
They
brought watches, phones and some cash back. I then began to beg the Leader to
release me, since they had taken everything from me including cash. He replied
that I was not going anywhere as I had now become one of them. My thinking was
they now wanted to hold on me as human shield. All the while I was praying that
we do not encounter the police, as I knew how bloody such an encounter could
turn out. At Anthony, we stopped again; they had another shooting spree and
took another bus.
The
leader had gone to take over this white bus and the new driver who took over
the wheels of my car was complaining that he could only drive manual cars. I
gave him a short tutorial and he screeched after the other cars.
We now
had 4-car convoy. We took Anthony hit the Gbagada Expressway but this time we
were heading towards Mile 2, at somewhere around Ijesha bus stop the men split
up. A set of cars headed towards Ago Palace Way, Okota while the leader walked
on foot into my vehicle. He pulled the door open and zoomed across to one of
the guys that had been guarding me and gave him a punch straight in the face,
threatening to kill him. It seemed he had discovered that the guy he punched
and another one who was now driving the Sienna had taken some foreign
currencies from me without informing him. He livid was and screaming in Yoruba
that the guy who seemed to me like a Beninese wanted to cheat him. He cocked
his gun and was ready to shoot, I quickly intervened, begging him in pidgin ”
Bros I beg no shoot no scatter am” just to curry his favour and see if he was
on my side.That was probably when the leader realized that I needed to leave.
He just said “Egbon, oya, come down, cross to the other side and go home”
Remembering that I had read somewhere that you needed to run in a zig-zag manner when sprinting away from someone with a loaded gun. I hit the pavement of Ilasamaja, heads down like Usain Bolt, I powered on. I was now confident enough to look behind me after about 100 metres. By then my car and the bus filled with the dare-devil robbers were out of sight. I had no shoes on but was just glad to have survived.
I crossed to other side of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. Luckily, I saw a young man whom I narrated my experience to and he graciously gave me his phone to call.
The two
people whose numbers I know by heart are My wife, My Publisher and my friend,
Azuh Arinze, the Publisher of Yes Magazine. I tried all three, no response. I
asked the guy where I can get taxi, just then I checked the pocket of my buba
and surprisingly, I found about three thousand naira. That was God’s miracle.
The young
man gave me directions to Cele Bus Stop. I did the distance of about 15 Minutes
barefooted! I was even scared of being nabbed by another set of thieves because
the whole area was pitch dark. I eventually got a taxi and headed straight to
Area F Police Station in GRA,Ikeja.
Emotionally bruised and facially battered, I sauntered into the Station but was unhappy with the reception. I did however narrate my encounter and left the station without writing any statement. I was too weak and depressed to think straight.
Emotionally bruised and facially battered, I sauntered into the Station but was unhappy with the reception. I did however narrate my encounter and left the station without writing any statement. I was too weak and depressed to think straight.
When I
got home, I called the Lagos State Emergency Toll Free Number 112 with my
wife’s phone . They were professional. I called them at 1.36am and the operator
was alert and helpful.
They called back many times in the course of the night for details. I called my bank, Gtbank to inform of them, the customer care personnel blocked the card but before then, the robbers had done another set of withdrawals for Monday December 7.
They called back many times in the course of the night for details. I called my bank, Gtbank to inform of them, the customer care personnel blocked the card but before then, the robbers had done another set of withdrawals for Monday December 7.
I then
sent a mail to my friends at J9C informing them of the incident and the fact
that I urgently needed the number of Are Olanrewaju Yakub whose company,
Larmints had installed a tracker on the car.
Gbenga Adeyinka 1st was the first to respond, he got Are first and then called to commiserate with me.
Our friend, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy was next on the phone, he contacted the RRS Commander, Asst. Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu and promised that action would be taken urgently.
Gbenga Adeyinka 1st was the first to respond, he got Are first and then called to commiserate with me.
Our friend, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy was next on the phone, he contacted the RRS Commander, Asst. Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu and promised that action would be taken urgently.
By about
8am, the tracker had got the car and the Larmints team sent us the
co-ordinates. According to them, they had demobilized the car and it was
somewhere in Satellite Town.
My wife,
my brother, Pastor Soji Adeniran and I headed there pronto. Along the line, a
close family friend and brother, Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of The Eagle Online
had contacted me and he advised that we should not approach the car but should
arrange to go with some policemen. He said he had spoken to a journalist
Juliana Francis and that she would help speak with the Area Commander to
arrange some police.
In deed,
Juliana was helpful. The Area Commander at Festac called but before then we had
received three policemen from Satellite Town Police Station.
Without
as much as introducing myself, it was just my story of the incident that moved
the DPO, Mr Onah to action. He mobilized his men and I say Kudos to him and
those officers. The Police were indeed my friend that day! After searching for
over an hour, we decided to check out the coordinates using Google map and it
showed that we were 1hr 39minutes to the location of the car.
Before then ACP
Disu had.told me that the coordinates I sent to him indicated that the car was
in Badagry. I had asked him not to bother coming again because I now had three
police men who were helping out, but he insisted and said in Yoruba “mo lagidi
gan mo nbo”.(I am strong willed I am still on my way).True to his words. When
we dropped off the Satellite Town Policemen and headed towards Badagry with the
plan to get another set of policemen in Badagry, ACP Disu called to inform me
that they had dispatched a drone to the scene and that my car has been located.
He got there with his men and secured the car. About an hour l and half later,
when we arrived the location, ACP Disu told me how he stormed the hotel and an
uncompleted building near where the car was parked. I saw Governor Ambode’s new
gadgets at work. The drones, the brand new trucks, fully-kitted,
professionally-trained policemen and hi-tech patrol vehicles. I was impressed
by the men and equipment deployed for this assignment. The battle to secure
Lagos has truly begun. As we were driving towards Badagry though, my prayer was
“God please don’t let those people open my booth. Let me meet all my stuff
intact. Because all my passports, hard drives, laptop, phones, tape recorder
were in the briefcase. My heart sank when I opened the car with the spare key
and found the booth squeaky clean. I was numb and shocked -and all I can do was
shake my head in disgust, anger welled inside of me….I was deep in thought.
Then my
wife nudged me from my reverie and said ‘this man, what is your problem, you
are alive. God has just given you a special Christmas gift. That was when I
looked at the positive side of this encounter, simmered down and began to thank
God. ACP Disu has given me assurances that they will track the phones with
their IMEI numbers. So I am now waiting for the next wonder from the men of the
Lagos RRS. I will duly give you a blow by blow account when it happens! Meanwhile,
my return to the Area F Police Station has so far been pleasant. Now awaiting a
Police Report to begin the stressful and painful journey of recovering some of
my travelling documents! ...thelight
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