Deep Sight:

They were very calm. In the car, they were laughing and cracking jokes. None of them seemed high. They spoke Yoruba all through.

Honestly, for about three weeks after the incident, i felt ok, and just glad to be alive. But probably owing to some delayed reaction, in the last few weeks i find myself waking up almost ten times every night to go around and listen for noises in the compound and the street and check windows and doors. When I actually parked just because someone was behind me in traffic one day, realized what the effect of the incident has been.

As for me, I am already planning very extra-ordinary security measures for my house. Burglar proofing is not enough. One needs a way to literally dissapear once alerted of entry.

uceee: I understand you'll probably be extra paranoid now. What you need to do now is to take a break. Leave Lagos, travel abroad if possible. Just go for a holiday. When you get there, try not to discuss the incident as much as possible. You really do not need people pitying you. Then come back after some time. Handle this carefully so that you emerge stronger. Good luck!

Deep Sight: About two and a half months ago, I went out for a friend's birthday dinner somewhere in Ikoyi. It was a pleasant evening and we chatted late into the night, eventually leaving Ikoyi at about midnight. As my friend didn't drive, I was going to drop her off at home along the Lekki axis and then return to Victoria Island where I live. The road being good, open and well lit, I had no concerns whatsoever about any security problems. I have hardly heard of any security problems on that road anyway, and being a chronic lover of the night, I am more than used to driving in the dark.

In just about ten minutes or so we had arrived at the estate where my friend was residing. It's a gated estate and they have these OPC guys guarding the estate. I thus was not surprised, when, after honking, an armed man came out of the gate. I put on the car's inner lights and wound down and explained to him that I was just dropping my friend off and would be right back. He said ok, and opened the gate. From that point it took me just about five minutes to drop off my friend and get back to the estate gate.

When I got to the gate, the same man who had let us in stood in front of my car pointing his gun straight at me. At this point, I still did not think there was anything amiss. I simply thought he was an over zealous OPC security guard. I put on the inner lights again and mouthed that I just came in to drop someone, and would be leaving now.

He simply shouted at me - "Will you come down now or I blast your head off!"

It was only at that point that I looked around the car and to my shock, there were about ten heavily armed men surrounding the car, all with raised automatic rifles pointing at me. Two of them were now banging the windows saying that if I move an inch they would shoot into the car.

To be honest, i didn't budge at first. I just sat there contemplating my options. My car is a very large 4 x 4 and I was seriously contemplating stepping on it and blasting them right out of my way and right through the gate. I have in the past been attacked by armed robbers and on each occasion I shocked the robbers with some serious James Bond Driving and got away clean. However something just told me (and I thank God I did not try it, as later events showed) to just play it cool and do as they said. So I came down from the car.

As soon as I came out, they attacked me with the butts of their guns and bundled me into the boot. They then reversed the car and parked it in a corner. At this point I could see them mulling about the first house in the estate. Then they produced a very large iron hammer (someone later told me its called an "Adam's Hammer", I don't know, but it was the largest hammer I have ever seen in my life. It took two of them to hold it.) With the hammer they blasted open the gate and told the security men to lie down on the floor. Then they brought me out of the back of the car.

My friends, this was how these guys took me at gun point on a three hour robbing, killing and ra.ping spree, never letting me out of their sights and holding me at gun point into each of the houses they broke into.

In the first house, after robbing the house, they shot dead one of the security men, for reasons I don't know.

Thereafter, I was bundled into the back of my car and all ten of these guys somehow crammed into the car. About three of them were bundled in the back sitting right on my head, about four in the rear seat and three in front. They sped out of the estate gate and from that point all the way to the lekki expressway, put their guns out of the windows and began shooting indiscriminately into the air. It was the loudest and most present show of gun fire I have ever experienced in my life, simply harrowing. At the same time I thought to myself that it would be ok if they just shot me: I have not had the best of years this year, and being put out of misery was not altogether the worst thing I could think off. So with this flurry of gunfire, I strangely became calmer and sort of resigned to whatever would happen.

They drove for a while and entered another neighborhood. Same thing again - they parked outside a house - a very large and well fortified house. Jumped out, bringing me along at gun point. I kept begging them to take things easy, to relax and not to kill me. I was asked to shut up or be shot. I was amazed at the ease with which they broke into the house. Again the hammer. One slam and the gate flew open. They took the hammer inside and to my shock, just three giant slams and the window beside the frontdoor was thrashed, buglar-proofing, wall and all. Inside the house they broke down all the doors in the same way, robbed three expats in there, beat them quite a bit, and then took their car keys. They then drove the expats car out and parked beside my own and then attacked the next building. In this instance one of them simply climbed the wall and pointed a gun to the guard there and asked him to open the gate. Again they took me at gun point, this time with the security men from the first building and the present building, they marched us all in at gun point.

By this time very loud alarms had gone off from this house and neighboring houses and I was surprised that they seemed unperturbed. They took the hammer again, two big slams and the sliding door (and buglar proofing) gave way with a deafening crash and they entered the house. I was asked to lie down on the floor with the security men while they robbed the house. There was only one young girl in the house, she shouted that she had 200k on her, and gave it to them. They then took her into a room and ra.ped her, as she told us after the whole thing was over.

It was while they where doing this in the room that all of a sudden they rushed out and began to seem agitated. They paced around the living room sounding agitated. Apparently the alarms had attracted the neighborhood security guards who came in a while pick up van. It had blinking lights on it and as such they probably thought it was the police.

They all rushed out at once and you would not believe the gun fire that ensued. It was lengthy, horrible and deafening and we just lay on the floor praying for our lives. [size=18pt]At some point I heard them speaking Yoruba saying that they must not forget that boy with the Land Cruiser o[/size], make sure you bring him. I just stayed on the floor. Then there was silence.

After about five minutes of silence we all crept out of the house, the girl came out as well and told me that she had been ra.ped and that she and her fiance just rented the place that weekend in preparation for their wedding, and he only travelled to PH on business.

We went to the gate of the house and right there on the floor were two dead bodies. They had shot the security men dead and their pick up was riddled with bullets.

At that point neighbours began to come out and apparently the police were on their way.

The robbers encountered the police in their escape and outgunned them, killing a police officer instantly in the process. That brought the death toll to four.

[size=18pt]Sometime later, the police arrived as though they were going for a war. Tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers, more than a 100 policemen. Too much, too late. [/size]


Later that morning, my car was found abandoned on the mainland, around Itire / Oshodi. I had used the neighbor's phones to call my family as soon as the robbers left: to my warm delight every single member of my family arrived the scene before five a.m, though they live very far away.

Now, my friends, I come to the reason I posted this story and you will find this quite shocking.

1. For all the huge numbers the police came with, there was ABSOLUTELY ZERO crime scene investigation. Those guys must have left loads of evidence and pointers in their reckless operation and the police just went inside, picked up a bag on the floor belonging to the lady I think, and some bullet shells on the floor. Within two minutes, their crime scene investigation was over.

2. My car, when found abandoned, was towed to a close-by Police Station. I went there that same morning to look at it. It was riddled with bullets as the robbers had engaged the police. Other than this, and the fact that they made away with the remote keys, there was nothing wrong with the car.

Would you believe that by the time I returned two days later to tow the car away - right there in Police Custody, the car had been vandalized, and the brain box and all electronics removed? ? ? The Police said they know nothing about it. Not only this - they then insisted on being given "something" before releasing that car. They said that otherwise, the car will be retained as "evidence". . . or that there is a procedure, etc etc. People, can you believe this? ? ? ?

Now tell, me, if this is the same Police force that is addressing bigger issues like Boko Haram and others, what hope for security do we have in this country, save the grace of God?

What serious change can anyone expect from the Nigerian Police within, say the next fifty years even ? ? ? ?

This is the same way that we cannot expect serious change with Nepa or is it called PHCN. This is the way we cannot expect serious change with corruption. Because overall, both the government and the people lack the political will and thirst for change.

Someone once told me that all that Nigeria needs is for everyone to do the right thing. That, with respect, is a fantasy, and happens no where. What Nigeria needs is a vigorous, people led, determined and sustained revolution with a clear vision defined by strong revolutionary leaders. This needn't be violent: but must be sustained in terms of protest. And that change must start with a Sovereign National Conference. The National Assembly can't do it because they are an interested party: you don't expect them to place sensible legislation which would jeopardize their current millions, do you?

Nigerians have become so used to misgovernance that we now have a twisted worldview which does not recognize "protestable" issues. We accept all the daily nonsense and impunity and simply go home, look for petrol or diesel, fill the gen, and have a good night's rest. Nothing else matters.

But in the Arab world, one man setting himself on fire in frustration led to the Arab Spring.

Maybe I need to set myself on fire.

shymexx:

I don't condone armed robbery, however, it epitomises everything wrong with Nigeria... The system created the "monster" and I think this should spur everyone to demand a change... Nigeria needs a change - and we can't just keep feeling sorry for the victims, when the system created both the victims and the monsters - that's going to amount to "window dressing" only the solution, when we can effect a total change of the barbaric system that's creating these monsters...

I'm glad the OP can also decipher the point I was trying to make...



That shows everything wrong with Nigeria and the cowardice of the average Nigerian... That's the Nigerian mentality!



Hello, this is Nigeria - the police might also be part of the plot...

ABAboi:

Hi, I am very happy to provide you a kitted full-blown home security solution for FREE. Your story is quite touching and the reason why we ventured into building and designing an independent security system. Ping an email to "support (at )fogsecure.com.ng" with subject "Nairaland" and a member of staff will contact you.

DJTee: Sorry about the traumatic experience.

Please take this case to the Office of the Public Defender (Lagos State Ministry of Justice). This matter should be taken up with the IGP especially as the Policemen were(are) bent on extorting you.

Meanwhile lets all be extremely cautious in these "ember" months please.

Stay safe guys!

coogar:
the owner is in nigeria - that's the difference! the sad thing about security operatives in nigeria is they just need a scapegoat - not really interested in catching the main culprit! in this case, they won't bother looking for shymmex but seun and jarus would be locked up in kirikiri prison!

Deep Sight:

They were very calm. In the car, they were laughing and cracking jokes. None of them seemed high. They spoke Yoruba all through.

Honestly, for about three weeks after the incident, i felt ok, and just glad to be alive. But probably owing to some delayed reaction, in the last few weeks i find myself waking up almost ten times every night to go around and listen for noises in the compound and the street and check windows and doors. When I actually parked just because someone was behind me in traffic one day, realized what the effect of the incident has been.

As for me, I am already planning very extra-ordinary security measures for my house. Burglar proofing is not enough. One needs a way to literally dissapear once alerted of entry.

Pastor Kun: @Deepsight
If I didn't know you better I would have thought your story was a nollywood script. One thing that puzzles me though, why did the robbers decide to carry you around
on their rampage? I also hope you remembered to give a testimony about your miraculous escape in 'your' church.

shymexx: The state of affairs in Nigeria makes my blood boil all the time... Sometimes, I just feel like slapping senses into the heads of the 150 million docile Nigeria living happily around filth, crime, the highest murder rate in the world, poverty etc.. without even blinking an eye and asking their leaders questions... Nigeria is too blessed to have that many disenfranchised people! Perhaps, that's why Nigerians are the happiest people in the world a la suffering and smiling...

There are many blueprints for revolutions on the internet - who's going to be our Nigerian 'Jesus', Karl Marx, Harriet Tubman, MLK, Huey P. Newton, Malcolm X, Friedrich Engels, Emmanuel Barthélemy, Fidel Castro, Mao Zedong etc..??

Let's get it, Nigerians!! These corrupt elites can't hold you down, believe that!

Deep Sight:

Let's open a website called "WHY NIGERIA" and have people ask questions and blow whistles regarding corrupt or negligent acts in the public sector.

Am game.

solidbroda: It seems you are a newbie in Lagos or Nigeria as a whole. Anything from 6pm till dawn, u are on your own. Even, daily robberies we still have and yet you said you love the night. I'm sure you have not learnt your lessons yet, probably if you have ur legs amputated to keep u alive, then maybe you will learn. Nature has warned you enof, and I'm pretty sure its time you keep ur heard low for a while unless you are finally tired of ur gifted life.

Obinnau: ur narrative is shocking my brother!

shymexx:

Sahareporters is doing that already and it hasn't stopped these people from stealing... These people are shameless and they don't really care... I bet the only language they understand is violence - drag them out of their homes and give them the Samuel Doe treatment!

phreakabit:

ROFLMAO! Sahara Reporters is a political tool. If they were the ones who reported this incident, I bet they would have "unintentionally" ommited the part about the robbers speaking Yoruba due to oversight.

shymexx: The state of affairs in Nigeria makes my blood boil all the time... Sometimes, I just feel like slapping senses into the heads of the 150 million docile Nigeria living happily around filth, crime, the highest murder rate in the world, poverty etc.. without even blinking an eye and asking their leaders questions... Nigeria is too blessed to have that many disenfranchised people! Perhaps, that's why Nigerians are the happiest people in the world a la suffering and smiling...

There are many blueprints for revolutions on the internet - who's going to be our Nigerian 'Jesus', Karl Marx, Harriet Tubman, MLK, Huey P. Newton, Malcolm X, Friedrich Engels, Emmanuel Barthélemy, Fidel Castro, Mao Zedong etc..??

Let's get it, Nigerians!! These corrupt elites can't hold you down, believe that!

oyb:

please ban this riff raff animal - sounds like one of the criminals

Jarus: Omho, fear catch me with your story o

I have to stop being outside beyond 10pm now o

cheddarking: I see one 1diot spouting rubbish about revolution on this thread...

The same 1diot was not born in the country and knows nothing about whats really going down in Nigeria

The same 1diot whose own father RAN AWAY from Nigeria, is the one shouting about revolution while living(Allegedly) in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK

People mention the arab spring and revolution - and often forget the chaos and arnachy the said 'revolution' left in its wake

Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Syria in serious turmoil

Like it or love it, the only thing keeping the relative peace is the government in Abuja

Any type of Revolution in Nigeria today with all its ethnic and religious tensions would rip it to shreds and NOTHING good can ever come out of it....

cheddarking: I see one 1diot spouting rubbish about revolution on this thread...

The same 1diot was not born in the country and knows nothing about whats really going down in Nigeria

The same 1diot whose own father RAN AWAY from Nigeria, is the one shouting about revolution while living(Allegedly) in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK

People mention the arab spring and revolution - and often forget the chaos and arnachy the said 'revolution' left in its wake

Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Syria in serious turmoil

Like it or love it, the only thing keeping the relative peace is the government in Abuja

Any type of Revolution in Nigeria today with all its [size=18pt]ethnic and religious tensions[/size] would rip it to shreds and NOTHING good can ever come out of it....

ballabriggs:

A political tool in your insecure mind. My friend go and sleep with Labaran Maku.

Cokeroo: Remember Fashola just banned okada, prepare for the worst.... God help us all this yuletide