₦airaland Forum

Drama as mystery woman appears on mosque minaret • Kills rescuer
Stories & photos by Christopher Oji, Vivian Onyebukwa, Chioma Igbokwe , Kate Halim & Christine Onwuachumba

Friday, January 28, 2011



A woman, Oluremi Bolaji, 32, held residents of Ijeshatedo, Surulere and its environs spell bound when she mysteriously appeared on the minaret of the Ijesha Central Mosque in Lagos.

Residents of the area had woken up to see the woman perched dangerously atop the minaret which is under construction as part of ongoing renovation works on the three-storey mosque.

The scene of the incident became a Mecca of sort as residents from the neigbouring communities gathered to witness the incident. Many of the onlookers expressed surprise at how Bolaji managed to climb the mosque tower even as they wondered how the mother of three would be rescued safely.

Meanwhile, there were different sides to the Bolaji saga. While some people claimed she was a witch on a failed mission, and reaping the fruits of her wickedness, others said she was mentally deranged, a claim corroborated by Bolaji’s father. According to Bolaji’s father who wept openly at his daughter’s risky situation, the victim was mentally ill and the family had been making plans to move her to a psychiatrist home for treatment before the incident.

Amid the confusion over how to rescue Bolaji safely from her precarious position, a commercial tricyclist, simply identified as Ikechukwu, offered to bring the lady down if his colleagues would compensate him with the sum of N1, 000. There was another angle to the Ikechukwu story, as another account said he had actually placed a bet with some other young men at the scene that he could bring down the woman. The wager was put at N1,000.00.

Ikechukwu, after getting the assurance that he would be given the money began to climb the minaret. Unaware that he was embarking on a dangerous mission, Ikechukwu never returned to claim the money he was promised. He was allegedly pushed down by Bolaji using one of the wooden beams the construction workers had placed in the minaret. He landed, hitting his head on the concrete floor. He died instantly. Following Ikechukwu’s fatal fall, Bolaji was said to have boasted that she would kill more people should they venture to bring her down.

However, the Imam in charge of the mosque, Ganiyu Oyebanjo, was said to have contacted the policemen and men of the State Fire Service. Daily Sun gathered that before the arrival of the crime fighters, a native doctor was said to have made a futile attempt to rescue Bolaji. The medicine man was said to have recited some incantations, cast spell but to no avail. He was reportedly chased away by the crowd. Men of the state fire service on their arrival splashed water on the victim hoping it would scare her, yet she remained adamant.

When Daily Sun arrived the scene Bolaji was seen entertaining her audience. Repeatedly, she would remove her clothes dance around while the malefolk applauded her. When it was obvious that the woman just had to be saved from possible death, able-bodied men comprising mainly of members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), took over the rescue mission.

They beckoned on her to come down, while she shouted in Yoruba language that they should leave her alone. She began throwing stones at the men who for safety had to wear helmet. Gradually the men climbed up the tower, distracted the lady while another with the aid of a plank pushed her from the minaret to the roof of the mosque. She was eventually brought down from the roof.

The mob attempted to lynch Bolaji but for the quick intervention of the police. She was whisked to Ijesha police station and later moved to a private hospital where she is receiving treatment. Her father lamented that things would not have degenerated to this if his daughter had not been turned back by Yaba Psychiatric hospital. According to him, the hospital had asked that the family should first treat the wounds Oluremi had inflicted on herself before bringing her for admission. The angry mob took to the street, protesting the death of Ikechukwu and calling for the heads of the woman and members of her entire family.

The mob barricaded Ijesha Lawanson Road, disrupting commercial activities and vehicular movements. Some hoodlums who hijacked the protest used the opportunity to snatch peoples mobile phones and handbags. The police eventually dispersed the protesters by firing tear gas canisters.

The Imam, Ganiyu Oyebanjo, expressed shock on how the woman managed to climb the minaret. “I think she was being controlled by a demonic force. She climbed the minaret at about midnight and was brought down around 11:00 am.”

He alleged that worshippers had prevailed on the deceased, Ikechukwu, to wait for the arrival of policemen and the fire fighters but he was adamant, probably because of the N1, 000, allegedly promised him by his colleagues.

Lagos State police spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, who confirmed the death of Ikechukwu, said the quick intervention of the police saved the lady from being stoned to death by the mob. He said both the police and fire fighters rushed the woman in an ambulance to the police before taking her to the hospital.

He said the body of Ikechukwu had been taken by his family for burial. Mba advised members of the public to always report such incidents to the police rather than resort to jungle justice.


http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/28/525.html

honeric01:
Still inconclusive, so he's not the 3rd to commit suicide.

Conclusive!!!

He killed himself!

If Ibos are such literary giants, how come most of them Ibo 419 letters that flood my inbox are always so badly written?

^^^Nah, it aint that! Its just that other Regions aint have Rebel Leaders causing war and destabilizing the whole polity.

So, when he dies, Ibos will be requesting a State burial by the Federal Govt?

I cant wait. . . . . . .

gadogado:
Nigerians never fail to amaze me, look at the comments on this thread. [b]It is very true that "a people deserves the kind of leaders they get" Look at Buhari, a tried and tested leader with 0 tolerance for corruption, look at his record when he was PTF chairman, look at the development that took place across Nigeria. Yet, people keep talking about him being a "jihadist" you guys will forever avoid substance and digress into meaningless sentiment that is of no benefit to your collective well being.
GEJ is a proven incompetent and corrupt leader and has no capacity nor will to move this country forward. He has shown he is in with the business as usual crowd. Yet you want to vote for him on the basis of sentiment. Nigerians deserve the leaders they have, you're a useless people incapable of anything productive. your fortay is division! you're simply divisive, i suppose its in your nature. You clearly have more credible people and you know fully well that corruption is Nigeria's problem yet you're ok with corrupt leaders as long as they're from your part of the country. Im going to burn my nigerian passport tonight. Nigerians disgust me.[/b]

. . . . and thats why I hope they all vote GEJ, so a year from now I'll be making crazy fun of them on NL and beyond!

Buncha fuxcking poverty stricken lunatics!

SEFAGO:
Who cares they are all awesome. We Nigerians are the king of literature in Africa tbh. Yoruba more than others though 

Infact I am thinking of writing a book about two lesbians from northern Nigeria living under the  oppression of sharia and trying to come to terms with their sexuality and religion in a modern environment. oyibo people love that shhhiit, I am going to win an effing pulitzer.

I need to go to the North though so that my story can be more realistic . . . hmm that could be a problem

ROFLMAO!!!!

SeFAGGOT is bizzack!

Ojewande:
I am graduate from Unijos,and a victim of january 19/2010 jos crisis,if fate has been fare with me i think i need to cry it aloud that my people in that enviroment need attention than those in diaspora.Sombody should tell GEJ to rescue those future leader

Youre a University Graduate?

naijaking1:
So, until you find another source that show that Hausas, Yorubas, Beroms, Kanuris, or even Tivs were more in number in the army than Igbos at that time, my earlier statement that the superior numerical strength of Igbos in the officer cadre simply produced a statistical concidence rather than a tribal agenda remains to be debunked.

. . . . . riiiiiiggghhhtttt! Do we also blame the Murder of all Non-Ibo leaders on this "Statistical Coincidence"?

Obiagu1:
But from what I've heard, Ifeajuna was the culprit. The major factor that made it seem like an Igbo coup. He virtually ruined the coup, failed to do his assigned duties and he tipped off his relation, Zik, who fled.

Ahhhh. . . . . Now we getting somewhere!

So, now we all agree that Zik was tipped off.

Hey, U forgot to include that only Non-NdiIbo leaders got bloodied. . . .

OBJ is the reason for:

1. Osisikanwu

2. Tobechi Onwuharay

3. Biafran Veterans being abandoned by Ojukwu

4. Eastern Nigerian Governmental Corruption

5. No Presidential Aspirant choosing a Ibo V.P

6. Ibos always wanting to revise their horrible history in Nigeria

7. Ibos being cannibals

8. Ibos being drug dealing, kidnapping, money hungry thugs!

9. Ibos being Ibos. . . . !!!!

[quote author=tpiah* link=topic=595403.msg7641253#msg7641253 date=1296496389]

let me translate.

he said you're slow not only in brains, but also in the bed [since you just admitted you couldnt match your g/f's stamina].

also, he meant you normally think with your wetincall.


no offence, i just found the post funny. [/quote]Lol. His post was in english?

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641336#msg7641336 date=1296497570]I usually ignore this dude.Just felt like giving him a little stab at it today . I'm done tho, he's ignored for good. [/quote]"Usually" ignore me? When do the lies ever stop?

U biyytch aszz nigga, I dont even ever see u. . . .!

Yall can lie all u want, the fact is the rest of the world knows the truth and u guys are aszzed out!

Wonder why all the Presidential aspirants avoided Ibo running mates even tho you, Dede1, Onlytruth, Eziachi, Ezeuche, Andre Uweh (and his 500+ aliases) all claimed a Ibo V.P was tantamout to winning the elections?

See now how the rest of the country views u chest beating Gorillas?

Fools! lol

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641304#msg7641304 date=1296497154]Exactly, you'd render whatever proof that I have useless because it doesn't support your bias and useless claim. I am curious to find out how you came up with your assumption which caused me to reply you.Provide your proof and source. O and umm, northerners committing a massacre 6 months after their "beloved" religious leader is killed instead of the next day or even within that same month, highly unlikely. If he was most beloved by them and the emirs didn't think the failed coup was nationalistic they definitely would have sent their people to slaughter Igbos right after Saudana was killed.Believe that. Every nigerian knows the hausas don't waste time when it comes to riots. Riot 6 months later?!lol

Anyways go back to my other post and get it crackin.[/quote]You dont even deserve a response!

Funny how the only ones that believe all this crap is the Ibos themselves. Nobody else believes yall!

You need more people! punkz!

Obiagu1:
Why some people keep interacting with this bk guy is beyond me.
Well emptiness should keep interacting with emptiness, that's all I'll say. Birds of the same feather . . .

naijaking1:
My views exactly
Why anybody-Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Tiv, and even Yoruba would dignify it him with a response beats me.

I guess its ok to suck ur own diyyck. . . .

I aint homo, but, guess what I think might feel better?

Both of u donging each other out!

Punkz!

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641207#msg7641207 date=1296495924]So would you like me to provide the proof from a non-nigerian or a nigerian? And which of the proofs will stop you from calling it lies or bias? Also, I would like your proofs also because you are the one who brought up the claims. Source to pls.[/quote]. . . . maaan, FUXCK OUTTA HERE!!!

Guyman02:
Not only are you weak in brains but you have even admitted that you cant even match the strenght of an Igbo lady even on that aspect with the tool (di.ck) from which your warped thoughts emanate from.

Ok?

[quote author=EzeUche_ link=topic=592779.msg7641176#msg7641176 date=1296495686]He is not known as an Igbo man though, he is known as a Nigerian. [/quote]No shiyyt! For real. . . . ?

Dumbo!

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641087#msg7641087 date=1296494601]Neither the Ibos or the Igbos were the executions of the coup but men from various nigerian ethnic groups. The Igbos happened to be the most in numbers.However the soldiers that carried it out were were almost entirely northrners.[/quote]Proof please!

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641087#msg7641087 date=1296494601]Igbo leaders not being killed, um, a bunch of BS.Igbo leaders were also killed.[/quote]Proof Please!

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641087#msg7641087 date=1296494601]Nzeoqwu was from the Midwest. Asaba to be exact.Just thought you should know.[/quote]Sure. . . didnt some other Ibo Professor dude claim Nzeogwu was Hausa or Yoruba?

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641087#msg7641087 date=1296494601]Everybody and they mama knew that the failed Nzeogwwu coup was a nationalistic coup.This is more of a reason why there were no riots carried out after it.[/quote]Yup! Thats why every Hausa and they moms was feinding for Ibo blood (instead of a "Nationalistic" one) in July'66?!

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=595963.msg7641087#msg7641087 date=1296494601]Cowards? Purely stereotyped to yorubas,even your mama would tell ya that, boy.[/quote]Yeah, maybe if they came from Medellin or Bogota!

Scat now, punk!

Fuxcking history revisionists!

fstranger1:
So what!

That said, i was in a local library is the middle of America where only the Whitest of the Whitest of the Whites live, and I was shocked to see Things fall Apart on the shelf in the local library. And, to add to my state of bewilderment, I saw too Oyinbos reading it and completely enthralled by it.

. . . . and you noticed cause u Nigerian!

Would you have noticed if they were reading, say, Diop's "Antériorité Des Civilisations Nègres", or Mahfouz's "The Cairo Trilogy"?

No? But a Senegalese or Egyptian probably would, right?

Exactly! Man, these freaking Ibo chest beaters kill me!

[quote author=EzeUche_ link=topic=592779.msg7640976#msg7640976 date=1296493467]. Chinua Achebe is Africa's most well known author.[/quote]More than: NGUGI wa Thiong'o, Meshack ASARE, Mariama BÂ, Mia COUTO, Tsitsi DANGAREMBGA, Cheikh Anta DIOP, Naguib MAHFOUZ?

I really think you got mental issues!

naijaking1:
Come on
Quite disappointed that my most informed Yoruba persona on N/L can stoop so low as to make such overwhelming, false, and tribal allegations.
It's ok for everybody to develop 20/20 hindsight 'after the fact' in just about every situation, but what is the value tinkering and bending facts just to suit your bias?
If Igbos were more in number at the level of officers who carried out the first coup, why was it not a matter of statistical concidence and not tribalistic inclinations that made it possible to have more Igbos in the coup.
Also, while Nzeogwu is clearly Igbo, he was not from eastern Nigeria, and so was Ademoyega.
By your insinuations, you arrive at the false conclusion that every easterner planned, executed, and benefitted from the coup

And, where did Katsumoto lie? Were Ibos not the executioners of the coup? Wasnt it an Ibo attempt to hold on to Power? Was it a matter of "statistical concidence and not tribalistic inclinations" that led to ONLY Non-Ibo leaders being killed by Ibo Coup plotting officers, too? Oh, throw in Ademoyega right after insinuating Nzeogwu aint from Eastern Nigeria?

And you wonder why everyone thinks yall a buncha deceitful, blood, thirsty thugs! Try telling the truth for once!

Wonder why no one in the current Nigerian Presidential elections chose a Ibo running mate, as much as they begged and schemed for it? Freaking race of deceitful cowards!

Funny how noone is choosing a Ibo running mate.

Everyone is avoiding the Ibos as the lepers they rightly are. . . .

Cool!

Guyman02:
Igbo women are great performers .

On behalf of the Ibo chic that wore me out all nite yesterday/this morn I say: U DAMN RIGHT, WHODIE!!!

udezue:
@EzeUche,

Please why do u even bother responding to bkbabe?

Sup ma niggggggaaaaa?!

jason123:
Na wa for you bk babe. You always take things to the extreme.

Hey, Homo, aint u realized I dont like ur irritating slow aszz?

kosoro:
Some Nigerians won't stop surprising me. They leave substance and chase after shadows. Instead of discussing the project she's talking about in the video, they expend disproportionate amount of energy discussing how she reads. Must everyone read fast? That's her style and let it be. After all, she communicates and that's all that matters! Assess her on the basis of her actions, not words. Mind you, her being the First Lady was not her choice. If you were talking about an appointed Minister of Information, that might be different. This is just another in a string of frivolous criticisms some Nigerians indulge in.

Maybe u need to stfu, or, barring that, hop in the middle of a busy highway. . . . . .

Fool, what was understandable about all that rubbish she was spitting?

[quote author=EzeUche_ link=topic=595403.msg7640692#msg7640692 date=1296491134]Sorry but the woman has class. GEJ wouldn't dare try that mess with Ikemba.[/quote]Class my as:s!!! Thats why she married her father's best friend, her god father, 35 yrs her elder, a man that was present at her christening?!!

"Yes, the Evacuation of all Nigerian Citizens in Egypt, yes, all 50 of them, cost us a little under $50billion. . . . . " ----Pres. Goodluck Jonathan

I repeat: SOMEONE IS BANGING THE IKEMBA'S WIFIE AND HE AINT EVEN HIDING IT!!!

GOOOOOOOO BAYELSA COWBOY!

By God, am I the only one realizing that this Alh.Harem dude should be getting reported to Security Agencies all over the world?

I mean, look at the crazy shiyyt he wrote up there!

Wow. . . . sick killers, these Northern Nigerians!

^^^Lol. ROFLMAO^^^