I was woken up this morning by a call from a friend i had not heard from in ages perhaps 8 years. After exchanging plesantries and playing catch up he opened up to the real reason for the call as i knew he didnt wake me up early to say "how u dey". A bit of background information. We attended Univeristy together, and i had not heard from him since after service. He told me he got a job in a bank about 5 years ago i was really happy for him as he was one of those guys in school that had finance issues, his Uni experience were not rossy at all several times i squatted him in my uncles BQ on campus, feeding was an issue handouts was a luxury in short am sure you get the story. He told me he had rented a flat for his parents bought them a car and now takes care of his younger brother thankfully their last born. He also lives about 3 streets away from his parents and is quite comfortable.

So why you wake me up early mor mor (morning) my guy what is the problem??

The issue now is that he can't sleep at home again that he now sleeps with a colleague that stays in lekki while his folks sleep in church. Why is that?? Then the story started he said since a week after the elections armed robbery has resurfaced in his neighbourhood (Shogunle). He said armed robbers has made lives unbearable for them, that from 7pm the whole area is disserted, people leave home and go sleep elsewhere returning the next day. He narrated that if the robbers meet you at home and you are unfortunate not to have funds for them, you are told that you are lazy and not hard working that you are the ones causing problem in Nigeria beating the living day light out of the person, they take mobile phones, pots of soup, beer and every thing they can lay their hands on. His place has been raided but fortunately he wasnt at home and had practically moved out all his valuables that the robbers took his alcoholic drinks as he had a mini bar.

His thoery is that just before the elections arms were given to hoodlums by politicians and now after the election some were not returned and is being used for armed robbery, how can you substantiate that, at best thats speculation. He told me thats english am speaking explaining that i know he knows the streets well and thats the word on the streets, and that those carrying out the activities are externals,  Is there no police force actually theres a police station close by when called they tell you they can't come or that you should call a bigger police station with bigger logistics. Hey?? what about OPC, remember they used to be good at security, he stated that for some reason(s) OPC doesnt provide security again stating some political arrangement. Again to me speculation so i wont post his thoery on OPC.

He has decided to start a masters in september and wanted advice on a school and wanted my opinion on several issues which i provided. We spoke for a while and it was nice hearing from him though sad hearing of his current state. My advice on his most current predicament was to move out ASAP that with his income he can afford a place in Lekki or Ajah. He said what of his parents??, that he was really comfortable in the area, a 4 bedroom flat was very much affordable compared to those areas.

After the call i couldnt help but think about my country, if the BBC reported this they would be accused of reporting bad news or exaggerating. But this is the reality on ground in a "low/middle income surburb" in Lagos, Nigeria. . Our leaders definately are not in touch with down tier Nigeria, but just a word of thought for us all.

Are we really making progress when the most basic fundametal rights of the citizens cannot be guaranteed by the state.

If you want to verify the story. The streets that was raided by the thieves is Tiwalade street in Shogunle Lagos, a bus-stop before PWD (where you have the Air Force base Ikeja and before Ladipo bustop on the other side quite close to Oshodi). A young girl of 12 and an old man were killed. Other areas visited by the thieves were Afariogun street (where another man was killed) and several streets in mafoluku, the thieves drive about in 3 busses and 3 Okada (motor cycles) unopposed by no one.

Apparently another thread has provided a link giving credence to the story by my friend. I really feel for this families.


http://odili.net/news/source/2007/may/22/501.html