It happened on a Sunday. A friend of mine invited me to attend a musical concert at a church. I never knew the church nor the area, that was my first time being here. I agreed to go with her. So at evening she called and we went together to the church.
The concert was really good. Youths were singing, dancing, and praising God with different guest artist coming to minister. It was one of those nights you don’t want to end. Like we were having a great time.
As the program continued, we did not realize that it was getting late. Before we knew it, the time has gone. It around passed 10pm. My friend and I decided it was time to go home since it was already dark. We left the church and walked a short distance to the main road, hoping to get a transfer bike (Okada) to take us home.
We waited at the roadside for some time, but no bike came. And It was already getting very quiet and dark and the street is becoming empty. So we decided to start walking, thinking maybe we might see a bike ahead. Hmm!! That's was a big mistake.
As we were walking and chatting, out of nowhere, a guy suddenly joined us from behind and started walking with us. If you ask me where he came out from or which direction he took, I don't know. He just showed up. He started talking to us. But then, with a serious tone and a deep voice, he said, we should stand here.
Immediately, fear gripped me. My heart starts beating faster cause I already have a clue that we have enter a wrong hand and something might Happen. We stopped and became quiet. All of a sudden, the guy pulled out a dagger from his clothes and stood in front of us, blocking our path.
I quickly looked behind to see how I can strategize my escape plan with my legedis benz (to run away with legs), I then saw more guys behind us coming. They had some harmful objects with then to. One had an axe, another one had a gun. It was like we walked into a movie scene! That kind of thing.
One of the men at the back now shouted, Are they complying with you?. He called out his nick name. Then the guy in front of us replied, Don’t worry. I will soon stab them with this dagger and waste them. Another one shouted, Abeg waste those people and let’s be going.
At that moment, I was very scared. I had never faced such a thing before in my life. I've only heard of people's telling story of their encounters. I didn’t know whether to run. Like my whole body was shaking. But I told myself, bro stay calm o, don’t say or do anything funny before they use you to test dagger. The guy standing in front of us said, we should bring out everything you have.
I responded calmly. I didn’t argue. I didn’t ask questions. I just quietly brought out my phone, my money, and anything else I had. My friend did the same.
The funniest part? Some people were standing not too far away. They saw what was happening. Did they help? No!!.They saw what was happening but did not say a word. Nobody came to help us or even shout for help. They just stood and watched as we were being robbed.
After those guys left with our things, someone came to us and said, that’s how this area is o. They always rob people.
If you don’t know people here, don’t walk around at night. You have to know who you are or know people around here before you walk at that time.
I was shocked. I didn’t know the place was like that. It was my first time coming there. Nobody told me that bad guys especially cult guys live around the area.
After that night, I learned a lot. I discovered that fear is very real, you will never know how terrified you can be unless you face danger but I learned that staying calm in a fearful situation can save your life. If I had shouted or tried to run, maybe I wouldn’t be here today telling this story. I also learned not to stay out late in a place you don’t know. If I'm staying over, then I should stay over, if I will be leaving, then I should plan to live early. I also learned that not everyone will help you, even when they can. People may be afraid for their own safety or just not care enough to get involved.
Since that day, anytime I go out, I make sure I know the place well. And once it’s getting dark, I start going home.
That experienced had made me more careful and more observant anywhere I found myself.
It was a bad experience, but I thank God I’m alive to tell the story. My phone is gone, my money is gone, but my life is still here and that’s the most important thing.