Safety alert: Godwin Omonua roundabout known as Akpata roundabout now a danger zone at night.

Two weeks ago I was attacked at gunpoint by two hoodlums holding pistol guns at that very spot.

I had gone to Ago palace way to see a friend on my way back I got to Ago roundabout at 9:30 pm through 10:00 pm. Unfortunately, all the bike that usually operate on that route is not available at their usual parking spot at Ago roundabout. Could that have been a sign for me not use that road at that time? Well, I was not paying attention to the reality playing out in front of me as I was so engrossed with the idea of what I needed to get at Temple Hill bus – stop then go home straight so that I wouldn’t have to come out to look for anything again.

Since I could not get a bike and people are still plying the road with their foot so I decided to follow suit after all it is a short and walkable distance. So I put my Redmi Note 7 48MP in my small shakomended shoulder bag and begin my journey unknown to me that the jugunlabis are ahead waiting patiently for me to bump into them so that they can perform their criminal duty. 

The journey was cool in the beginning as I was enjoying the stress lifting cool briss blowing towards my direction who knows maybe it was another warning for me to turn back but no I didn’t as a Yoruba adage says ‘ori to maje iko, toba defila asi kuro’.

In about ten steps away from approaching Godwin Omonua roundabout also known as Akpata roundabout a bike passed me and two guys jumped off it and rushed me shouting “give me your phone” ” give me your phone” and I looked at the two of them, I asked what phone? At that point, I did not realise they were with guns. 

Suddenly,  they brought out the pistol guns one pointed at my back and the other right in front of me and they both start shouting at each other  “shoot him” ” shoot him” meanwhile the one in front of me was struggling to cocked the gun at that point I realised they are novice not professional thieves perhaps the guns they are holding are toy guns so I told them boldly to get out of my way and I attempted to walk away from them, after taking two steps I just heard a gunshot from behind it was so loud that my ears were dull for like 15 minutes then one of them held my two hands at the back like they are going to handcuff me while the other was jacking my small bag on my body. I manage to release my hands and started rubbing my ears with my two hands as I struggled to hear again looking at the two hoodlums loudly communicating to each other furiously shaking and extremely scared for their lives as well. Then the one behind me said you think the guns are fake, right? then hit my head with the bottom of his pistol gun took my bag, opened it and brought out the phone then the other said take the bag too then they jump on the motorcycle who has been waiting for them to finish operating. 

Meanwhile,  as they were struggling to get my bag off me I covered the injured part of my head with one hand trying to stop the blood rushing out while they pulled out the bag through the other. 

However, a man who was passing but ran for cover when he heard the gunshot came to see if I was injured but immediately took to his heels when he saw my head covered with my blood I remember him saying ” you are bleeding too much start going to loot hospital now, sorry” then he left. I look around and I was all by myself so I find my way home which is just a street away from the roundabout to get first aid treatment before heading to the nearest hospital. 

A week after,  I went to see a friend in the second street next to mine and after seeing my injured head she started narrating how another friend of hers was attacked with a knife at the same roundabout at about 9:00 pm through 10:00 pm.

According to her, the hoodlums cut the victim’s wrist and stabbed him on his thigh luckily for him the knife did not cut in deep because he had some sort of paper or metal in his pocket that helped bounced back the force of the knife. 

I did not tell you these story for the fun of it because the experience was not palatable at all but narrated it so that you can share to help make it known to your friends and loved ones who are base in Ago Palace Way and Isolo areas who ply the road or might likely ply that road to know that Godwin Omonua roundabout also known as Akpata roundabout is now a danger zone at night. It has become a hideout and operation space for hoodlums at night. 

Please be safe!