JUNE 22,2014: THE MEMORIES STILL LINGERS ON
BY: Mariah Otsai
 Many at times, I hear people talk about their experience in the hands of rapist and robbers in different instances. I have watched it on our home video and I thought it was just a make believe not until I became a victim on the 22nd June, 2014.
It was on that faithful Sunday, when I resumed at my office like every other normal day in the Island, though it has never been easy for me coming from Ojodu- Berger to Solomon bus stop where my office is located.
 Things went on as usual and I never imagine what lies ahead of me. Suddenly between 12noon and 2pm, I started feeling uncomfortable and I had no choice than to go use the restroom. As I undressed to use the toilet, I discovered that I was stained. My monthly cycle had started unannounced. I was with my phone so I quickly called my best friend Kimmy. ‘’babes I don stain’’ she asked how comes? I said ‘’I don’t know, it just started ooh, and am not even expecting it today’’ I had to use almost every available tissue paper to clean up and re-package myself before stepping out.
I went back into the office to continue with my job and before you knew it, it was 8pm. I sent my report for the day and I closed with my colleague. Immediately we got to Adeola Odekun bus stop, my colleague got a bus going to Costain, and after waiting for a while a taxi pulled over and called Ikeja, I asked the driver will he pass through 3rd mainland bridge? and he said yes. He was carrying a passenger in the front seat and as I was contemplating of whether to join them, the next passenger who has been at the same bus stop with me just entered, because I saw him joining them, I decided to also follow them and stop at Iyana Oworo.  Unknown to me, they were all robbers and the guy who was at the bus stop with me was also part of them.
As I ride with them between Adeola Odekun and Bonny Camp, they stopped and asked me to be calm and comply with them, they asked me to hand over my hand bag to them, at first I was surprised because I wasn’t expecting it. Then I started shaking and the one driving brought out a gun and said if I don’t stay calm, they would shot me. I quickly handed over my hand bag to the one sitting in the front seat with the driver. They searched it and found my two phones as well as a friend’s phone which he left with me. They took the phones, removed my SIMs and gave it to me. They now asked me how much I was with, I told them just 700naira
At that moment, the driver was already angry so he demanded for my ATM, he gave me back my bag and said I should bring out my ATM. I brought out my Ecobank ATM and the driver practically told me that there was another ATM card still in my bag that I should bring it, with that fear all over me I brought out the GTB ATM card. Next thing was my pin they demanded for, I didn’t even know when I called out my pin. To my greatest surprise, the guy that I was with at the bus stop now spoke: saying  “ calm down and repeat your pin one after  another” I was shocked to my bones. He typed the pin on his Nokia phone, he asked whether its same pin for both ATM and I said yes. He asked”are you sure”? I said yes.
 He collected both ATM card from the one in front and they started moving the car. The one with the ATM cards made a call and in a minute the stopped somewhere and he alighted from the car with the cards. I saw him joining another car.
As I journey with them in fear, little did I know that they weren’t through with me yet. Suddenly the guy on the front seat jumped to the back seat where I was enclosed in fear. The unbelievable started unfolding. With authority in his voice, he asked me to undress, I pretended as if I didn’t hear him. He quietly repeated himself again, by this time I got another scream from the driver who threatened to shot me again if I dare waste their time again.
My God, I started taking off my trouser, and then I started crying, “why are you doing this to me? Everything you have asked me to do I did, why do you want to do this to me”? Then he asked me to shut up and I should cover my face with my hands. I could feel his stinking hands all over me, then as he pull down my panties, I could see him using his Nokia phone torch light to see my thigh, that was when he realized that am on my monthly cycle; he became furious and ordered me to dress up immediately. I didn’t even know when I wore back my trouser.
As I could still not believe what had happened, they got a call from the other guy that the transactions on my ATM cards were successful. At that moment, they now asked me where is the best place for them to drop me,  I told them I don’t know where I am. As we drove along, they then told me to be ready as they will drop me soon and I shouldn’t shout or scream when I alighted. Surprisingly, they gave me 700naira as transport to go home.
When I came down from the car, as I look around to know where exactly I was, I realized that I was along bar beach, closed to EKO HOTEL. I quickly crossed to the other side of the road perplex and confused on what next to do. Vehicles were passing by but I couldn’t dare stop any one.
I  waited patiently then i got a bus going to Obalende, all through the drive to Obalende, I was very calm, then it down on me that I needed to report the incident at the police station. On reaching  Obalende, I asked the driver for a nearby police station, he directed me to one within. When I got there and narrated what happened, they told me it was not within their jurisdiction and that I should go back to bar beach police station and do my report. When I checked the time, it was already few minutes to 11pm and I had to hurry back to Obalende park so I can catch up with the last bus going to Ojodu- Berger. I pleaded with one of the police officer to insert my SIM card in her phone so I can call home, she obliged me so I informed my friend of the situation because I was chatting with her while I was leaving the office and she was really worried because her last massage to me delivered but was not read and others showed not delivered so she was really worried.
I eventually got to Ojodu- Berger but could not get a bike nor a keke that will take me home. I had to do another trekking home again. As I was going, I only told God that my life is in His hands today. I finally got home by 1:05am and my friend was waiting. I couldn’t speak, I was only crying and the incident kept playing over and over. Before I knew it, it was 6am, I called my parents to inform them, and then I started getting ready to go to work.
I got to the office by 9am, I quickly sent a mail to my HR and Brand Manager explaining what had happened. Then I proceeded to the Bar Beach Police Station where I was directed to go do the report. As I explained to three of the police officers, they attached one of them on my case and her utterances was that “ its an everyday case, it’s a report we get everyday especially on this Island” I was like really? so you people knew this has been going on, so what have you guys done to stop them? I asked. She said they are working on it. When I finished writing my report, I was asked to go to court for an Affidavit and to go to my bank and get my bank statement and also to block my ATM cards. I did all that and came back to my office.
My company letter replied my mail, expressing their sympathy towards what had happened to me. I was asked to come to the Head Office with my Affidavit, bank statement and all evidence. The bank statement shows that the money was withdrawn from ECOBANK and GTBANK ATM machine on Tiamiyu Salvage, Victoria Island.
It’s a year toda, and my wonderful company whom I have served even at the expense of my life has not kept to their promises of compensating me for all that was lost. The last time I checked, they said they were working on it… any ways, I have moved on.
It’s quite sad that after one year, these memories still remain fresh in my subconscious. These people are still out there committing this havoc and nothing is being done to stop them? A lot of people have falling victims in the hands of these wicked people.
 My advice to the general public especially ladies is to be careful and be mindful of the kind of vehicles/ car/ taxi we enter. Their targets are ladies/ young girls. These people are everywhere and very much available in the morning, at noon and mostly at night. They can come in different ways. People know them with names like “one chance” etc.  They are equally handsome and attractive young men who are desperate to rob you, rape you and make you traumatized for life. But we can all say no to their evil desires by being more security conscious.
Peace!