Robbers threatened to kill, frame me as cultist — UNILAG student

A UNILAG student, Oriji Perfection, was returning home when two armed robbers cornered. They threatened to kill him and seized his phone and laptop. He speaks with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI about the terrifying ordeal and its lasting toll on his well-being

What exactly happened on the day you were robbed?

I am a 300-level student at the University of Lagos, currently undergoing my Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme programme in Ikeja. 

The incident happened on Monday, October 12, between 3pm and 4pm,  off New Garage in Gbagada. I got down from a commercial bus and took a path that would connect me to Diya Street in Iyana Oworo. Just before Bokku Mart, two men cornered me and threatened to kill me if I did not cooperate with them.

They were armed and ordered me to keep walking normally so that I would not attract attention or cause a scene. One had a gun, while the other had a knife.

They ordered me to bring out my phone, unlock it and give them my password. They told me to unlock it if I wanted to stay alive. After taking it, they ordered me to continue walking.

They also demanded to check my bag. When I opened it, they took out my laptop. Throughout the encounter, they kept threatening me and warning me not to raise an alarm.

What made the encounter particularly frightening?

They threatened to kill me if I caused a scene. They also said they could kill me and tell anyone who asked that I was a cultist who had killed their friend, and that they had come to avenge his death.

Hearing that made me even more terrified because they were not only threatening to kill me but also saying they would give people a false explanation for my death.

Were you able to identify the men?

There were two of them. One had short freeform dreadlocks, while the other wore a cap. I also noticed a mark or scar on the face of the man wearing the cap.

The man wearing the cap had the gun, while the other had the knife.

What was going through your mind at the time?

I was praying that they would not stab me and leave me to die on the street. They kept saying they were there for my life, and I was extremely scared.

At that moment, I was no longer thinking about my phone or laptop. I was thinking about how to get out of there alive. I did not know what they were capable of doing, and their threats made me fear that they could kill me at any moment.

Did you try to resist or call for help?

I was too scared to react, especially because they were armed. I did not know what would happen if I tried to resist them.

When they ordered me to keep walking, I obeyed because I was afraid that any sudden movement could make them attack me. They also hit me in the mouth to make me keep pace with them.

I could not risk fighting back or trying to escape because I feared they would use their weapons against me.

There were some small shops nearby, but I do not think anyone witnessed what happened. Even if someone saw us, they might not have understood what was going on or might have chosen not to get involved.

How long did the encounter last?

The entire incident lasted about five to seven minutes, but it was frightening because I did not know how it would end.

After taking my belongings, they ordered me to keep walking and warned me not to turn around. They then separated and left quickly.

I was left shaken by the experience, but I was grateful that I was still alive.

What exactly did they take from you?

They took my Infinix Note 40 phone and HP Stream 11 laptop. Based on the prices when I bought them, the two devices were worth about N350,000.

Although I did not sustain any serious physical injuries, the experience was frightening. Losing the devices was painful, especially because I needed them, but my greatest concern was getting out of the situation alive.

Did you report the incident?

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I went straight to my elder sister’s workplace because it was nearby. I wanted to tell her what had happened. I was still shaken and needed to speak to someone close to me and ensure that I was safe.

I did not report the incident to any security agency immediately because I was still in shock. Reporting it was not on my mind at that moment. I was trying to process what had happened and come to terms with the fact that I had just been threatened with death.

My sister and I spoke with some local vigilantes in the area. They told us that the men were petty thieves who moved from place to place and did not operate in just one location.

Were you worried that the robbers might access your personal information?

Yes, I was concerned about that, so I tried to secure my accounts as quickly as possible.

I could not use the Find My Phone feature because the phone had been switched off. However, I initiated a remote factory reset through Google.

I also logged into my accounts using my sister’s phone and blocked access where possible. My devices were protected with different passwords, so I tried to ensure that the robbers could not access my personal information.

Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about the laptop at that point.

How did your family react when they learnt about the incident?

My elder sister informed the rest of my family. They were all very upset and kept calling to check on me and make sure I was okay.

They were grateful to God that I survived the ordeal. Although they were worried about the robbery and the belongings I had lost, I believe their greatest relief was knowing that I was safe.

It was a frightening experience for everyone because of how easily the situation could have ended differently.

How did you cope emotionally in the days following the incident?

It was quite depressing. I could not eat or sleep properly because I kept thinking about what had happened.

The experience affected me emotionally, and it took the support and encouragement of my family members for me to begin to recover.

It was not something I could simply forget. I had been threatened with death, and that left me shaken. I am grateful that my family stood by me during that period.

How has the experience affected your daily life?

It has changed the way I move around. I can no longer walk without paying close attention to the people around me. I watch out for sudden movements and anything that might suggest danger because I do not want to become a victim again.

I have also decided to use routes that are more open and crowded. I would rather take a longer route than put myself in a situation where I might be vulnerable.

Have you returned to the area since the incident?

No. I do not wish to use that route again. I would rather take a longer route, regardless of the extra time it takes, than pass through that area.

Before the incident, the road had always seemed safe to me. I did not know it could expose me to such danger. I later learnt that similar incidents had occurred after mine, which made me even more concerned.

What would you like the authorities to do to prevent similar incidents?

I was robbed of my belongings, but the situation could have been much worse. I could have lost my life.

This could happen to anyone who uses that road regularly. People should be able to go to work, return home and carry out their daily activities without fearing that they might be attacked.

I would ask the government and security agencies to investigate criminal activities in the area and take steps to ensure that people can move around safely. The authorities should pay attention to reports of robbery and other criminal activities so that innocent people do not continue to face such risks.