They were the first and only surviving victims of the dreaded ritualist attacks (Badoo) who have held residents of Ikorodu and environs captives for a long time now.
Although Mr. Olawale Anthony, his wife,
Edith and their three children including a set of twins are alive to
tell the story, memories of the terrifying nocturnal visit by the
criminal cult gang that would have snuffed life out of them, will linger
for a long time.
Edith and their three children including a set of twins are alive to
tell the story, memories of the terrifying nocturnal visit by the
criminal cult gang that would have snuffed life out of them, will linger
for a long time.
In about 20 cases of attacks which had taken place in the area, Badoo victims were said to have been caught sleeping, allegedly due to a sleep inducing substance cast on them by their attackers.
But, the couple owes their lives and that
of the entire family to their twins, whose cries woke the wife in time
to behold the intruder and raise the timely alarm that drew the
attention of neighbours to their rescue.
of the entire family to their twins, whose cries woke the wife in time
to behold the intruder and raise the timely alarm that drew the
attention of neighbours to their rescue.
Olawale, a tiller lives with his poor family close to Orija bus stop.
Narrating the events of the night to Saturday Sun,
Edith said: “It was on Friday night of the second week in June. I was
asleep, but woke up when I heard the cries of my twins. I have never
heard them cry at the same time like that. When I rose, I saw someone
close to me with a grinding stone. He hit me on my head with it and
picked it up to do it again. I started screaming for help. The second
time he hit me on my hand, but I dodged the blow the third time. Then I
ran outside.
Edith said: “It was on Friday night of the second week in June. I was
asleep, but woke up when I heard the cries of my twins. I have never
heard them cry at the same time like that. When I rose, I saw someone
close to me with a grinding stone. He hit me on my head with it and
picked it up to do it again. I started screaming for help. The second
time he hit me on my hand, but I dodged the blow the third time. Then I
ran outside.
“On my way, I called my husband, but he
did not answer, I made for the door seeing that he had been hit. After
the man left, I thought my husband had died, but my daughter went
inside, checked him and said he was alive, before the students and
neighbours ran and took him to the hospital.”
did not answer, I made for the door seeing that he had been hit. After
the man left, I thought my husband had died, but my daughter went
inside, checked him and said he was alive, before the students and
neighbours ran and took him to the hospital.”
Her husband, Olawale, still being treated
at the Lagos Island Hospital, picked the thread of the narration: He
said: “On that day, I just finished a job I got on Power Line. When I
got home I told my wife that I was going to rest, planning to stay home
for a week. I can’t recollect the time I ate. I don’t even know the time
she brought the children to me, because I was very tired. It was when I
regained consciousness at Lagos Island Hospital that I asked my wife
how I got there. I cannot give accurate narration of what happened
during the period. I knew I was being moved around, but I had no idea
why.”
at the Lagos Island Hospital, picked the thread of the narration: He
said: “On that day, I just finished a job I got on Power Line. When I
got home I told my wife that I was going to rest, planning to stay home
for a week. I can’t recollect the time I ate. I don’t even know the time
she brought the children to me, because I was very tired. It was when I
regained consciousness at Lagos Island Hospital that I asked my wife
how I got there. I cannot give accurate narration of what happened
during the period. I knew I was being moved around, but I had no idea
why.”
He added: “I remember when I was in the
hospital, some policemen came and said their boss wanted to know if I
was still alive, because nobody had survived Badoo attack.”
hospital, some policemen came and said their boss wanted to know if I
was still alive, because nobody had survived Badoo attack.”
The Anthonys feed from hand to mouth.
This is evident in the squalid state of their yet-to-be completed
apartment and their own personal situation. The twins, dressed in torn
clothes lay on the bare floor. When one of them cried, their sister gave
her water.
This is evident in the squalid state of their yet-to-be completed
apartment and their own personal situation. The twins, dressed in torn
clothes lay on the bare floor. When one of them cried, their sister gave
her water.
Although it was supposed to be a four
-bedroom apartment, the wall has absorbed the natural colour of the
cement blocks used in building the house. Bamboo littered the house. The
room is linked to the kitchen without a door, while the window has
enough space to allow a grown up access into the apartment.
-bedroom apartment, the wall has absorbed the natural colour of the
cement blocks used in building the house. Bamboo littered the house. The
room is linked to the kitchen without a door, while the window has
enough space to allow a grown up access into the apartment.
Olawale said he started building the
house, after he quit his former job with Julius Berger and established
his own business. “I did but problems did not allow me to sustain it and
it folded up. It was during that period that I started to build this
house when the problem started, I moved in here, but I have not been
able to finish the building. I am not in contention with anybody over my
property. I bought the land in 2003 and started building the following
year. This is the 13th year I have been building it. I put one block at a
time and fixed the windows and doors myself, I know that if I have a
secured place to stay, I would not be attacked,” he said.
house, after he quit his former job with Julius Berger and established
his own business. “I did but problems did not allow me to sustain it and
it folded up. It was during that period that I started to build this
house when the problem started, I moved in here, but I have not been
able to finish the building. I am not in contention with anybody over my
property. I bought the land in 2003 and started building the following
year. This is the 13th year I have been building it. I put one block at a
time and fixed the windows and doors myself, I know that if I have a
secured place to stay, I would not be attacked,” he said.
The lucky couple glorified God and
thanked the people who rallied round and contributed money for their
medical treatment. Edith said: “When we rushed him(Olawale) to the
hospital, we didn’t have anything in the house. he hadn’t even paid the
boys who worked for him on the last job he did. I was mocking him that
he didn’t bring anything home. When we got to the hospital, the doctors
told us that he was going to do more brain scan, they took us to Ikorodu
General hospital and we were also referred to Ikeja General Hospital.
During this period, it was the community that was paying the bills. At
General Hospital they paid the N50, 000 that allowed him to have the
second scan. I am grateful to all who made it possible, but we are
calling for help so that it won’t happen again.”
thanked the people who rallied round and contributed money for their
medical treatment. Edith said: “When we rushed him(Olawale) to the
hospital, we didn’t have anything in the house. he hadn’t even paid the
boys who worked for him on the last job he did. I was mocking him that
he didn’t bring anything home. When we got to the hospital, the doctors
told us that he was going to do more brain scan, they took us to Ikorodu
General hospital and we were also referred to Ikeja General Hospital.
During this period, it was the community that was paying the bills. At
General Hospital they paid the N50, 000 that allowed him to have the
second scan. I am grateful to all who made it possible, but we are
calling for help so that it won’t happen again.”