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| The shattered car |
The
Plateau State correspondent of THE PUNCH Newspapers, Mr. Friday Olokor,
and two other persons he offered a drive on Saturday, escaped attack by
suspected Fulani boys on their way to Abuja to celebrate the Sallah
with their Muslim friends.
The
sad tale was said to have created apprehension and panic among
commuters and his colleagues and human rights community in Jos and
Abuja.
The
incident took place at Agitata - Gunduma Road along Keffi-Kaduna
Expressway, Nasarawa State by 11:50 am, just after a big company under
construction, when some hoodlums, who have been desperate to strike at
their helpless victims, hauled big stones on the rear glass of his car
at a spot where there were big potholes and shattered them to pieces.
Those
with him in the vehicle are Ibadan, Oyo State-born businessman and
contractor, Adesokan Fijabi, who was traveling to Akure and Samuel Dul
Shetur, Lantang, Plateau State-born staff of a popular hotel in
Gwarinpa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja.
Olokor,
a journalist and civil rights activist, said although their mission was
for evil, he was not sure if it was for instant robbery or abduction
for ransom.
"Thank
you Jesus. It is not us but God, it's not that I was smart. It was
divine escape from vicious Fulani Robbers. We're not safe in this
country. Should I stop driving and be using public transport or buy a
smaller car. I understand they target big cars. My car is not the type
used by Senators and politicians.
"But
it is also not a very cheap car, considering the weak strength of the
Naira. If their mission was abduction for a ransom, who would have paid
the money? To you Lord, I give the thanks and glory," Olokor stated.
He
said, "The voice of God told me, 'Na dem, don't stop' and so I didn't
stop; I was traveling from Jos to Abuja for the Sallah. When we
eventually stopped in a safer place in the community, we saw some young
men and women with long sticks, the type used for whipping recalcitrant
cows. We told them of our encounter with the deadly beats.
"They
asked us where the incident took place and we told them. One of the
young men shook his head but showed no empathy. Instead, he was smiling.
Then, we suspected that we may be in their den and I zoomed off to the
next police checkpoint.
"There,
some good police officers from MOPOL 38, Akwanga on highway patrol
informed us that two of the armed robbers terrorizing commuters in the
area were caught two days ago, while their leader escaped.
"The
police officers said robbery on the road does not know time: It could
be morning, afternoon, evening or night. They alleged that the
perpetrators are Fulani boys from Bauchi. When I told them that I went
to some Fulani boys and narrated my encounter, one of the officers said
that is their den. Their feeling could be that they have missed target.
"You're
a bad market for them. Yes, Na them. All the robberies on this road are
carried out by the Fulani boys. Please go to church tomorrow and give
thanks to God", one of them stressed...
The
officers commended the DPO in Agitata Police Division, saying "He
doesn't rest because of the activities of these gangsters."
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