It was around that kind 7 o clock for night that we went to rob in the traffic.
Many times, we just hang around to see if any passenger for bus stop will be careless or maybe they are standing alone, we will just go to them, tell them, “Bring your phone if you don’t want me to give you another shithole for your stomach.”
Many times, they cooperate, they just give their phones or bags. But me and Musiliu, we like to go for the women. Women can panic well, well. Just go close, they will look at your face and begin to shake gbirigbiri. They are easy to rob.
So, in the evening when traffic begin to slow, that is the time we rob people in their cars; we go to their side, show them our gun, rob them.
I swear by Yasin and my mother’s grave, I did not know the women we were robbing that day were police women. When I no dey crase, why will I go and rob police? Whether they are man or woman, I will never try it.
But that day, me and Musiliu just saw two women in a car in traffic, they were not wearing police uniform, their glass was down. And you know, women are very easy to rob. They are very careless.
So I signal Musiliu. I say, you go that side, me I will stay this side. We showed the women our guns and tell them to cooperate.
Me, I just expect that they will quickly give us their bag, so we can give it to Alaba, our guy that is on okada, he is the one who collects the bags and he will go with it as we go to rob other people in another car.
So, that is how we showed them our gun. Immediately we did that, me sef, my bodi just tell me that something no correct for here because the two women just looked at each other and did not even show fear on their face.
Abi these ones think I have time for them? I knocked my gun on their windscreen to tell them to hurry. The women just began to say, nothing dey their bag, that we should not take their bags.
I come ask myself say, ‘Abi these women think that this shakabula in my hand is a toy gun?
Joo bring that bag, I just reach my hand inside the car and take the bag and pass to Musiliu to give Alaba.
Wahala start when the women just abandoned their car and start to shout.
I turn and I see that one of them was running after me and I just think to myself, this woman want to die because of bag?
Before I know what is happening, i dey hear, ‘Ole, ole, he don tif my bag…’
I have pick race, Musiliu too confuse, he sef, he was running to where Alaba was waiting on okada but Alaba don start his Okada and drive off and leave us.
It was around this time that people started chasing us, many people just started throwing us stones, they caught both of us. They beat hell out of us, remove our clothes join; beat us so tey, it was police that came to help us.
I was just asking myself, which kind wahala be dis?
I go school small but no money to continue and when you no go school, no body go hire you. So, that is why I try to make small change from robbing people, selling their phones.
Sometimes we get ATM card that Alaba help us to take the money from that account. Alaba go school, so he know how to use computer to take money from someone’s ATM.
Anyway, when we get to police station, that is when I know that the women are police o. I did not know that they were police, I for go another car but as e be so, to dey rob don end for me be dat.
(Series written and edited by Peju Akande and based on true stories)