Lagos is not your Friend: The Story of Old Oshodi Shege
Oshodi Lagos can never be your friend, take from innocent Lagos girl turned “agbero”. I was too trusting for someone who experienced Oshodi during the OPC and Agbero tussle. I grew up in Orile Oshodi, it was like a city in the jungle but this story is for another day. Let me tell you a story of how my innocent mind was made to understand that what stood between me and “shine your eyes” was a “touch” from a stranger.
It was a beautiful day, I was so excited because I just got my white T-shirt for my uniform and a school backpack I was in love with. What was there not to be excited about? I just entered SS2 so I was climbing the ladder of adulthood (nobody told me). In that sea of people rubbing bodies and trying to avoid paying for what you did not buy (if you know, you know), I carried my beautiful backpack and innocently waltzed my way through the pool of people going and coming inside the old Oshodi market.
There, a man approached me and started talking about missing his way and coming from Gabon. Now, for a sweet innocent school girl (emphasis on sweet), I barely know Oshodi but it didn’t stop me from trying to be nice. To this very day, I can’t tell the story of how I followed this man, a total stranger, entered a public bus with him, and ended up at Illasa. For those who don’t know Lagos, we walked from the new Oshodi bus terminal down to the other side of the express. Maths did me dirty, I would have provided an accurate distance. The point is, throughout the walk, my mind didn’t register that I was actually walking with a stranger (what I said about a sweet and innocent schoolgirl).
At Illasa, somewhere in a dark room, these men started doing all sorts of magic (juju). I was threatened with an unknown fear. They knew where my aunt kept her money, where I lived, and my school. I don’t know how but these guys were thorough. The catch? oh, it was easy, they took my phone, asked me to go home and search for a particular bag and bring the money there. If you’re wondering if I did, I did. I entered bus, went home, search for the exact spot, found the money, entered bus again and took the money to them. How on earth did I do that? I have no idea, and that’s a drop of the shege I got going to Oshodi market.
I’ll be back for shege stories…Lagos has plenty.
