A middle-aged man, Mr. Tobi Adepoju who was on a journey to Ikenne on Wednesday for a meeting has narrated a harrowing scene that unfolded on the highway, highlighting the escalating insecurity on routes once considered safe. A young man, traveling from Ojodu Berger to Abeokuta, was reported to have been the latest victim of a highway robbery/kidnapping terrifying incident that has become disturbingly frequent.
The victim, who had boarded a vehicle at the Berger bus stop, found himself in a “one-chance” car, a term used to describe vehicles operated by criminals posing as legitimate drivers. Despite the presence of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and park officials, it appears that insufficient diligence is done on the drivers allowed to operate from these parks. The focus, it seems, remains on the revenue generated from drivers rather than passenger safety.
“The robbery was brutal. The attackers stripped the man of all his belongings, while a woman in the same vehicle suffered an even graver assault. The victims were then pushed out of the moving car onto the highway, leaving the young man injured and bleeding”.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the growing insecurity in the country. Reflecting on the early days of his journalism career, Mr Tobi Adepoju recalled his own experiences with travel insecurity. “I couldn’t afford the bus or car at the park. We used to enter sole cars and buses, waiting on the express for cheap rides,” he reminisced.
He shared that during those years, he was robbed once in Warri, and often had to rely on the grace of God for safety on his journeys.
He continued, “Many of these vehicles, often without license plates and imported as “Tokunbo” (used cars), pose significant risks. Drivers usually transport these cars to other cities, and passengers often face high dangers. “We survived by His grace and not by human power,” Adepoju said.
“What used to be an enjoyable road trip has now turned into a nightmare. With the soaring cost of flight tickets making air travel unaffordable for many and the impracticality of flying short distances such as from Lagos to Abeokuta, road travel has become a daunting prospect. A journey of less than two hours has now transformed into a perilous ordeal”.
In the face of such adversity, Adepoju remains hopeful. “God will continue to protect us as we hustle to make ends meet. We shall not encounter anything that will bring us to harm,” he prayed, concluding with a heartfelt, “May God bless Nigeria!”
Meanwhile, Mr. Tobi Adepoju emphasized the urgent need for improved security measures on our roads, and stricter oversight of the transportation services that citizens rely on daily. The safety of passengers must be prioritized to prevent such terrifying experiences from becoming commonplace.