by Kay Omar

There are too many people on the streets of Lagos walking around in the guise of security operatives/law enforcement officers, and all toting dangerous weapons. Dangerous weapons here would include huge clubs (kondo), sticks, wire and broken pipes (ranging from plastic weapon).

When you get to Mile 2 Oke, there is this group of agbero who, more than anything, are just a bunch of terrorising thugs. Armed with the “weapons” I have just described, they take swipes at passing buses sometimes knocking off side mirrors or hitting the conductor squarely. (Mehn, conductor don suffer!)  As a result of this brutish treatment, most Coaster buses do not stop at Mile 2 Oke to pick or drop passengers; an event that has done nothing to deter these animals. Rather, it has fuelled their aggression as they risk their lives, facing down oncoming and sometimes speeding vehicles, just for a chance to make that one good aim at a fleeing bus.

I have always wondered who the heck employs these thugs and whether it’s part of the job description to get the money at all cost. The saddest part of all this is that it happens right under the nose of the police who stand side by side with these agbero. Even if there is no law against extortion in this country at least there should be one against carrying dangerous weapons and causing harm with them.

Oh well! Thank God it’s election year. Maybe finally we get to vote in that saviour who will restore some sanity and dispel the chaos in this country. Maybe.

Oluwapelumi