Would you spend between N20m and N50m to rent faux luxury apartments in Nigeria’s Ikoyi and still live like you are in prison
This is the lot of some Nigerians who find themselves in a paradise that is daily turning into a coven
She called me and wanted to see me. This was the third time in three years she was calling
I suspected what was on her mind and tarried a bit since I was in a meeting
Joseph, I need to take this off my mind, and I said ok, I’m coming
I call her my sister cos we have a long-standing relationship from banking and into stockbroking
She looked down and sat across from me in my little office
Joseph, they have stolen my things again.
I was weak
This is the third time in three different locations in Ikoyi
From Probyn to Alexander and now Bank Road , she has been a victim of burglars
He come be like say na only me dem dey theif na him make me just come ur office come relax Joseph
I pitied her as she spoke. Soft spoken, with a little child going through this kind of harrowing experience
Joseph dem no only thief me, dem carry police pursue me and got me arrested say I dey do ‘intent to defraud’
Joseph, how I go theif my own thing. A whole room of things disappeared as I come back from vacation
Na Facility Manager people o. Dem hack my CCTV, use drone stall am and he be like say dem dey monitor me
Go Police, I shout. I don go police, but the case was turned against me, so we pack out and come meet the same situation
I never even pack into this new house when I begin to notice the same movements
My advance load done disappear, and I don stop to pack until I’m sure of what’s happening
I come dey wonder if na cos of say I be woman these things dey happen to me
I know my sister very well. She is well-grounded and an erudite stockbroker and banker with a lot of cognitive years of experience
She would not make all these up even though it was sounding ‘one kind’
Three houses, all within Ikoyi, same modus operandi and same suspects – Facility Managers
To date, no one has been arrested, no staff have been sacked by the Facility Manager despite all reports made and no movement on the police side
Maybe she should put Juju. In Shomolu those days, you would end up sweeping the compound you came to steal from
Maybe that’s what she needs to stop this massive conspiracy between the thieves, their employers and the authorities who seem to be looking the other way
She wants media attention to shout, and I say, My sister, I don’t have that kind of power and refer her to a brilliant media strategist who will do a good job
As I walk her to her car, I see her weariness and her sorrow.
My big sister, her beautiful young daughter and the whole of Ikoyi and their Facility Management conclave are picking her out to be violently violated in this manner.
It’s wild. Who else has experienced something like this in Ikoyi, or is this just an isolated case?
Three houses, three burglaries, leaving a pained and drained woman seeking answers
Na wa
Duke of Shomolu