Year: 2002
Location: Benin City, Edo State.

It was at about 2am in the morning, I heard loud banging noise coming from the bugulary protector of the house. My dad and mum screaming 'thief ooo, thief ooo'. This did'nt deter them. They came ready. Within half an hour they had broken through into our house. During the time they were breaking in, I was so scared and felt like shitting my pants. I was just 17 years old. I was in the living room watching as things were unfolding. My younger sister took a peep from the window and started screaming 'I have seen your face.' My heart melted, I was like ' hayyy you don die today'. As the bugulary protector gave way, I run to my room and pretended to be asleep. I could hear them saying to my dad, ' Oga, no be you dey shout since' . My dad said 'Oga i beg I no go shout again'. They started ransacking the house. My mum was beaten with a cutlass and she took them to her room they took her expensive wrappers, food stuff and money. When they got to my sister they said 'No be you dey say you don see my face?' She was taken to her room, one of the thief said to the other, 'leave am, na small pickin, which face e know.' That was how she was saved that day.

When they got to my room, they found me sleeping (pretending) I heard one of them say to the other ' How we go dey operate this big boy go dey sleep? Oya shine am gun'. I could feel my heart beat as if my heart wanted to explode. I prayed my last prayer and asked God for mercy. Felt the gun on my head and was waiting to hear the shot. I wanted to get up and beg 'oga i no dey sleep na pretend I dey pretend.' But I chose to continue sleeping.

After about 10 mins no gun shot, I pretended to turn in my sleep, opened my eye slightly and saw that the man had quietly left my room and was standing with a gun in the lobby. Then I saw his face. ( I later saw the guy around the area, and foolishly he wore my chain which he stole from our house that day, I just let the matter slide and did'nt tell my parents) They were in our home for over 1hour. After that, they went to the neighbours houses, about 4 compounds were robbed that day. While they were at other compound 1 of them seemed to remain outside our house and kept knocking and saying hope everyone is lying down. So they spent 1hour inside our house and 2 hours outside. What is funny is that they ate, drank our water, and used our toilet.

It was an experience.

Location: Benin City, GRA

Year: 2011.

I was having a walk with my girlfriend then, now my wife @ about 8:30PM. I was 23 years old then.
Two guys jumped out on us from the street and showed us a gun and a battle axe. I did'nt want to know if the gun had bullets or not. I can run off but she can't.

We were commanded to follow them, they took us to a bushy uncompleted building by the side of the road. It was the most humiliating, condescending and terrifying day of my life. I was told to lie on the floor. They were hitting me on my legs and back with a battle axe, I tried to act and stay calm. They took my girl to another part of the uncompleted building. They were asking her if we are lovers; she told them no that we were cousins. They asked me to confirm and I told them we are cousins. They said if she doesn't comply that they would kill me and her.

I heard as they raped her one after the other why she was screaming and helpless. Me too I couldn't do anything. After all the ordeal, they stole our phones, money, my watch, shoe and belt then let us go.

I can never forget. During the incidence I was so terrified, I felt feeling that I couldn't explain.


The next morning, I took my girlfriend to a hospital where she was put on PEP for HIV for 30 days. She had regular checks and she was clean few months after.

That experience shook us to our core for a long time, and we don't stay outside our house more than 7:30PM or travel late at night. We don't even talk about it or mention it. If I visit Nigeria next time the first thing I will buy is a gun and 100 bullets. I will also teach my wife how to shoot and reload, enough is enough.

When I have killed the thief that tries me next time then I can start discussing the issue of the illegal gun at my house.

Every Nigerian should have the right to own and keep a gun at home (for God sake, It is a tool, just like screw driver, and pliers). Everyman needs it in his home in these modern days.

They can criminalise going outside your house with a gun, but give us the right to bear it in your home. People will feel and be more safer in Nigeria. After all we provide our own light, water, accommodation, and security in Nigeria. So why not let me secure myself properly.