Something happened last night that shook me, and I believe every resident needs to hear this.
Yesterday morning, I left home as usual, but my return was a nightmare. Heavy traffic along the VGC–Ajah expressway trapped me for almost three exhausting hours, delaying my arrival until well after 9 p.m. in Lekki Phase 1.
We passed through Lekki Phase 1 Mosque Street and Black Rock, and as our gateman opened the gate, I immediately sensed something was wrong. A car had been trailing us — quietly and persistently. I told my driver to turn into the second street on the right, just before the junction near the transformer on Olanrewaju Ninalowo Street, but he couldn’t respond because I was on a call with a friend.
At the junction facing Olanrewaju Ninalowo’s house, beside the transformer, we turned right — and to my shock, the suspicious car followed again. I instructed my driver to park in front of the newly built house opposite Chief Olanrewaju Ninalowo’s residence. We stopped, and the trailing vehicle immediately overtook us and parked right in front of us.
Only then did I realise what we were dealing with — a white Lexus, heavily tinted and without a plate number.
We were stuck. Three large trucks had been abandoned on the left side of the road, leaving no space to escape.
But something changed. The four men inside the Lexus must have suddenly noticed the security officer sitting beside the driver in my car. They refused to step out. My driver carefully manoeuvred after a car coming from the opposite direction, which had occupied my lane because of the three trucks parked by Chief Olanrewaju Ninalowo’s house. We managed to pull away. The moment I arrived home, I instructed another security officer stationed in front of my house to join the one in my vehicle and confront the suspicious car.
As soon as the two officers began walking toward them, the men inside the Lexus panicked, made a sharp turn, and sped off toward the Dele Adedeji gate.
Neighbours, please stay alert. Always pay attention to any vehicle behind you — especially at night.
2) We must begin strict security checks on every vehicle entering our estate much earlier than 10 p.m. during this yuletide season.
3) No car with tinted windows or without a plate number should be allowed into the estate again.
4) Our gate security should particularly watch out for a white Lexus with tinted windows and no plate number.
5) The estate EXCO urgently needs to meet with Chief Olanrewaju Ninalowo. Those three trucks parked along the street are a major security risk to everyone.
Honestly, I do not want to imagine what could have happened if I didn’t have security personnel with me and those trucks completely blocked our escape route.
6) Inside your car, stay alert. Avoid long conversations that distract you from your surroundings.
7) If you don’t have any essential business in Ajah, Ikota, or Chevron Road, please avoid those routes for now. Opportunistic criminals are everywhere.
Avoid being outside after 7 p.m. during this ember month.
May the Lord protect and guide us throughout this December and in the years ahead.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.
