By Kayode OLAGUNJU, mni
It was sometime in February 2003 when the “Idumagbo bomb blast” occurred in Lagos. A multi-layered building at the densely populated Idumagbo area of Lagos was flattened, with many people involved. There were many fatalities as well as survivors. Some other surrounding houses were also affected. That was a black Sunday. I was the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Lagos then and among the first group of security and rescue officials to be at ground zero. Being the most senior officer at the scene, I had to coordinate all efforts of the Police, FRSC, NEMA, Lagos State teams of SEMA, Fire Service, hospitals, LASTMA, among others.
Initially, the story everywhere was that it was a bomb blast, coming shortly after the 27 January anniversary of the Ikeja Military Cantonment explosions that resulted in several fear-induced fatalities, particularly at Oke Afa in the Oshodi-Isolo axis, where several persons were drowned while trying to cross the deep canal. The loud explosions at the Military Cantonment shook the entire Lagos. People heard the blasts in many places. Many thought it was either a military coup or an invasion. The canal was several kilometres away from the military base. So, it was easy for people, especially residents of Lagos, to assume it was another bomb, about a year after. Hundreds of persons, about 700 people in the official reports and over a thousand in unofficial accounts were said to have lost their lives in the unfortunate Ikeja explosion incident.
Was it really a bomb blast at Idumagbo? No. Investigations revealed that the heavy blasts came from the explosions of some badly stored fireworks meant for sale, in one of the apartments of the building. As you know the tradition of our people, rather than stay away from such dangerous scenes, our people actually gravitate towards the epicentre, not minding that there could be secondary and subsequent explosions that could inflict more damage. Everybody wanted to see, so human traffic was heavy and control was hectic. The scene also became a sort of mecca, as many government officials at all levels, popular politicians, and leaders at community and national levels visited daily, as the rescue operations lasted several days.
On the day popular politicians visited, traffic both human and vehicular was massive around the area, and the whole environment was thrown into disorder. I vividly remember the arrival of the convoy of the then Lagos State Governor, now our President, His Excellency Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. The crowd was ecstatic and everyone wanted to come close to him. Even some of our boys, the security operatives stylishly abandoned their duties and moved closer to him. It was a good day for them too, as Asiwaju doled out a lot of cash to appreciate and encourage those involved in the rescue and security assignments. Many of them smiled.
That day also created a serious challenge for me. Asiwaju gave a lot of money to the Police and some other operatives in groups and none to the FRSC officials, as he just told me to follow him to the office to sort out the guys. I even had the privilege of riding in the same vehicle with him to the Governor’s Office at Alausa in Ikeja. What a privilege? Laughs. We arrived at his office at Alausa, I think around 8 p.m. He called one of his senior staff, I won’t disclose his name now to sort out the issue. After waiting for some time and the person went into a marathon meeting, I left.
You can imagine the expectation of the boys and their disappointment when I told them that I did not leave the Governor’s office with any money. Only my integrity saved the situation, and the few doubting Thomases later learnt of the memo I wrote to the HE on the matter, and that cleared the doubts. I remember the then CSO, CSP Kayode Egbetokun, the immediate past IGP, had to step in at some point. What finally happened? I will also keep that story to myself for now. Anyway, this is a diversion.
Back to the activities at Idumagbo. We got information from the Palace of the Oba of Lagos that the White-cap Chiefs were visiting the scene. Vehicular movement in the area had been cut off, except for ambulances and security vehicles, but human traffic on all the nearby streets was heavy. We could not restrict human movement much because people were living around and businesses were still going on. So, we believed traffic control was going to be tough. However, the Palace told us we should not worry ourselves too much. So, we mapped out our strategies and awaited the Chiefs.
At the appointed time, the Chiefs came in a bus, if I remember very well, all in white, some wearing only wrappers and white caps. But that is not the gist. They came down from the vehicle, and a man not so tall had a white wrapper around his waist, with his body completely covered in white powder, marks on his face, and holding a particular kind of staff, like you see priests carrying a big cross. He had something in his mouth, held tightly with his lips. No communication with anybody. I could not confirm if his eyeballs were reddish.
He gave the Chiefs about a 30-metre gap, while they followed in a column of two so orderly, like in a military parade. There was occasional chanting. Come and see running everywhere. People of all ages were moving away from them. The road was cleared. It was like putting a knife through butter. Nobody was ready to meet the man. He was just going straight, as if possessed, or probably a spirit. His short height also created fear, I think.
After briefing the Chiefs, they went round the streets to have a good assessment of the damage scattered around the area. It was a peaceful and orderly movement. Nobody was ready to test whether it was a show or drama. That is a clear case of “tanfeku” who wan die, as we say in local parlance. Everybody maintained distance. Not even the boastful and boisterous area boys could stand their ground. They all kept their distance and watched from afar. Surprisingly too, there was no noise from the onlookers; the chanting could be heard several metres away.
After the tour, the Chiefs went back to their bus and left. The story remained on the streets for days.
Is it a matter of belief or fear? No wonder some people are suggesting that government officials and elected politicians should take their oaths traditionally, invoking native gods and deities. Haaa, I saw something….
Dr Kayode OLAGUNJU, mni
Retired Deputy Corps Marshal
