I was driving to carter bridge from ikeja around 5am when some one flashed a light. To my surprise it was not the police, on the usual, this is what the Nigerian police does to signal someone to slow down.
Apparently, I had been a good citizen obeying but this time to the wrong people. I was about to drive off and saw they had drawn a barricade on the road. And he said “we can do this the hard way or easy way. The easy way is we are borrowing this car and we’d return it to this same location tomorrow 5am. The hardway is that my friend on your right hand has a beretta in his pocket. If you act funny he would use it.”
I had thought for myself this is not the day I plan to die. I would even be buried before the next morning as a muslim. Then said “Oga I choose the easy way.” He said good, Mr Man you can step out of the vehicle. Your car would be returned to this location tomorrow 5am.
We work for reputable personnels in the country. If you inform the police, we would know and I can see you are dressed like a white collar man. Where do you work? He enquired, I work at Victoria Island, I am a lawyer working in a capital market firm. He said okay, my name is Dr. Oyenusi that is my friend Paki, and the other ones behind are James and Amadi.
You are a Doctor? Asked Mr Bain Idowu. Bain Idowu was named so after he was bathed by an english nurse before independence of Nigeria and his parents wanted it to be unique so they called him Bain.
Oyenusi said I am sure you know I am the celebrity crime lord “Doctor Ishola.” Mr Bain froze the moment he heard the name. In his presence is the boisterous Dr. Ishola, with three armed men. He could kill him in split seconds and no one would chase the case because numerous people who tried either went missing or were so disappointed their NPF superiors did not bother about the case.
This was July 7, 1971 some months before now one of his deadly operations along Herbert Macaulay Road in Lagos ransacked the media. Doctor Ishola Oyenusi had hijacked a car, in an attempt to restrain he shot the owner leaving him for dead and sold the vehicle for £400, only to give the money to his girlfriend who ended up bragging about Oyenusi unknowingly courting the wrong attention.
He was a tyke to the society, killed for fun and operated in a manner that made his arrest seemingly impossible. Numerous heresy has flung Lagos the capital city that he was endowed with charms. I felt different around him, reasons unknown to me, my grandfather baba said there is good in everyone you just need to be good to bring out that aspect of them.
I said I am Bain Idowu, Oyenusi said you don’t mean it. No wonder you have a Peugeot 404, the big fish himself. I inquired do you know me? He said I know you went to Oxford University and you are a lawyer. Your grandfather was one of those who fought for Independence.
“At least you had opportunities to choose, life gave us no choice. So don’t judge me, pass me the keys.” Oyenusi said and I felt this feeling of imagining what he must have been through to choose this life. In the late 60s when Oyenusi came, he sprang a surprise graduation in his operations.
From bullying, to petty theft, then into car jacking, and finally became a notorious armed robber. But he was well-known to all Nigerians, his counterpart Anini dwelled in Benin, Edo state. My wife mother’s family was from and I made her swear she’d never visit it until Anini repents or meets judgment.
After giving him my key, wallet and everything I had. It was his audacity for me, he asked “That wriggle doublemint pack in your front pocket. The boys need it for the road” I first had imagined how I would trek to Victoria Island, I have no money on me anymore. The banks open 9am, luckily my Managing Director knows me well and is a family friend, appearing at the hours past clock-in would be understandable.
If I were to take a taxi, he would already say “Oga hold your change o” how can I tell him I was robbed by Doctor Ishola and I am alive to tell the story. It sounds like I am on aromatic schnapps because everyone that had encountered Dr. Ishola did not live to testify to it.
Did he accustom himself a modus operandi?
He was a phoenix, regenerated himself from the ashes of his previous operation but with a more sophisticated technique. He was an expert robber and he was ruthless at this craft but he has assured me to return for the car.
I trust his words but the stare on the look of the three men with him told otherwise. In as much as it seemed like a bad day from the start. I lifted my hand to tell the time and remembered my Omega constellation was also taken. It was a birthday gift from my wife, Ireti. Who would have preferred I was shot than losing the watch.
I met her in my days at Oxford University in England. This was some years ago when she stated she also attended Oxford University but she actually went to Oxford Brookes and each time I said they are two different universities she said “gbogbo ni” this in turn means its all the same.
How do I explain to her? She’d assume I was not man enough to fight back. She forgets always forget this is not Christopher D’Olier Reeve superman in Hollywood. This is Bain Idowu, an associate lawyer in a capital market. The only things I know are bulls, bears and pig for forex trade when we are dealing with stocks.
While thinking I kept walking and suddenly noticed the clouds are getting brighter. I found someone who was keen to give a lift. And I arrived at the office totally stranded. Famous for my wriggle doublemint bubble gum. Tayo, an annoying intern from Admin department came saying Sir Bain, please do your have a wad of gum for me?
I stared at him disdainfully and said if you do not leave this place I will descend on you. I felt the need to inform the police but remembered what Doctor Ishola had said. He instructed I return 5am the following morning.
After the days work, I refused to discuss about what had happened and lied to Ireti the car is at the mechanic. I already asked the driver to drop me off with Iretis car at 4:30am. In hope I would receive my car.
Fortunately for me, it was 4:51am and I saw my car approaching me at the spot. These men were already drunk and my car had scratches around but luckily it was returned and I wondered is the the real Doctor Ishola that many fear? Or something about him had changed.
Months later he was arrested after attacking the police headquarters Lion building and shooting a police officer. He was paraded and alongside dozens of others he faced firing squad at bar beach. And I had come to learn that there is good in everyone, though I miss my Omega constellation but at least I am alive.
And my wife kept pestering about it then I told her the truth. Though she fed me with empty pot for a week but after that she understood I was at gun point.
Tilewa “Tilly” Yussuf is a Poet and Storyteller from Nigeria based in England. His collection of poems and short story would be released in the summer of 2024.
