Shot at twice, yet no penetration! Read the story of Nigerian lawyer whose body repelled bullets
Ebenezer Adurokiya writes on the story of Barrister Robinson Ariyo, a seasoned lawyer and human rights activist based in Warri, who was last week shot twice by suspected armed robbers and yet the pellets did not penetrate his shoulder, neither did blood gush out of his body and he is alive to tell the story.
MIRACLES still abound in this age in spite of some misconceptions. Stories abound about how some individuals, whose date with death was not sanctioned by their maker, miraculously escaped vile weapons of agents of darkness and are alive to tell the story.
Such tale came into being again last week in Warri, Delta State, when a learned gentleman, a father of two and husband to a medical doctor, Barrister Robinson Ariyo, of Itsekiri descent, escaped two successive gunshots pumped at him at very close range by some agents of darkness along Refinery Road, Effurun-Warri.
The vigour, with which criminals have relaunched their attacks on innocent citizens recently, is becoming alarming. With street lights along Warri-Sapele Road in comatose for some time now, armed robbers are on the rampage, dispossessing innocent victims of their valuables at gun points.
In their mode of operation, they make use of tricycles, popularly known as Keke and launch out early in the morning and late at night to snatch cars, money and other valuables from early and late risers. At times, they also rape, maim and dehumanise their victims.
At present, an average resident in Warri and environs lives in perpetual, palpable fear. At the sound of “gbam,” everybody flees to take cover while shop owners hurriedly pack their wares and flee in different directions. It is like a war zone.
Although the Yuletide is over, hoodlums, armed with various shades of arms and ammunition, are yet to lay them down. Some say the renewed vigour with which the hoodlums unleash terror on people is occasioned by the build-up to the general elections. With the trains of campaign rallies of different parties moving from one locality to another amid ostentatious display of wealth, every Deltan craves to have a bite of the national cake. Thus, hoodlums are not left out in this rat race.
But most worrisome in this scenario is the hoodlums’ lack of regard, however infinitesimal, for some individuals, particularly those who risk their lives to fight for human rights and dignity.
Such was the case of a young human rights activist and youth builder, Barrister Ariyo, who, but for some divine intervention, would have been “wasted” by some hoodlums.
The easygoing, generous man was waylaid by some armed-bearing robbers along Refinery Road late night of Wednesday, January 28.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate to the Delta State House of Assembly had left his home at Ugwuwangwe in Warri at about 12 midnight to honour an invitation by one of his clients who was lodged at Hotel Excel situated along Refinery Road.
His choice to embark on the midnight trip in volatile Warri and environs was, according to him, informed by reports that crimes usually occurred at certain hours – between 7:00 p.m to 11:00 p.m and 4:00 a.m to 6:30a.m.
“...I understand that the crime style in Warri usually subsists till late in the night, but at about 12 midnight, there is no robbery incidence. So, I usually moved freely that period; I did not think there was any danger on my way,” the APC candidate stated.
Thinking of no danger ahead, Ariyo drove through the NPA expressway and negotiated Refinery Road and had to go forward a bit to turn left and access Hotel Excel. But he met a road block, and as he applied the brake and attempted to make a U-turn with the belief that the hindrance was mounted as a result of the construction work ongoing, some young boys dashed out of the woods and opened fire on him, shattering his windscreen in the process.
“Suddenly, a couple of boys jumped out with guns and told me to wait and I couldn’t think so fast, but the next thing I heard was a gunshot on the driver’s windscreen which shattered the screen. Of course at that point, I had to cooperate with them.
“So, I came out and they asked for my valuables, took my mobile phones, cash and some other items they saw in the car. In order to buy more time, I told them there were drinks in the booth, and while they were going to open the booth, one of them, who apparently could read, saw the sticker on my car that I am a candidate in the coming elections.
“I think it occurred to them that they could take me away so they compelled me to go into my car booth, but traditionally, I don’t operate under tight space. So, I appealed to them that at least, I had given them maximum cooperation and that if they even wanted more, I could give them,” the Supreme Court solicitor narrated.
At that point, Ariyo said the most violent among the hoodlums got angry and said in pidgin English: “We dey tell you say enter your booth you no wan enter eh?” Enraged, the hoodlum pulled out his gun and the next thing the victim heard was a loud bang.
“He brought out his gun and the next thing I heard was a loud bang echoing through my ears twice. So I looked at it, as I was expecting to see blood, they also did not see blood. At this point, one of them went to a store and was coming with a cutlass, so I had to break loose and run. I managed to outrun them and got to the Warri/Sapele Road. As I was still running, fortunately I saw a patrol van belonging to Ekpan Police Station. They stopped me and thought I was a thief before I later explained to them that I was a lawyer and that I just escaped from some robbers. The police went after the robbers and recovered my vehicle while they fled,” the managing director of Robinson Ariyo & Co Law Firm, stated.
On how come the two gunshots aimed at his right shoulder at close range did not harm him, Ariyo, who has consulted for the Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) for three years, said it was shocking to both him and the hoodlums. He described the incident as a miracle as he is a spiritual son of Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
As of the time InsideNigerDelta had a chat with the victim, he was in pains and his right arm hung on his neck. According to him, after he escaped from the hoodlums and the police went after them, he hid in a store along Warri/Sapele till about 5:00 a.m when he got a motorcycle to take him home. He complained that the skin around his chest and neck was as hot as pepper from particles of pellets and gunpowder shot at him. Doctors, he said, told him that his scapular had been distorted due to the impact of the pellets. Radiologist, orthopedic, audiologist and ophthalmologist were preparing to carry out forensic examinations on him. Injuries incurred from battering by the heartless hoodlums were also found on the victim’s forehead and right arm.
When asked if he suspected an assassination attempt on his life, being a top party candidate for the state House of Assembly in February 28 election, Ariyo said no and refused to see the incident from such perspective. He, however, observed that some couple of days before the incident, he had been hearing some strange sounds in his mobile phone.
“An expert told me it is possible to hack into someone’s mobile line and listen to your conversations. One cannot rule anything out, but basically what I can say is that I thank God because I’m alive today. I want to take it that it was a robbery attack that wanted to turn into a kidnap,” the activist, who said he remained resolute in the course of seeking a better life for his people, noted.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, while speaking with InsideNigerDelta, confirmed the incident, but added that Mr Ariyo’s car was recovered almost immediately and that being a robbery attempt, further investigations were on.
Suffice to say that, like Barrister Ariyo, many people have fallen victims of the recently renewed armed robbery attacks and sundry criminalities in the oil-rich city and its environs.
The attention of the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, was drawn to the trend during a breakfast meeting he had with journalists last week Friday in his house at Ajamimogha in Warri.
He expressed optimism that the government would meet with security agencies and owners of motocycles to discuss the bad omen arising from the use of motorcycles, which hoodlums are now using to rob innocent residents of the city.
According to the governor, the hazards associated with the medium of transportation, which replaced the menace of motorcyclists (okada) in 2012, would be reviewed in order to arrest the dwindling security situation in Warri and environs.
Nigerian Tribune
