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Funmi Iyanda
Lagos, Nigeria
Funmi Iyanda is a multi award-winning producer and broadcast journalist. She is the CEO of Ignite Media and Executive Director of Creation Television
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

No words really

On Monday at the 22nd at 7. 50pm on Ikorodu road coming off the Eko Bridge at Alaka, 6 armed robbers shot my admin manager Funmi and my driver Kunle. They shot at my younger sister Tosin and snatched my car leaving them bleeding in a hail of bullets. The past two days has been spent breathing in the decay of our lives and systems. From the hospital to the police stations, I watch the desperately ill and hurt, the dying and the sometimes valiant, some times indifferent hospital personnel. I watch the resigned, petulant and exasperated policemen in a barrack out of hell and a police station from purgatory.

I watched our true reality in calm numbness.

I cannot blame the people, they are all operating in the way most humans will in such a hopeless situation but yet I blame the people, why do they not refuse to live like this? I blame myself, why do I not refuse to live like this?

Truth is I am right now too disorientated to do more than auto operate, I will get to the issues when I have clarity. Now I have two injured and hospitalized people to care for.

People often ask how we are able to take it all in our stride. This is one of the reasons: After the attack, a taxi driver who had witnessed it all came around and put my injured people in his taxi, drove them to the police station to get a report (you still cannot get treatment for gunshot wounds without police report even if you are bleeding your essence away) and then waited around to drive them to the hospital, ensure they were okay and then quietly left without asking for a dime. Only a Nigerian can understand the many risks he took. If any of the victims had died in his car, he would be in jail before he knew it and would need either a lot of money or a lot of years to get out.

It is because we recognize the potential in our people and ourselves for great acts of kindness and good that we keep going in this sometimes heroic, sometimes heinous existence. The question is, will we ever realize that potential and what will it take for us to do so?

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

So sorry about this. so so sorry. I hope they recover soon.

Take care and stay strong.

x

Yewande Atanda said...

Anty Funmi,

sorry about that. i hope they are now feeling better. please don't get depressed; keep doing what u knw how to do best.

Adewale Ajani said...

Auntie Funmi, my heart-felt accompaniment goes to you at this very trying time.

This once more is to justify the modern day jungle our society has turned out to be. Howbeit, individuals like the taxi man, show there are still humans in our society.

I just feel like giving up on this country!

Anonymous said...

take heart aunty Funmi. I don't know when and how the situation will get better, but it will...it has to.

Anonymous said...

Hi, GF,
I am still in shock and in tears. I know that feeling cause I have been robbed not once but thrice.
How are you, emotionally and physically? And your people? Well, I just said a short prayer for you all, it is well.

Now is the time to reach into your 'reserve' energy to forgive those robbers ( who do not know any better) and not be discouraged.

I came to your blog to be inspired cause several 'Nigeria' factors are affecting my plans and ... ( I don't want to bore you). But this latest blog has left me asking myself if it is right for me to wish that my children, grandchildren... grow in my country of birth.

Lots of hugs and kisses, please take care of yourself.

Anonymous said...

I pray Funmi & Kunle get better without any complications.

plastiQQ said...

...really speechless. May God spare their lives and give you and your family strenght to deal with this.

Community College Advocate said...

Funmi, pele O. I am out of the country now but will call when I get home as your number is in my phone at home.

Bonike

Anonymous said...

Honestly,it takes someone with a heart of gold to do something as heroic but certainly,what most people will agree to be a stupidly dangerous act in Nigeria's contemporary times.
I admire his courage,his love for his fellow mankind and especially for his exemplary show of patriotism.I make bold to say that Nigeria will surely become a better place to live in if we could have more individuals like this wonderful Taxi Driver.
Who says there is no hope for Naija?

Anonymous said...

I am sorry.

Anonymous said...

am really sorry,how are they?that is so bad,i dont know what to write,am really baffled,eeya......tosin was involved too.pls just try and take care of them.am deeply sorry for this.

Anonymous said...

pele o!Thank God for their lives. It is only God that can protect us, as for our leaders and security issues, all l can say is God dey! God in his infinte mercy will heal them and guide them through dis traumatic journey.I have been a victim myself, so l knw wat they are passing through even though l was lucky to have escaped their bullets. Up till 2day, my car has not been found. But yours will b found in Jesus name. We have to keep on praying and thanking God.
Stay blessed always

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear this. Bless God for keeping them alive. Wish them speedy recovery...How long are we going to continue with this in this nation?

Anonymous said...

am so sorry. but honesty nija is completely messed up! the system itself encourages robbers by no doing anything tocheckmate them! imagine lagos state government buying hotel boat when the state can be secured by insisting all major roads have cctv and other security devices...my dear am very sorry.

Anonymous said...

Eeeh yaah, sorry funmi, Thank God no life was lost at the attack, sorry.

Anonymous said...

pele oooo. But let's praise God for sparing their lives. The spate of robbery in Lagos state has become more alarming but we trust God to protect His people

Iyaeto said...

Eeeya! Funmi sorry o. I wish them a quick recovery.
We'll continue to pray for the country. I still don't understand why "they " have to shoot people after taking their belongings. And God bless the taxi driver

Anonymous said...

Hi funmi, I hope your team gets better soon , its sad that the lagos we so love has degenerated to the level of us not being safe in traffic,which is already a huge pain on its own, with all the things you are going thru right now reach inwards and pray, just keep praying till u feel at peace

Anonymous said...

I often read this blog, but never left a comment. May God bless the taxi driver, and may he make sure your people get back to full recovery very soon. I'll keep you and them in my prayers.

This and many more ridiculous stories is the reason why I have decided not to return to Nigeria. No amount of money can make me change my mind to leave in a country that is simply hopeless.

Anonymous said...

My prayers are with you and everyone involved.

One the other hand I was shocked when I read about the police report requirement before going to the hospital.Every second matters in an emergency.

Funmilola Ogundare said...

Auntie Funmi,

Sorry about that, I wish them quick recovery....dont worry God is with you and you will never be put to shame.

Chioma said...

Funmi,
It is well. Thank goodness they are alive, and they will get well too.
As for the car, i'm sure it will be found but if not, dem don carry your wahala go be dat.
Blessings to you.

Anonymous said...

Best wishes

kaffy said...

Anty fummie
I was baffled and shocked with tears in my eyes when i heard what happened it was sympathetic am so sorry for that pls take things easy and i pray may God give them speed recovery and may you never witness this kind of a thing again in your life,i thank God for them still being alive upon the gun shot.
My regards to the family as a whole,take care bye.

kaffy said...

am sorry

kaffy said...

sorry for what happened

Unknown said...

I am so sorry. I wish them a quick recovery. Pls, do take care

Anonymous said...

i am so sorry...thank GOD they are alive....God will give everyone the strength at this time...

For the love of me said...

So so sorry to hear that. I wish them a speedy recovery and God bless the taxi driver.

In my head and around me said...

My prayers are with the injured. The Taxi driver was very brave. The Lord shall reward him.

Something you wrote stood out for me: "...yet I blame the people, why do they not refuse to live like this?"

I often wonder about this, but I am confused as to what to do. Sitting in my house in silent protest (or even mouthing off to my friends) has not helped.

Any thoughts? I will picket, sign a petition, whatever...any thoughts?

Walking said...

Hope they are better now. Hope you are okay too. Take care

Anonymous said...

so sorry anty funmii, May God giv u strenght to go on,despite this painful incident. how i wish i kan i imediately change the event so you wont feel this pain,but thank God it wasnt worsre,Than God you werent in the car, Than God 4 the good samaritan.stay strong,ur best is yet 2 come. Lov ya plenty

dScR?Be said...

so sorry to hear this... God be with you at this time...

Babawilly said...

Shocked and sad to hear this.
First robbers, then no ambulance service and to add exsanguination to haemorrhage report to the station for a police report before emergency care.

Thank God there were no deaths.
Sad.
I still believe things will get better in Nigeria.
God bless the Taxi driver