It all began on a certain morning, sometime around 2 am. I was at school, in a students lodge located outside the campus.
I was awakened by a loud bang, I got up suddenly out of shock, and from the sound of pleading and begging from my neighbor. Apparently, Some armed men just kicked his door open and were threatening to hurt them with machetes. I went quickly to turn off my lights as I slept off and left them on. Peeping through my curtains, I saw several men with machetes and touch lights. As soon as the touch lights which were previously scanning the lodge came first to my window through which I was peeping through a corner and then to my door, I knew it was my turn.
I stepped back with my heart profusely pounding and alas! Bang! The first kick to my door, it got bent, opened up but it still held on. The second bang! And it opened up. Now here's the thing. I had a metal door- not sure if it was steel, it has a lock and two bolts- one up and another down, I usually bolt only the top bolt.
Now my door is opened in the middle of the night with a man standing in front, he scanned the room with his touch light (that's if it wasn't also stolen), before asking me to go to a side of the room. He didn't even speak a word at that point, just pointing the light at me and pointing that corner of the room a couple of times made me understand the message.
I went to that corner of the room, shirtless and in shorts with my hands held high. Soon after another guy joined him in the room.
They asked me for my smartphone and money, I replied pointing to my bed where my phone was and telling them I had no money. This went on for a couple of times before he picked it up to check it out. He dumped it into a sack he has on and went on to ask for money at the same time going through my bag on the bed. I got scared and cold chills went through my bones as I just remembered I had some money in my bag, not much but it was there. I know that these guys (robbers) hate being lied to. He went through the bag and his comrade went to my wardrobe and even tried out a shirt before dumping it on the ground and breaking the wardrobe, all the while still flashing bright lights at my face so I could see little going on.
He finally found the cash in my bag and the medication I had in there to, he focused the light on me but I could still see him looking at me, he looked at me, then looked at the money and did this a couple times before he gave me the money and went out.
It took me a few minutes to get myself and I was suddenly hit with a wave of gratitude to God that I wasn't hacked or something else. Recalling events of the robbery still in the wake if it, I remember greeting the man that kicked my door open ‘Good morning sir’ to which he replied. I found it insanely funny that even in panic and shock, I still had my good manners.
After about 30 minutes, my neighbors stepped out and I joined them all simultaneously recounting our experience with the daring robbers. During the conversation, a flash light hit the gate and a voice following it. I heard the voice and recognized who the person was but that didn't stop me from joining everyone to run away for safety before finally returning to open up the gate for the neighbor. Luckily, he had gone out the previous night and was only returning.
Realizing who it was, we all came out again mocking each other for running away in fear.
What I learnt from the robbery
Firstly, If you have locks use them, all of them.
Secondly, don't struggle with the robbers if it seems they just want belongings cooperate, so they don't hurt you. I acknowledge that this is not the always case. Did I mention that the guys who broke into my place were high as hell?
In my particular case, don't be too quick to be a hero, as I was being robbed a couple of my neighbors were too simultaneously. Don't fight back unless completely necessary for survival, imagine beating the guys up (if I could) and getting out to find more outside.
Thank God for getting out safely.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we build a society where all this vices don't exist, but please until then, do all that's necessary to keep yourself and all you love safe. Ps. I got a brand new smartphone, significantly better than my last one.
Thanks for the read, don't hesitate to share your stories and safety tips to help others. Please do well to follow me and don't hesitate to support in anyway you can.
