You don’t believe in miracles, then read this.
A seasoned lawyer and human rights activist based in Warri, Barrister
Robinson Ariyo, was recently shot twice by suspected armed robbers but
his skin refused to yield to the gun pellets.
Narrating his miraculous encounter to Tribune Newspaper, Ariyo
revealed that he was waylaid by the gang 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,” he stated.
However, while driving through the NPA expressway and negotiated
Refinery Road, 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.
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, “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 Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Police
Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed the attack saying Mr Ariyo’s car
was recovered almost immediately and that being a robbery attempt,
further investigations were on.
