Offa Robbery Attack - From Tragedy to Justice: Rasheed Tayo Tijani’s Memoir

April 5th, 2018 Offa Robbery Attack - From Tragedy to Justice: Rasheed Tayo Tijani’s Memoir

By Rasheed Tayo Tijani

April 5, 2018, began as an ordinary day, but fate had other plans. I was headed to Owode Police Station, accompanied by three others, to resolve a community issue. A detour to the Police Command on Igosun Road delayed my arrival—a decision that ultimately saved my life. The irony is not lost on me: had I arrived on time, I would have been caught in the deadly chaos that unfolded at the station that day.

As we neared Agun roundabout, the atmosphere thickened with tension. Gunshots rang out, breaking the morning calm. Strangers on the road warned us to avoid Afelele Road. Heeding their advice, we took an alternate route through Alubata Ojurin, and the calls started pouring in—frantic voices describing an ongoing attack.

When we reached the Alubata/Igbo-Oro road junction, the grim reality struck: Owode Police Station, where I was scheduled to meet with a Police Officer, was under siege. Within the hour, I learned the devastating news: that Officer and eight others had been killed in a hail of bullets. My narrow escape weighed heavily on me, but it also fueled a resolve to act.

Amid the trauma, the urgency of the initial meeting faded, overtaken by the horror of the attack. Social media flooded with graphic images, and frantic calls continued. Determined to bear witness, I asked a friend for a bike and rode toward the scene at Owode. What I found was harrowing—bodies scattered, streets deserted, and the Owode Police Station in ruins. I trembled as I stepped through the wreckage, overwhelmed by the enormity of the loss.

In the aftermath, eyewitness accounts began to emerge. One that still haunts me was from Mukaila, a shop owner near the station. As bullets flew, he shielded a young boy under their goods. In the chaos, Mukaila unwittingly urinated on the boy, who softly whispered, "Boda Mukaila, etin tó sara mi" (Brother Mukaila, you're urinating on me). Later, Mukaila discovered that the boy, in his terror, had soiled himself. That innocent plea became a haunting reminder of the innocence lost that day.

Days blurred as the full impact of the attack became clear. Offa’s heart was broken, fear and grief hanging over the community. Yet, by the fourth day, a flicker of hope emerged, and the idea for a commemoration walk took shape. The Offa Youths Awakening Mission sprang into action, planning the "Pray for Offa" event within 96 hours.

Support poured in from across the town. The Babaloja of Owode market closed the market in solidarity, while Chief Aere Bobajiro of Offa, Alhaji Musbaudeen Olaniyi, lent his backing. Yet, one person stood above all: Ómó Oba Kola Oyawoye, who funded 90% of the event but insisted that others contribute to ensure it was a collective effort.

As the event approached, another individual’s selflessness stood out. Comrade Moradeyo Abdulganiyy (Sai-kayi) fasted an entire day in hopes that the commemoration walk would succeed. Offa’s youth came together in an unprecedented show of unity. We erected a Commemoration Symbol at Owode/Police Station junction—4 feet tall, built of blocks, with its glass-encased top glistening as a tribute to the victims.

On the eighth day, Offa gathered at Iyeru Okin Primary School. Over a thousand black t-shirts, symbolizing unity, were distributed, and thousands of us marched in solidarity—students, artisans, market women, youth leaders, all standing as one. Media outlets broadcast our message of resilience, and the streets echoed with a collective call for justice.

The day was unprecedented—Offa had never seen such a mass turnout for any event. At the Olofa's Palace, Chief Essa listened as I delivered a speech calling for justice. Our message rang through the Local Government Secretariat and Owode market: justice must be served for the lives lost.

Now, six years later, that justice has been realized. The perpetrators of the 2018 Offa bank robbery have been sentenced to death. While they retain the right to appeal, we remain vigilant in ensuring justice is fully served.

Reflecting on this journey fills me with mixed emotions—sorrow for the lives lost, gratitude for Offa’s resilience, and hope for a safer future. The Commemoration Symbol at Owode/Police Station stands as a lasting testament to our resolve.

This memoir is a tribute to the victims and a reminder that, together, we can create change.

In memory of the lives lost, Rasheed Tayo Tijani

September 26, 2024.