"SHOPRITE" IKEJA SHOPPING MALL CARJACKERS

I was perturbed and as well disgusted at the temerity exhibited by carjackers at the Ikeja Shopping Mall popularly known as “Ikeja Shoprite”.  The whole “movie” happened within twenty minutes, lo and behold, my car’s driver side’s key hole was badly damaged before I came back from my expedition to buy chicken and chips for dinner because my wife travelled and I couldn’t fashion out any other fast food than the aforementioned. I wonder what the security men were doing. I really feel bad whenever I see the usual inscription “Cars are parked at owner’s risk” on the wall of most of these Companies as if customers should move around with security paraphernalia to ward off men of the underworld. To my chagrin, when I got to the main gate, I reported to the gate keepers cum ticket collectors, alas, I received the shock of my life; they said “ oga na so them dey do o, we don report them several times”.

Another aspect that kept popping up in my memory is the fact that I met a lady who sat very close to my car all alone on the pavement. I asked her “please, did you by happenstance see any person around my car?” She answered “No” in a vociferous way. She told me she was one of the security guards of the shopping mall. I asked myself “what has a lady got to do with watch night business”. Immediately, I did the NYSC thing; by about-turning in a smart and fast way, used the passenger key hole to gain ingress into my car and did the Schumacher stunt as in Formula one. I was also watching my back for any pursuer and eventually Mobolowowon and escaped any “follow-up”.

Lesson learnt is a long term variety, never will I pack in a corner, and never will I park at the extreme, by the fence. Friends, learn to be security conscious, never leave your car in a park and feel it is safe and secure. Also, always put all your belongings in your car boot.