A reporter for Vanguard newspaper experienced a terrifying ordeal on Tuesday evening when he was stopped, harassed, and robbed by a group of men on the Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos. Some of the individuals were dressed in clothing resembling Lagos State Task Force uniforms, while others wore plain clothes. The incident began around 7:40pm as the reporter sat in traffic while driving his silver 2011 Toyota Camry.
The group swarmed the vehicle, demanded cash, and physically damaged the car, including ripping off a side mirror. Under threat of further violence, the reporter transferred his remaining N19,000 to the men. The situation worsened when a second group of assailants forced their way into the vehicle, occupying the front and back seats while ordering the reporter to continue driving. They demanded N400,000, leaving the reporter fearing for his life and the safety of his property.
The reporter eventually escaped by maneuvering his car into a military convoy passing through the bridge. Although a soldier initially threatened him for obstructing the path, the reporter managed to alert the officer to the presence of the intruders. The men immediately fled the vehicle, allowing the journalist to drive away. Beyond the physical damage to his car, the reporter expressed significant psychological distress, noting that this aggressive encounter highlights the extreme vulnerability of motorists traveling through the Mile 2 area.
