A horrific and nightmarish 71st birthday it was as three hooded men from the underworld, self-styled hired assassins, armed with knives, cutlasses and axe burst into my bedroom, asking for $70,000—otherwise they would kill. They switched off the light automatically and plunged everywhere into darkness as they started torturing me and my wife using their phone torchlight. They came when we were about watching 10 o’clock Channels News. Ironically, we became the real news. For seventy minutes they inflicted sorrow, tears and blood. They gave us dirty slaps, then gripped and twisted our necks US-police chokehold style making it difficult for us to breathe.
I could hear my wife’s SOS cry: “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.” As she struggled for life, they said she was stubborn. So they battered her legs and thighs with an axe such that she can barely walk. On my part, they put a sharp, silvery knife around my neck and in the darkness, I mistook hot sweat running down my neck for blood. They asked for dollars. We showed them where they could get money and they collected everything—including our ATM cards, credit cards and all our phones. They withdrew money from our accounts but what matters is life. As long as there is life, there is hope. That was why I could not read nor respond to the avalanche of birthday greetings from friends and well-wishers on a birthday that almost became our death-day. Before they left, they tied our mouths with c
ellotape, tied our legs and tied our hands Patrice Lumumba-like with ropes they brought, warning that we should not “try anything funny or you will regret.” Before they left, they asked which church we attend and we said Redeemed Church of God and they replied: “Pastor Adeboye is a good man.” They then told us in good English that it was “the situation in the country” that has turned them into criminals.
All through the ordeal, we prayed nervously to God and mercifully, God delivered us as He delivered Daniel from the lions’ den. But for God, those robbers from the pit of hell, smoking Indian hemp right inside our room would have killed us. It’s so sad watching your wife going through an ordeal and not being able to protect her as a man. I felt guilt-ridden but what can a man do in that deadly circumstance? The most painful part is the post-robbery depression. Every second, the nightmare keeps playing back in the mind and tormenting us in our sleep. Psychologists talk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is “characterized by intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks related to the robbery. This can significantly impact daily functioning and well-being.”
Thank you all for your prayers, birthday wishes and your phone calls which couldn’t reach us because our phones were in the hands of robbers. Here are some of your letters which I later read after I retrieved my phone lines. Life indeed is an accident waiting to happen. I pray it will not happen to you. May you never meet such evil men bursting into the sanctity of your home and bedroom, inflicting pain and mayhem on you and your household.
YOUR LETTERS:
Ooooooh Mike, what an ordeal! So sorry. Please keep up your spirit, and help your wife do the same. The different ways Nigeria happens to us!—Prof Niyi Osundare
Mike, I am pained to know that you and your dear wife suffered that intrusion and atrocity in what is your own castle. I join you in prayer that God Almighty will avenge your suffering. Those hoodlums will not know peace until they repent, or until they die, whichever comes first—even if they are caught. So shall it be in the name of our Lord who abhors injustice. I can’t even imagine what you are going through emotionally and psychologically. I know you feel violated, your sense of security shattered. Both of you will have to actively work to overcome the psychological impact. If you feel the need, please speak with a professional—Raheem Ogunde
Dear Mike, sorry about that. We thank God that you are all alive. Glory be to the Lord God Almighty—Commander Ebenezer Obey mfr
Happy birthday to Mike Awoyinfa, journalist, boss, biographer, pathfinder, torchbearer, musician, Chelsea fan, Vice Chancellor of Mike Awoyinfa School of Journalism, husband, doting father, and grandfather at 71 today on July 23. May God’s mercy and compassion be made new every morning in your life. Happy birthday MD—Tony Onyima
Happy birthday to the veteran journalist whose imprint in the iconic Weekend Concord together with the late Dimgba Igwe is yet to be replicated. To the unique master of headlines, the legendary Editors’ editor, to the one whose passion for journalism is untainted by the vagaries of politics and social prejudices. May your years be filled with joy and happiness in all your endeavors—Nnedinso Ogaziechie
Your audaciousness was a groundbreaker. The Weekend Concord served a strong coffee to the Nigerian newspaper readers. They smelled it and found it very pleasing to the senses. Many ideas might have birthed the Weekend Concord but historian remember Mike Awoyinfa as the courageous newspaper editor who achieved the seemingly impossible feat of a making Saturday a newspaper reading day. Live well and live long. Happy birthday Mike.—Ajibade Fashina-Thomas
Journalism in Nigeria does have some patriarchs and a few immortals. We recognize where you belong. We celebrate you. Happy birthday Oga Mike—Obiora Chukwumba
Happy birthday to an organic reporter, writer and columnist. Egbon, congratulations. The power of the Most High will continue to bless and keep you.—Martins Oloja
Happy birthday to our gentle literary giant and silent mentor of uncountable number of journalists. His pen works in equal measure relative to the subject. All in all, a consummate master of the word craft—Madunagu Emeka
Congratulations to a brilliant wordsmith, a master craftsman of the written word. Happy birthday and many happy returns—Teslim K. Shitta-Bey
From the great land of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, I say: Mike, a very happy birthday and many more…Congratulations!—Millie Adisa
Happy birthday to a General of journalists—Victor Iheomamere
Happy birthday Mike. You were one of those who made reading newspapers fun for me. God bless you—Tony Okoye
Happy birthday Mike. God bless your new age. Wishing you more glorious and blessed years in peace and in good health—Paul Toun
Happy birthday sir. May your life continue to shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day in God’s presence. You are blessed. More glorious years ahead. Have a good celebration sir. Peace—Ngozi Anita Oolan
Happy birthday to a Great Bard. The Editor who edits Editors—Ken Ugbechie
Happy birthday, inspiration sans frontiers…! God bless and keep you in sound health. Are you adding Law to Journalism?—McNezer Fasehun
Congratulations sir, wishing the doyen of Nigerian tabloids many more fruitful years ahead in good health and wealth in Jesus mighty name—Samuel Awoyinfa
Happy birthday to an Editor’s Editor. I wish you more blissful years sir—Yusuf Alli
Happy birthday to the Editor of Editors—Tope Bentop Adeboboye
Happy birthday, the headline wizard—Kezman Ogazie
Happy birthday Mike, the master storyteller. You look 40. Congratulations.—Victor Ononye
Long live the King of Tabloids—Dipo Kehinde
