Life story of a reporter’s experiences when Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, the late Gen Sani Abacha, ordered the closure of one of the nation’s foremost and authoritative newspapers, The Guardian, between Wednesday, May 29, and Saturday June 8, 1991.
Banji Ayoola
Day One: Wednesday, May 29, 1991
I was in the canteen of The Guardian. Dr Tunde Fatunde, a columnist of the paper; Emeka Nwankpa, fellow reporter and I were discussing over meals the gravity of the Yabatech Rector, Dr Phillip Adegbite’s allegation of arms smuggling that he levelled against the students of the institution.
Suddenly, Emeka pointed at some policemen behind the canteen. Surprised, I came out, saw many mobile policemen outside at the entrance gate. Some other mobile policemen were going round the premises searching here and there. From the security kiosk near PC, I phoned the Newsroom where Albert, a colleague, told me that the policemen were looking for Oga Bayo, the Editor of Guardian Express, our evening paper, Mr Bayo Oguntimehin.
I entered to the Newsroom. Mbanefo Igwebuike, a Sub-Editor, entreated me to hide. I was at the time the newspaper’s Police Affairs Reporter. I hid inside the Office of the Sunday Editor, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze, where Mbanefo came to gist me, asking whether I wrote any offending story of late. No, I told him. I later came out, saw Lagos State Police Command PPRO, Mr George Ogar amid mobile policemen in the Newsroom. I greeted him. Later he led the mobile policemen outside. I followed.
Oga Bayo was already outside with men of the General Investigation Department, GID, and the OIC GID. They whisked Oga Bayo away to the Lagos Police Command Headquarter, Ikeja in a light blue Peugeot 504 salon car marked LA 6407 KH.
The Managing Director (MD) of Express Printing and Packaging Company, EPPCL, a subsidiary of The Guardian, Mr Nick Iduwe, George Ogar and I followed in the EPPCL MD’s car. The Assistant Editor, Uncle Ben Tomoloju followed us in his own car. The Editor, Mr Femi Kusa, Deputy Editor, Mr Kingsley Osadolor, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze and Production Editor, Mr Levi Obijiofor, later joined us.
Four other staff of the evening paper including Tunde Sulaiman, Taiwo Akerele, Bolaji Oyegunle and Daniel Enumah were also arrested. They were all taken to the Command Headquarters in Ikeja and detained.
The MD EPPCL made entreaties on the way. At the Command Headquarters, Mr Iduwe continued with his entreaties. Oga Bayo was taken to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC, Administration, Ismaila. Later the MD was called. He discussed at length with the DC and PPRO. Uncle Ben Tomoloju and I waited outside at the DC’s waiting room. The MD came out and told us that the case was above the DC.
Before now, we had seen only four of our men – Tunde Sulaiman, Taiwo Akerele, Daniel Enumah and Bolaji Oyegunle at the GID. We had not known Ben Akparanta’s whereabouts.
So, Rutam House, the premises of The Guardian on Osodi-Isolo Expressway, Lagos was sealed off by policemen, led by the Lagos State Police Command PPRO, Mr George Ogar, about 7pm on Wednesday, May 29, 1991.
It was over a story ran by the Guardian Express titled “Two Yabatech students die in riot.”
Mr Tomoloju and I went round the homes of our detained men to inform their relatives about the incident, while the other Senior Editors went in a car to the Chairman, Mr Alex Ibru. Mr Iduwe discussed at length with DC Ismaila.
Mr Iduwe gave N100 to feed the detainees. Account: 2 Ragolis water – N12; I Close Up toothpaste – N15; 5 toothbrushes – N25; bread – N10; dodo – N5; akara – N6; dundu – N5; 2 toilet soap – N5; petrol fuel -N10; balance – N7.
Ben Akparanta was held over a different story apart from the one for which the others were arrested. We could not locate him this night.
Home Addresses: Oga Bayo – 5, Bakare Makinde Street, Off Demuren Street, Ketu; Taiwo Akerele – 27, Cole Street, Ojuelegba; Tunde Sulaiman – 12, Jimoh Faronbi Drive near Celestial Church, Ire akari Estate, Isolo; Daniel Enumah – 18, Iganmu Road, Orile; Bolaji Oyegunle – 97, Bamgbose Street, Campos Square, Lagos (phone 877684 – Iya Dayo).
Uncle Ben Tomoloju dropped me at home – 16, Olonade Street, Off Egbeda Road, Alimoso, at 2.15am.
To continue…
