My June 12, 1993 story and others – Bolaji Tunji

My June 12, 1993 story and others – Bolaji Tunji

I was just a young reporter with Lagos Life, one of the publications in The Guardian newspaper stable. It was difficult moving around in those days, you report from your area and file the report later in the afternoon or evening when vehicular movement picks up. Morning hours was for protests of barricades and burning of disused tyre’s on the main road and road junctions. Most times you walk to your destinations. The energy was there.

Living in Jakande estate, the Ikotun, Ejigbo, Isolo axis, I was a witness to the brutality that accompanied the annulment of the election and the take over by Gen Sani Abacha. By Oke Afa junction in Jakande estate was a huge bonfire,  we were all gathered around, no vehicular movement. And the soldiers came. We all scattered or should I say we were scattered

I ran to our first floor apartment by the junction of the estate. Locked the door,  I thought I was safe.  I sat in the sitting room looking out from the window. May elder brother was inside the room,we all ran into the house. It was a sudden kick that splintered the door. On sighting me, they dragged me out, frog-marching more like it. It was to the junction again, sitting on your ass in a puddle. We were all packed into a Kombi bus to the nearest police station.

The nearest being Ire Akari police station, learnt it has been relocated now, having been burnt down…that’s a different story. As we were being proded with the barrel of AK-47 out, another hilux was arriving, it was filled with bodies of young people slaughtered by soldiers. It was traumatic,  I burst into hot tears.

Thought my fate was sealed too. No bravery in the face of imminent death or so I thought. Me that was just starting life. We were ushered into the cell where we had others including the landlord waiting for us. Tears afresh as they warmed up to welcome us in their special way. But here one can look back and tell the story.

Fast forward to July 1998, when Abiola died, had a front row seat, reporting. Exclusive reports from unimpeachable source, late Dr Ore Falomo who before his death had urged us to write the untold June 12 story. Maybe that would happen if I can convince one boy like that Muyiwa Adeyemi  to join me. We were a tag team in reporting MKO Abiola and June 12