Lagos toughens you up! When I talk about Grace and Mercy watching out for me, it is with the deepest conviction of my heart.

I have been through so many scary moments, that some day’s when I look at myself with all my appendages intact, I know that it is not sheer luck.

‘‘That my life is a testimony.”

My guardian angel has been on full time duty!

If you have lived in Lagos and did not experience one or two hairy-scary moments in your life, then as a matter of compulsion, you have to do Thanksgiving.

It is a bustling, heavily populated, quirky and awesomely crazy city that busts at it seams with rich culture and entertainment.

The commercial nerve center of Nigeria.

As a Lasgidi babe; once a Lagos chic, always a Lagos chic, I love my Lagos to bits, but I also detest a good number of things about it.

To cut a long story short, back in the days when daylight robbery was almost a norm, I was mugged 3 different times at 3 different locations and in the same city by the  one’s that are called ” Area boys.”

Secondly, I have faced the barrel of a shotgun of the ‘men of the underworld’ aka highway robbers, 3 consecutive times.

Once was during the wee hours of the morning when they came calling, the next time was on the high street in my car and yet again, shortly before Christmas just as I left a bank.

It scared the jeepers out of my life. My skin flew off my bones in fright and in the last incident for the first time, I was violently ill and experienced an unbelievable migraine. Nightmares ensued and I fled to Europe for several weeks to calm my nerves.

Several months following these incidents, when a stranger came too close, I would practically jump out of my skin, my knees would get all trembly and my pulse rate would simply get erratic.

Indeed, when I look back and think of the times that I stared death in the face, I marvel. One day, I shall write a comprehensive story of these moments.

The rampage in Lagos has gone down over the years.

The robberies are of a more sophisticated nature these days, but there was a season when the men of the underworld reigned supreme!

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post prompt Safety First.

Share the story of a time you felt unsafe.