Against the backdrop of violent attacks by notorious cultists in Satellite Town, Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, popular Nigerian media consultant and youth activist, Victor Gotevbe, has fled Nigeria, with the family, to seek safety in the United States of America.
Gotevbe, a former Administration Manager, at one of Nigeria’s foremost national dailies, the Vanguard Newspapers and until he fled to the U.S., Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Diplomatic Watch, platforms which he used to advocate for a cultism-free Satellite Town, Lagos, fled Nigeria for the U.S. with his family, as threats to his life, and that of his family, had become rampant, by cultists he spoke and wrote against their nefarious and violent activities.
The Story Behind The Story
The root of constant threats to the life and safety of Gotevbe and his family, findings revealed, could be traced to his days at the Vanguard Newspapers, sometime in October 14, 2011, when he pioneered a full-page column with the header- Youthful Vibes, a platform he used to give young Nigerians around the globe, a voice, as well as speak against self-enriching and greedy Nigerian politicians, who use young Nigerians as tools to perpetrate violence, assassinate political opponents and cult-related activities.
It could be recalled that this noble platform was what influenced Gotevbe’s nomination and selection as an Alumnus of the International Visitor’s Leadership Program (IVLP), in 2015. The program had focused on “American Youth: Inspiring Leadership and Civic Participation.”
Returning from the IVLP in 2015, Gotevbe, with the power from the tip of his pen and the vociferousness of his voice, continued to kick against the use of youths, particularly, those from Satellite Town, Lagos, perpetrate violent crimes.
The IVLP alumnus wrote very punchy new stories, features, opinion articles and maximized his Vanguard column, the Youthful Vibes, to kick against these societal ills.
Threats
On January 12, 2016, between the hours of 3:00am and 5:00am, those whom Gotevbe spoke against their nefarious activities through his writings and his addresses at conferences and seminars attacked his residence at 18A Giwa Street, Ijegun-Satellite Town, Lagos.
The attack carried out by cultists belonging to a cult group popularly called the Aiye Confraternity, renowned for terrorizing the Ijegun community, Satellite Town, Lagos, struck in the dead of the night, while Gotevbe, his wife and kids were deep asleep.
It would be recalled that when Gotevbe and the family woke up at dawn, the cultists had carted away valuable work items from his house, including mobile phones, laptops, iPads, his wife’s debit cards and a copy of Vanguard Newspaper.
Why A Vanguard Newspaper?
But why was a copy of Vanguard Newspapers among the items carted away by the notorious cultists? That edition contained a story facilitated by Mr. Gotevbe, of a 16-year-old member of the Aiye Confraternity, who made confessional statement about his role as a high ranking member of the cult group terrorizing the Ijegun community.
Further Threats And Attacks
The attacks and threats to the life and safety of Gotevbe and the family by these dreaded cultists didn’t end on January 12, 2016. Despite the fact that Gotevbe’s wife’s bank account was hacked into by these cultists and her money stolen, they continued to threaten their lives through text messages and strange calls.
In January 2017, Gotevbe, received another strange call from a man who kept on saying on phone: “Mr. Vanguard man, you think we don’t know what you are doing. Don’t worry, you will see.”
These threats continued repeatedly, until Gotevbe left the employment of Vanguard Newspapers in April 2017.
My Ordeal
Narrating his ordeal on why he fled Nigeria, the media chief decried that: “The menace of cultism is real and let no one believe the lie that it has been curtailed. These individuals are blood hounders and therefore would do anything for their godfathers to achieve their aims. I initially thought it was blown out of proportion until we encountered several threats and attacks at Ijegun Egba of Satellite Town where we built our only house.
“In November of 2018, unfortunately, I started receiving calls again from unknown people warning me against exposing their activities with my pen. They threatened to even initiate my 11 years old son into their cult group, if I don’t desist from speaking against them.
“This was tied to the political climate that had become tensed because of the gubernatorial and presidential elections. I knew it was time for these cultists to get more active since they are primarily supported by corrupt and wicked politicians.
“Honestly, I freaked out due to the nature of my work because I would leave my home sometimes very early in the morning, about 5:30am in order to meet up with some appointments due to hectic traffic gridlocks in my area, and this also had its effect on me returning late before midnight and a few times after midnight.
“This was putting my life in danger, as well as my family, as my wife would move my kids by foot or by a motorbike to and fro school due to the bad roads. The threats kept on coming in. But we couldn’t leave the area as this was and is the only property we own in Nigeria and for proximity of my office.
“December 14, 2018, I just returned from an appointment at Lagos Island at about 10:30pm, and as I couldn’t drive to and fro because of heavy traffic snarl and the bad roads. So, I had to return to the house on bike at about 10:40pm. Bikes usually are not allowed to get to a few streets closed to mine. I alighted from the motorbike so that I can walk for another 8 minutes to get home and it was really dark, as there was power failure.
“Just as I got off the bike, a few meters from where a Private Security guards (Vigilante) were stationed, some young men numbering three, wielding dangerous weapons- axes and machetes accosted me. I couldn’t recognize any of them. They threatened to kill me as they said I was the one alerting security agencies about their activities.
“Before I could say Jack Robinson, one of them gave me a heavy punch on my eyes, that made me scream. This screaming got the attention of the Vigilante group close by and they came to my rescue, not after the cultists had escaped.”
Continuing, Gotevbe said, “Another major incident that scared the living hell out of me, was the visit to my home early in the year, when I was out of town for a business trip and the assault that followed that visit remains fresh in my memory. It was heartbreaking and was very traumatic.
“These cultists obviously came for me again. When they stormed my house, without seen me, they told my wife, her brother and niece to send a message across to me that they will come after me. It was difficult to sleep at night even with all the private arrangement for security coverage and it became expensive.
“It was a catalogue of sleepless nights characterized with terror from phone calls and text messages from unidentified individuals. We were able to make arrangements for what was originally holiday trip to seeking for refuge. After we left Nigeria in April, neighbours disclosed to us, that there have been several visits to the property by these notorious cultists to see if we were still there.
“It is only wisdom to stay alive while one decries criminal activities. It became obvious, my articles and some of my speeches at some meetings must have hurt some corrupt politicians who use these cultists to disrupt the peace and sanity of our community.”
“So, we feel safe over here and hence, we had to come here and it is almost like starting a new life. We have been fortunate enough so far to receive help from some well-meaning individuals and some organizations that have offered us shelter, food and even financial support. It is indeed very sad that we don’t feel safe in our own country,” he lamented.
Source: The Nigerian Tribune
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