The Publisher of Africa Oil and Gas Report, a magazine focusing on the petroleum sector, Toyin Akinosho, has fled Nigeria, following threats to his life, supposedly on account of scathing revelations about the corruption in the industry published by his magazine.
Mr. Akinosho fled the country and went into hiding following the March 20 multiple attacks on his car and driver by unknown men who kept asking for the publisher’s whereabouts.
Mr. Akinosho, a trained geologist and one of Nigeria’s most respected oil and gas journalists, started the magazine after working for several years in Chevron “with a view to enabling the general public and industry watchers get a clearer view and understanding of the practice in the oil and gas industry”.
The journalist now believe the hard-hitting reporting of his magazine has now made him prime targets of deadly attacks.
On March 20, five suspected assassins waylaid Mr. Akinosho’s driver while driving his boss’ car in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
Mr. Akinosho had flown to Abuja earlier that evening.
“As I came out from our street to enter the main road, I saw a white Hilux (mini truck) following me,” Yinusa, Mr. Akinosho’s driver, said. “I wanted to branch into another road but because they were still following me, I decided to go straight. But they still followed me. At 41 Road, there is a junction that you can branch from, to Ikoyi or to the (exit) gate.
“It was at that spot that they blocked me with their car and stopped me. They came down and were asking me ‘Where is Toyin Akinosho?’ and I told them that I don’t know who Toyin Akinosho is; that I have never heard that name in my life before. I also told them that (the) publisher’s car is my personal car and that the name Toyin Akinosho does not ring a bell. It was at that point that they returned into their vehicle and drove off.”
He continued, “They entered their car and I kept moving because I thought it would be unwise for me to go back home right away. As they moved, they were moving slowly and then later turned to the roundabout that leads to Ikoyi; but I went straight to gate. But as I looked into my side mirror, I saw that they were still following me and I thought to myself that if I went home, they might still trace me to the house to know where we were staying. So, I went straight and bent towards Four Points (By Sheraton Lagos hotel) area. The car has an e-tag (pre-paid toll identification) so I just passed the toll gate but it was like they paid and were delayed a bit. But the traffic light stopped me; it wasn’t up to one minute that I was at the traffic light that I saw that they were coming but then, the light passed me so I drove off. I passed in front of Four Points and followed Ajose Adeogun Street. On that street, there is a club that Oga goes to. It was there that they caught up with me and rammed my car by the side and I ran into a culvert and the bumper was damaged.”
What happened next?
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