I have witnessed the fragility of Lagos from different aspects. From military coups that led to the hasty retreat of national leadership to Abuja to spontaneous riots over government policies and raw terror by Shina Rambo. The scariest experience ever was recounted by a friend.

Robbers came to their area and were in two lorries. They didn't knock on doors, they broke holes in walls and entered. His pregnant wife was home alone and this was pre-GSM. Smartly, she hid behind the door in the guest toilet but left it open. She was there in hiding for hours.

She lost the baby. He couldn't forgive himself for not being home that day but that was what probably saved his life as they killed his guard. These guys were well-armed and he suspected they were ex-military. The shells found on the floor were machine gun shells.

I was also stuck at @EmekaOkoye’s house in Surulere one night many years ago as a major robbery was taking place. The robbers had blocked both sides of Bode Thomas Street with mounted machine guns. They were robbing a major telco dealership in the early GSM days. It was scary.

How can you protect yourself from people carrying around machine guns and can break through your wall with a sledgehammer? The PTSD over that incident affected my friend’s family greatly and they eventually relocated to America. He cried when telling the story.