This adoption of area boys ehn! My dad adopted an entire gang of them when his office was at Nnamdi Azikiwe Street in Lagos Island.

One night, we met up with my dad for dinner at the TFC in Lagos Island. As we were coming down and my mum was chatting with my dad and trying to lock the door, a shadowy figure ran up on us and scared the living daylights out of my mum. It was one of my dad’s “children”.

After hailing my dad for like 2 minutes, he proceeded to show us a part of his leg that had obviously been somewhat damaged but was now healed and told us of how he had gotten shot but didn’t have money for hospital and so he stayed home and was managing a bullet wound

My dad had asked after him from some of the other guys who explained how he had gotten shot and was out of commission. My dad sent for his mum and gave her money to take him to hospital and sort out the leg. He told us that his leg would have been cut off if not for my dad

If you know Lagos Island area boys, when they’re happy with you, they can prayyyyyy! He prayed and prayed and prayed for us, my mum and my dad. Then he told popsie that he didn’t recognize the car we came in (momsie’s car) and proceeded to reel off popsie’s plate number by heart

...that that’s the car he knew. He subsequently ran to the front of momsie’s car to memorize her plate number too so in case of any thing, she’ll be protected in Lagos Island. Lol. It was a most bizarre yet amazing experience. Saw my dad in a new light that day.

Shortly after that a bike man hit my then new First Lady in front of Ilubirin estate. I was so mad, I made him come with me to my mum’s shop in Sura. He called his boss to come bail him out. He turned out to be a senior agbero. The man sha begged momsie and she let them go

Not too long after that, I went to Sandgrouse to buy provisions and one man wanted to “wa ti Eko” for me and o ended up getting scratched. As we both came down to shout at each other, from no where, somebody just slapped the dude and restrained him from coming towards me

It was the Okada rider’s boss.

Him (whilst still jacking the man): mama shey everything wa ok?

Me (shocked to see him and even more shocked that he didn’t ask this first before slapping dude and locking his shirt): beeni sir. E ka ‘san. E jo e fi man ye le

Him: iro o. O ti ba Moto yin je (he faces the man) werey, o ti ba moto je

*Moto was hardly spoilt. Minor scratch. His rider did worse. Lol.*

At this point, boys had started hailing him and were stopping to ask questions then turn on the other guy. Me I was getting scared

I started begging that they should release the guy. The guy too was begging. He was going to pick Ogas kids from St Mary’s the same school my brother attended. Eventually, oga goes

Mama eyin le ni ki n fi ‘le o.

Me: beeni. E se sir.

Dude rushed into his car and ran away

I got in my car too. Drove a few yards and parked. I was shaking. Only God knows what would have happened to that guy if I chose to be petty.

I have seen the area boy loyalty play out and it is fierce. I like them a lot sha.

As my people say, a bad child has his day.