Date Published: 07/11/09

National LIFE editor loses car to robbers

Suspected armed robbers in the wee hours of Friday, July 10, 2009 stormed the home of Group Sports Editor of National LIFE, Mr. Morakinyo Abodunrin, and snatched his official car.

The robbers arrived his 24, Okonji Crescent apartment, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos at about 3.30am and shot sporadically to send panic into the neighbourhood.

Abodurin was dispossessed of his laptop, camera, handsets, generating set and an unspecified sum of money, which the hoodlums loaded in his Toyota Yaris official car, before zooming off.

Other occupants of the building were also reportedly robbed.

Abodunrin’s stolen Toyota Yaris is black coloured, with registration number NM114AAA, chassis number JTBBT923391247272 and engine number IN2C986434. The car was branded National LIFE.

Whoever has any information that could lead to its recovery should please contact the corporate head-office of National LIFE newspaper on 08037034403 or 08023077605, or help report at any police station.

Only recently, however, gun-totting robbers operating along Agbado/Ijaye Road on the Lagos border snatched a branded Toyota Corrolla car from National LIFE’s General Manager, Sales and Circulation, Mr. Damola Olajumoke.

The robbers forced him to lie face down inside the car and drove him far off before ordering him to alight at an isolated bush path.

Though initially marooned, Olajumoke soon found his way home through the help of a Good Samaritan.

While Police authorities in Nigeria are yet to get any clue regarding the whereabouts of the newspaprer’s stolen cars, tongues have also begun to wag, as to whether the misfortunes could be politically motivated.

The newspaper in the last few months has had a running battle with the Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel over publications considered by the governor as offensive.

In a recent report of the newspaper, the governor was photographed in the regalia of a ritualist, which irked Daniel who is threatening court actions.

The governor has also reported the newspaper to ethical bodies such as Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) National Media Council (NMC) and the National Guild of Editors (NGE).