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I really don’t know how new this trick is in Lagos but it was sure new to me yesterday when I was driving my wife and my little princess to church in Victoria Island. It was on a Sunday and the road was quite empty, along the expressway leading from Ijora to Apongbon, was a Toyota space van parked at the reserve lane with its bonnet up and a man neatly dressed waving cars to stop and looking very helpless.
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The man looked like an executive and my heart went out for him (I immediately placed myself in similar situation on a Sunday morning with nobody willing to help me). May be he needed a phone to call his mechanic or just engine oil or water; I really could not tell. I did something I normally would not do on a week day, slowed down on the expressway beside the car; hit the window and the caution light button to ask the man what he needed, all the time looking at the rear mirror to ascertain no car in sight.
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 As the man was begging me (using his finger to make the sign) to park at the reserve lane so he can tell me his problem (s), two things immediately happened; I observed the Toyota Space van highly tinted and I could make the feature of a man in the driver’s seat. The second thing was God’s blessing in disguise; two motorcycles ran past me; one nearly hit my cat but swerved to the front of the Toyota space van while the other motorcycle uprooted my side mirror.
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There were two passengers each on the two motorcycles and they all appeared to have injured each other. Everything happened at a speed; more motorcycles started coming from nowhere. The man that was begging for help that his car was spoilt immediately entered his Toyota space van and the car sped away; I was shocked, the sound of the engine for the Toyota space van was excellent – nothing was actually wrong with the car.
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I had the motorcyclists to contend with; but theirs was a much lesser evil than what I just witnessed in Lagos on a bright Sunday morning – an attempt to steal my car. My saviors were these northern motorcyclists who knew nothing about traffic rules and did not see my caution light flashing for any incoming vehicle to stop. As you may have guessed, the motorcyclists increased and they obviously demanded compensation for the injury and spoilt motorbikes.
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I knew I was not at fault but these motorcyclists, who were totally ignorant at what has just happened, saved me from an impending car theft. I obliged them after a military man intervened and told the motorcyclists in Hausa Language that they were wrong for ignoring the warning light which was obviously still on. I took the injured party to their preferred clinic; just some minor injury. I paid for their health and waited for one with a deep cut to get sewed-up.
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I went out of this incident with just one side mirror ripped off; I was totally grateful to God. This is indeed the doing of the Lord. Then something else started bothering me; we are becoming hardened by the day to help our fellow human beings. Why do fraudsters and thieves use human sympathy as a tool to get results; about 90% of fraudsters use these sympathy tactics to commit all manners of atrocity.
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What kind of human beings are we going to turn to if we cannot help our fellow men. Experiences like the ones I just had, will definitely on a subconscious level, hinder me from helping anybody with a car problem on the road. I remember my decision to stop having house helps when the only one my wife brought from her village stole her money and some her belongings and ran away after enrolling her in a primary school and footing al her educational bills which I was not mandated to do. The worse part of that situation was the police involvement accusing my wife of human ritualism; we later found the girl with a man.
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When do we help? How do we help and worst of all should we be helping at all? A young man begs you for a job and two months down the line, he is already ripping you off. A lady begs you to hold her bag in the airport so she could rush to the rest room, only to realize that you are with illegal drugs. Your relative begs you for twenty thousand naira and you give; the relative suddenly believes you have so much and you become an enemy when you cannot maintain your initial benevolence. The list goes on and on…
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We are mandated in the bible to help our fellow brothers when we can (stories like the Good Samaritan, teachings on giving the poor, etc). When do we draw this particular line or is it better not to initiate it at all? I realize that those that help people are more prone to danger than those that do not give a hoot about their fellow brothers. I believe we need answers to this challenge or we may end up a totally hardened being. I saw this particular quote after the incident and I could not help laughing: “The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray……..â€Â  Â
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27 comments
March 2, 2009 at 8:01 am (UTC 1)
Hi Dipo, we thank God for His Mercies. UNfortunately, we’re really becoming hardened by events in our society. How do we differentiate the truth from frauds.
My parents were involved in an auto accident on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway Feb 14th and I’ll forever be grateful to the man who assisted in getting them to Igbobi Hospital.
Our prayer to God is that He’s promised us that we wouldn’t be given challenges greater than our capacity and we should always be guided by Him.
February 27, 2009 at 12:02 pm (UTC 1)
thank God for numerous mercies, we had a similar experience at Lagos ibadan expressway when some men and lady were flagging down different cars for help. my dad just sped past them, as did other cars. we’ll never know if they were highway robbers or not but the kind of paranoia these robbers has put into us is affecting those that really needs help, thats just sad to know
February 17, 2009 at 10:15 pm (UTC 1)
Thank God for His protection over your life, i am sure your seed of love will speak for you sooner or later. You are blessed. Keep sowing!!!
February 12, 2009 at 12:45 pm (UTC 1)
thanks dipo.
i thank God for your safety but this story is quite scary!
read in the papers few days ago that lagosians shd be careful as kidnappers seem to have relocated from the east to lagos.
the survivor had just pulled into a popular mall in VI when someone came close and made an attempt. he was lucky he got a way.
we need to be careful and prayerful.
balogun
February 11, 2009 at 10:30 am (UTC 1)
I thank God on you behalf for this great deliverance. Gods protection is heavy on your life. If we close our eyes to let evil individuals to pass we wont know when a good individual is passing. We just need to be sensitive to the holy spirit.
Keep your helping hands up brother…..
February 11, 2009 at 10:10 am (UTC 1)
I was not any surprised as I read your story. I daresay that was God’s protective hand at work. That we are prone to be hurt when we extend a helping hand is no reason not to help. The Bible speaks in John 1- He came to his own and his own received him not. That act of divine compassion was spurned by the very people who had the prophets tell them centuries before he arrived on the scene about his coming, yet they chose to kill him thus fulfilling scriptures, When Jesus died (God who had chosen to become a man to die for humanity), he did know that some would reject him and God as sovereign as he is would respect their rights to reject eternal life. Brother, be not weary in good doing for in due time you will reap if you faint not.
May God as we extend a hand to help in the innocence and simplicity of our hearts continue to protect us. Amen
February 10, 2009 at 6:06 pm (UTC 1)
Dipo,
sorry oo. my Brother . I have have fallen victim of my good nature so many times that i cant even remember any more . But, we cant stop being good. We wont allow evil thinking people to change us to their likes .
i have one believe that is strong in me which is as long as i do good all the time then even if its by the whiskers the Allah will save me from evil doers or evil situation.
Thank your God very much ooo. Those guys for wack you straight .
You see that Ijora area ! advice your friends never to take chances there. Some one told me he was shot at at that same spot , the bullet went through the screen, and this guy is a senior customs officer so he wont lie about that. This is recent, believe me
February 10, 2009 at 2:12 pm (UTC 1)
keep up the good work. success is not a do or die affair but a matter of smart hardwork. Anybody can succeed if only he/she is ready to follow the pathway that leads to success.
February 10, 2009 at 10:36 am (UTC 1)
Thank you my brother for what you just narrated. I do believe that those who really try to help other people usually turn out to be the victims. A similar thing happened to me early last year when I decided to accomodate my sister inlaw for some months to undergo some computer training program. You can’t believe that that singular decision almost ruinned my entire family. I was compelled to send her packing before she could wreck more havoc.
February 10, 2009 at 9:33 am (UTC 1)
No matter the things we hear, see, or got through, it should not hinder us from doing what God has commanded us to: HELP THOSE IN NEED!
But one thing i’ll say is we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as children of God so we can have direction and know when God is asking us to help a truly needy person. God will always save the Just and the righteous like He saved you & your family cause He saw you were heeding to His command. It is well with us!
February 9, 2009 at 8:20 pm (UTC 1)
Thank God oh. those bike men saved you from disaster. Na God use them sha.All the best. The Use of the sympathy angle is so disheartening, it actually discourages us from rendering help to people in future.Nawa oh.
February 9, 2009 at 6:04 pm (UTC 1)
@ Biddy, Jesus Freak, Deolakay, Jide Salu, Oluniyi David Ajao, Nigerian Entrepreneur, Ogu, Ahmed Shitta, Mikail, Niyi, Toyin Akiode, Royal Prince, Dami Afolabi, Tunde and Edwin Christian
Wow! I really feel blessed about your comments and your concern for me. I am sorry I may not be able to respond to individual comments but I want to tell you that I read each comment thoroughly and I am truly grateful.
I know if I die, I would surely be missed.
Thank you once more!
Oceans of Love,
Dipo Tepede
February 9, 2009 at 5:19 pm (UTC 1)
All things work together for GOOD to those who loves the Lord.
February 9, 2009 at 2:26 pm (UTC 1)
It is not only Nigeria it is all over the world. Count yourself lucky. Do not stop to give help to those who ask for it .
February 9, 2009 at 12:42 pm (UTC 1)
We thank God for the safety of His children. Wickedness is everywhere but according to the word of God we shall only see the punishment of the wicked Psalm 91:7,8.
The issue of helping others in need now requires a lot o discernment. God help us all.
February 9, 2009 at 12:04 pm (UTC 1)
Thank God for His intervention else who knows what they devil was up to.
Well, the Bible rightly said that in the last days inquity shall abound and because of that, the love of many shall wax cold. Men shall be lovers of themselves- self centered and selfish.
But we shouldn’t stop doing good as much as lieth within us for the God whom we seek to please by such acts will always show up on our behalf when it matters most. The key is listening to the leading of the Spirit.
Cheers with luv!
February 9, 2009 at 11:38 am (UTC 1)
Just thank God for your life my brother! Imagine what would have happened had those Okadas not ‘arrived’ the way they did on the scene and with your family with you.
There are many devilish people all over our nation just as many more are genuine but it takes only God to know who is who. Do not stop doing good as you are capable of doing and continue to render help to needy; when the chips are down in humanitarian ventures, God will continue to protect all of us.
February 9, 2009 at 9:39 am (UTC 1)
Dipo,
The inner thoughts of a man are visible to God almighty. He won’t forsake us in our times of need. He protects us even when we don’t deserve it, talkless of when he knows we are trying to be our brothers keeper. How many times have we been delivered from harms we know nothing about….countless times! We have got to keep helping the needy. May he continue to protect us AMEN.
February 9, 2009 at 9:33 am (UTC 1)
Dipo,
It was really a sad one for you. But I must say we have to thank the Almighty for His grace. You see we have heard cases upon cases that are similar to your experience. And almost everybody asks the question as to if we should extend our milk of human kindness to anybody.
The truth of the matter is no matter the evil machinations of these evil doers, provided you have a light radiation around you, arising out of your good volition, they have no power over you. Be good to everyone, but you must be calculative too. The Bible says that we should apply wisdom in whatever we do. I hope this will help.
Best regards
Mikail
February 9, 2009 at 9:17 am (UTC 1)
its a pity what life has turn too. the older ones dont even give us the younger ones a good lead…just thank God and keep praying. helping people has turn me to enemy and bad person to others. so i dont even want to help any longer.
February 9, 2009 at 8:58 am (UTC 1)
It is more honourable to give than to receive. Dipo, you cannot stop helping the helpless. What that guy did that sunday morning is not new. People are used to it that was why he decided to do it on a sunday morning believing that all the christains that pass through him without one stopping to help. God has a way of doing His things. He did not want you to fall victim hence He blinded the eyes of the okada riders not to see your vehicle. In every situation one has to thank God. He is the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, the Alpha and Omega, the I Am that i Am, the Mighty in Battle. Just thank God and help as much as you can, with caution. My people say that if a man considers all his trouble in the bush, he will not share his meat with anyone.
February 9, 2009 at 7:50 am (UTC 1)
Dipo,
Thank God for His Mercy. Of course it could have been worse. Being a Samaritan on Nigerian roads is no longer an easy thing to do. So many people have become victims of criminals while trying to render help to people who pose as “helpless victims”.
I once witness an ugly incidence where a Nigerian bled to death after getting shot by Armed robbers. Motorist was willing to help out because they all claimed that the Police will eventually robe them into the case so as to extort money from them.
Also, my elder brother would have bled to death when we were attacked by armed robbers at old Lagos toll-gate. I was practically crying for help, but nobody was willing to do so, because they don’t want to get into police trouble. Only God can help us. Cheers.
February 9, 2009 at 7:36 am (UTC 1)
It is simply very unfortunate that our society has degenerated to this inhumane level. I thank God for you.
February 9, 2009 at 6:43 am (UTC 1)
Dipo,
God Almighty will continue to order your footsteps. He knew your intentions and honoured them as well as blessed you in the process. Also, never mind what happened to you, that message could be for me or some other reader to gain from.
I am glad you are safe and well.
February 9, 2009 at 5:56 am (UTC 1)
na wah o! thank God you’re safe.
Am sure most people will be wondering if this were a new trick.
it’s been long discovered that these thieves exploit our sympathy to execute evil.
this has caused people to be numb to other’s plight.
God help Nigeria.
February 9, 2009 at 4:59 am (UTC 1)
Thank God for your life…
February 9, 2009 at 2:53 am (UTC 1)
We thank God for His great deliverance for you and your family! Indeed those cyclist were placed as angels to save you as God saw your heart to help, may God continue to save us all from wicked and vile men in Jesus name amen.
People truly make it difficult for people to be kind with the way things turn out..all the scenerios you have painted will warn every compassionate person to be careful as we live in wicked days indeed, i was only just lamenting to my husband about some of my friends that were on my case on a daily basis for help, and called me persistently, despite the fact that i am not currently earning any income per se as a “domestic goddess”, i begged my “employer husband” to help bail my stranded friends out, which he did, the two that really did not bother me, after getting the money sent, called to say thank you, but the other two, that were sent more money, till now, have not seen it necessary to aknowledge the money sent or even call!…i was becoming pained but my husband adviced that i did what i did as unto the Lord, so i should leave them alone…but if the truth be told, i am human and i do not see myself helping those particular set of people again as i consider them to be ingrates!, but on second thought…i asked myself ‘ how many times, has God blessed me without me saying thank you in the proper way..sometimes we take things for granted…so i am having second thoughts, that i am as guilty as they are, where God is concerned! she smiles!
Our prayer is that God should direct us to help genuine people and also help those that will be moved by our gesture to pay forward when its their own turn to be a blessing to others! God help us all indeed!