•The Story Of BABATUNDE FOLORUNSO & Co.
On 24th July, 1971, many Lagos residents and people from other neighbouring cities and towns trooped to the Bar Beach on Victoria Island in Lagos to watch the shooting of 3 armed robbers. They were to face firing squad. They consistuted a terror to law-abiding citizens. The government decided that they deserve to die. And they were shot in public.
On that day, Babatunde Folorunso and two other convicted armed robbers were publicly executed. They were the first set of armed robbers to face firing squad in Nigeria.
Folorunso, was always well-dressed in his life time. He always spotted the fabrics in vogue. In the 70’s, lace fabrics sown into different styles of wearers’ choices were the fashion of the day.
Folorunso, a socialite, mostly spotted lace fabrics to social events and parties. No wonder he was called Babatunde (onilesi), the man who always spotted lace material. What made the nick name stick, after his death was that on the day he was executed, he also spotted an expensive lace fabric. It was, therefore, not a surprise that people at that time used to sneer at anybody wearing lace fabric with contempt. To deride lace fabric wearers, detractors used to call them Babatunde. Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey had to wax a record to tell Nigerians not to look derisively at people who wore lace.
Folorunso was a hardened criminal and a notorious armed robber. He had killed many victims during his escapade, robbing them of money and other valuables whenever he was on operation. He mostly got away after inflicting violence on people and robbing them. Most people regarded him to be invincible. However, he was one day arrested by the police during a high way robbery operation. Nation-wide, people rejoiced at the news of Folorunso’s arrest. His arrest was a proof of a Yoruba adage that every day for the thief, but one day for the owner. He was charged, with highway robbery, to court. All eyes were on his trial and the judge, James Agboola Ojomo, could not afford to waste time on the trial. On the 8th and 13th of April, 1971, Folorunso faced trial and the court found him guilty of highway robbery. He was sentenced to death by firing squad.
Folorunso was not the only highway robber executed at Bar Beach that day. There were two other convicts who faced bullets with him. They were: Joseph Ilobo and Williams Alders Oyazimo, a Naval Officer. A day before the ‘D’ day, newspapers carried the execution (firing squad) news on the front pages. The newspapers ‘stories were reinforced by broadcast media, radio and television that repeatedly announced the execution from morning till dusk. The announcement set the metropolis agog and expectation was high among those who were not allergic to a spectre of blood. Those who were eager to watch the firing squad play and were not resident in Lagos came to Lagos the previous day to the day of execution and lodged in hostels and hotels of choice.
On 24th July, all roads led to the Bar Beach. There was congestion of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Men who plied their trade on ocean had been warned a day earlier to stay clear of the waters around the execution site for the day. Most of those who watched the execution live literally took a holiday to ensure they did not miss anything about the killing of highway robbers. Bar Beach, that day, undoubtedly played host to a mammoth crowd. The spectators had come from near and far away places to watch the murderers and monsters who, had no scruple, and not only rob, but also kill their victims. There was excitement among the crowd. The people surged. Some of them were eager to see the faces of people (terror) who had been giving the law-abiding people a nightmare.
The stakes were set. They were made up of standing barrels that had been filled with sand and a thick plank each had been put inside three drums. A few metres away from the back of the stakes was the majestic Atlantic Ocean roaring away as its waves ceaselessly lashed the beach. As the ‘H’ hour was fast approaching, a Black Maria, police van for conveying suspects and criminals from prison, correctional yard, to court and vice-versa drove into the open and parked. Prison officers, waders descended from the front seat. One of the waders went to the rear of the van and opened the door, The three convicts in chains descended one after the other. They were escorted to the stakes Their back to the sea and facing the crowd that had been awaiting their arrival, they were quickly bound with strong rope that was used to tie them.
Suddenly, a squad of soldiers armed with rifles just emerged and marched towards the stakes. At a point, not too far away from the convicts who had been tied to stakes, the soldiers stopped and formed a line facing the stakes. The squad commander yelled orders to his men and they responded. As if they wanted to run a race, the soldiers went down on their knees, not the two knees, of course. They pointed their rifles at the robbers tied to the stakes. As all these were going on, the Bar Beach had become a cacophony of voices. Some were yelling, while others murmured. As the armed robbers were about to be executed, the naval officer protested, saying he didn’t commit the offence that was about to die for. As if by instinct, the arena went silent. If a pin dropped at that moment, its sound would be clearly heard as the commander appeared to raise his voice to the highest pitch and thundered: fire. There was a burst of staccato as the rifles spitted volley of hot leads on the men tied to the stakes. In a jiffy, live had been snuffed out of them. Their heads dropped on their necks.
Armed and highway robbery was then a novelty in Nigeria. The country had just exited a 30-month civil war and arms and ammunition were available to those who wanted to buy for underworld activities. There was a thriving black market where criminals could get weapons to buy. The pattern of crimes especially stealing pick-pocketing and burglary had changed as hoodlums armed themselves to frighten and if need be kill their victims. The military government led by General Yakubu Gowon believed the public execution would deter criminals from using weapons during their operation, but that was not to be. On the day Babatunde Folorunso and two others were publicly executed, a car was stolen at Bar Beach.
–Tajudeen Adigun
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