Timileyin’s Story: From stealing to escaping kidnapping and living under Oshodi Bridge
“The day after I got to Lagos, I was asleep in front of a shop in Oyingbo when one man woke me. He asked if I was interested in working as a conductor, and when I told him yes, he asked me to follow him. We walked until we left the road and entered what seemed like a lonely path. That was when it occurred to me that I was being kidnapped. Luckily, I saw two Hausa men resting by their wheelbarrows, and I quickly notified them. They chased the man away. That was the day I could have died, but it seems God has greater plans for me.”
Timileyin spoke confidently and was very enthusiastic about having a chat with me. He was the second-runner up in the Chess in Slums competition in Oshodi and was quite proud of his achievements. I had just spoken with Fawaz, who won the competition, and he hung around waiting for me to be done so he could take his seat. I could tell he was eager to tell his story, and he said it with clarity as though he had been waiting for the right moment to do so.
Life in Ife
“I was born on December 2, 2002, in Ife. I will be 20 next year”, Timileyin said with emphasis. He seemed proud to know his birth date, unlike the other boys around him, whom he hinted had no idea which month or year they were born.
When Timileyin was 10, his mother moved out of the house with one of her children because of domestic violence. Timileyin remembered the series of events that culminated in the separation vividly.
“Anytime my mother makes any money; my dad would steal her savings and use them for drinking alcohol. Sometimes, he can be away from home for three months and only return after exhausting the money. If she refused to give him, it would lead to serious fights. This happened for two years until my mother decided one day that she could not take it anymore and left.”
Timileyin was attending AUD secondary school when his mother moved out and remarried, taking one of her children with her. Timileyin and his other sibling moved to their grandpa’s place. They lived with him for eight years until he died In 2020 before moving to their mother’s house.
“In my mother’s new place, I met one boy there named Ayo who lived a few houses away, and we became friends. He would disappear for days, and when I asked him where he went, he told me he goes to Lagos once in a while.”
Ayo’s adventure in Lagos involved roaming around the city for days before returning to Ife. Ayo continuously funded his trips from the money he stole, and Timileyin longed for the day he would be able to go there too and experience the things Ayo talked about.
One evening, an unexpected chance presented itself when he arrived from school and saw money on the table in the parlour belonging to his mother.
“I counted it, and it was N15,000. I did not think twice before stuffing it into my pocket and rushed to Ayo’s house and told him I was ready to go to Lagos. I showed him the money, and he nodded. We rushed to the park and found the last bus going to Lagos with one seat remaining. We had to ‘lap’ ourselves and journeyed to Lagos that day.”
Life in Lagos
The duo arrived in Lagos late at night, and almost immediately, they lost each other at Oyingbo. Timileyin roamed around for a while, unsure of what to do next as the night grew dark. He decided to sleep in front of a shop and find Ayo the following day.
Around 4 am, Timileyin was woken by a man who claimed he was willing to help him get work as a conductor and asked him to follow him. The N15,000 had reduced to N5,000, and he was keen to find a means of livelihood as quickly as possible.
A few meters away, the man veered off the road and walked down a lonely path. That was when it crossed Timileyin’s mind that he may be kidnapped. Fortunately for him, he found two truck pushers and quickly explained his situation. They chased the man away and helped him find his way back to the road.
“After the scary incident, I told myself that I would not pass another night in Oyingbo, so I started to walk following the direction of buses which eventually led me to Oshodi. I saw young boys like me there and asked them how they survived here because I did not want my N5,000 to finish before getting money.
“They showed me around and told me where to sleep, how to work as a conductor and help market people carry loads. That is how I have been surviving here.”
Timileyin said his experience living under the bridge has made him regret his action as life has been tougher than he envisaged. Sometimes, older people living under the bridge would ask them to do unpaid work, and they dared not do it.
“Once, other boys and I were asked to go and pack sewage somewhere by the older men here. Even though they were paid, we were not given anything for the work. If we refuse, we will be beaten severely.”
Even before he expressed his regret about running away from home, it seemed clear that he had become tired of living under the bridge. He spoke about his home with fondness and how he would never have had to go hungry if he was still with his mother.
The magic of chess
When the Chess in Slums team came to Oshodi, Timileyin said he was fascinated by the game because it seemed magical. He had seen it on television but had no idea what the pieces or rules were. For two weeks, he attended the classes as the coaches put them through mental mathematics and the rudiments of chess. His interest grew, and for once, he had something worthy to distract his attention from the problems around him.
“It was all like magic. From something, I saw only in movies to now be able to play it and play it very well. I have enjoyed it. I would not have thought that I would come third in the competition. It made me happy.
The Chess in Slums team led by Tunde Onakoya uses the game to take children out of slums. For Timileyin, he is tired of living there and would gladly return to Ile Ife to meet with his family if he has the chance.
“I tried to save money twice to go back home, but it did not work out. The person I gave the money to fled and I have not seen him since then. If I have the opportunity to return home, I will. Greed brought me here, and I regret it.”
Timileyin said he would like to return home and continue his barbing training, which he was doing before running away from home.
“If I have the chance to leave here, I will not come back again. I have learnt my lesson.”
