How teenage girl’s heroic act foiled robbery

Taiwo Badmus, a 19-year-old, demonstrated remarkable courage when she single-handedly thwarted a robbery attempt at her family’s residence in Ota, Ogun State, leading to the arrest of the gang leader and the escape of his accomplices.

The frightening incident occurred on the evening of May 25, 2024, when armed gunmen gained access to the family’s residence through Taiwo’s mother’s shop on Arogunmola Street, Animashaun.

The robbers, armed and menacing, used threats and violence to demand cash, ATM cards, and valuables from Taiwo’s parents. The gang leader, positioned strategically within the compound, focused on Taiwo’s father, ordering him to comply with their demands.

However, seizing a moment of opportunity, Taiwo, a committed basketball player, acted proactively. Observing that the robber had momentarily overlooked her and her siblings, she courageously grabbed a disused music deck player and struck the gang leader from behind. Startled, the robber discharged his weapon accidentally, injuring Taiwo in the hand.

Undeterred, Taiwo’s sudden counterattack emboldened her father and siblings, who swiftly subdued the disoriented gang leader. The commotion prompted the remaining robbers to flee, fearing retaliation from an armed household.

Recalling the ordeal, Taiwo recounted, “I couldn’t bear to see my family threatened. When I saw an opportunity, I had to act.” Her heroic intervention not only protected her family but also led to the apprehension of the gang leader, identified as Adesola Olawale, who has since been remanded in Oba Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, following his arraignment at Ota Magistrate Court on June 11.

Although injured, Taiwo’s courage did not go unnoticed. The Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Abdulkabir, praised her bravery and offered support, covering part of her medical expenses to remove bullet fragments from her hand. Palace sources confirmed the monarch’s gesture, acknowledging Taiwo’s courage in the face of danger.