Inside One of Nigeria’s Deadliest Cities

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]If you look at yourself in mirror, what do you see?

[00:00:02]>> The appearance look like monkey.

[00:00:04]>> Monkey?

[00:00:05]>> Yeah, I'm very sure 100%. No one can tell. Okay.

[00:00:12]>> He was not born like this.

[00:00:13]>> You're not born like this. So what happened to your hand? You went to separate hands.

[00:00:27]Iorodu is widely regarded as one of Lagos state's major hotspot for gang fights and violent crime.

[00:00:36]>> How you get the name? I mean all the district they condemn so many person go crazy body dead body dead man so many don't commit which time which kindit You don't like me so many person like >> IF I BURY THEM everybody I'm Twist and I'm here in Icoru, a fast growing district on the edge of Lagos Lagoon. Iodu is home to over a million people, making it the 12th largest city in Nigeria. But beyond the crowded streets and expanded neighborhoods lies a different story.

[00:01:47]We don't kiss many >> as a day like this >> waiting like how many people you don't fall like this two or three >> two or three >> waiting they do you say no money anything no shoe >> yes >> that condemn anybody >> according to the latest data from the Lego state criminal information system has repeatedly flagged IRU as A hotspot for cult related violence, kidnappings and organized crime.

[00:02:36]I don't want to die.

[00:02:37]>> What's the worst thing you've experienced inside this ghetto?

[00:02:39]>> Ah, they kiss someone in my in my in my um what am I going to call this place like this?

[00:02:49]>> When someone is like this >> close to your neighbor?

[00:02:51]>> Yes.

[00:02:52]>> They killed him.

[00:02:53]>> Close range.

[00:02:54]>> Why?

[00:02:55]>> NDL >> they bust into this place.

[00:02:58]>> Yes.

[00:02:59]>> For outside. Maybe they saw someone doing maybe had drugs or something like that and they pursuing him >> and they pursuing him come here.

[00:03:10]>> Yeah.

[00:03:11]>> You this bloody civilians you are throwing stone >> at >> to an indela for what?

[00:03:17]>> For end.

[00:03:18]>> Yes. Although all those NDL they was shooting gun at up before but as they saw them they throwing gun >> you know >> spray the gun. So as the first gun p >> I take my run >> the second person that is running with me I just see him fall down ah I say what >> no this is a joke >> and nothing conc is part of those people that's >> throwing stone at okay >> I I was just wondering is this how someone just dying >> but I I don't wait >> you don't I don't >> my worst experience inside here is about the people coming and disturbing us chasing all the boys around. Normally we don't have any work in doing everybody's just here and there trying to make something to survive.

[00:04:28]What car enter inside this ghetto?

[00:04:31]>> My boss street car gets >> which work get money.

[00:04:49]>> Yes.

[00:04:54]If you call her follow give you money so that pass make you the thief.

[00:05:05]>> Which one do you expect me doing?

[00:05:07]>> I don't know. That's why I'm asking which one.

[00:05:08]>> So I don't if you should be an um maybe let me say bank manager or you have a company >> would you employ me? I was brought up in Nikuro the bombing in Italy. Where >> what was your ambition growing up >> though? I learned a dresser.

[00:05:25]>> Okay.

[00:05:26]>> But there is no space for me to go go forward.

[00:05:31]>> I know how to make that is my father and my father profession.

[00:05:37]>> Okay.

[00:05:38]>> So but like this now the way I am now I can't do anything.

[00:05:42]>> Okay.

[00:05:42]>> That I was not born like this. So what happened to your hand?

[00:05:47]>> I went to separate between husband and wife. This February 49 is going to be at least let me say 5 years.

[00:05:54]>> 5 years.

[00:05:55]>> So tell me the experience. What was your experience? How did it go?

[00:05:58]>> The husband turned the back at me that why am I supporting her as in did I have anything with her?

[00:06:04]>> No. Now that's not the issue. I don't want you to break on his head. So you're going to so that he's not going to hold the baby in her back. No, he did not. He he was 60.

[00:06:17]So he changed the matter and get out of hand. So they separated us. I thought the matter had ended there.

[00:06:22]>> Yes.

[00:06:23]>> So on my way going home, I just hear someone shot me. The hand I raised up like this. Next thing I see is blood.

[00:06:31]>> The husband cut your hand off.

[00:06:33]>> No, he stabbed me with >> Okay.

[00:06:35]>> But the bottle went straight to the vein.

[00:06:38]>> Fuck.

[00:06:39]>> So that's what lead to the protection.

[00:06:41]My daily routine. sleep, wake up, come into the ghetto, smoke some weed, eat and go back to bed.

[00:06:50]>> What make you happy? When you are sober, what make you happy?

[00:06:53]>> When I'm sober.

[00:06:54]>> Yeah. What make you happy?

[00:06:56]>> Anything is possible. With my one hand, if they should enter this ghetto now, you know that I can earn more than you.

[00:07:01]>> H that's ability inside disability.

[00:07:05]That's that's bigger. That's bigger. So what advice would you give to young guys out there that are always planning that they want to run come up for house enter inside ghetto life?

[00:07:16]>> I won't advise them not to do it.

[00:07:19]>> Okay?

[00:07:19]>> Because if you tell them not to do it they will think you don't want them to taste life.

[00:07:25]>> So you should just go to it. If you go to there when you see life >> you want back on say here >> everybody >> everybody we are all boss of our home >> okay nobody they boss anybody >> oh wow >> we are in a hidden part of audu about to meet with some gang members our goal is to hear their stories and understand what life is really like for them in this chaos.

[00:08:11]So how you take first enter for my friend I do anything before now hope I do before but inside this we get plenty please if you come up for Google say nu come from >> you don't do anything do something for you just like that. So which gang you going 30?

[00:08:43]I saw it. 100 >> I don't understand 30 BG 100 >> 100 I've never heard of that kind of gang before they call this place like this.

[00:09:11]So how long you don't take the inside here?

[00:09:14]>> I don't do like 12 years or 10 years inside this place.

[00:09:17]>> Which work you do for inside here? I get pass all the car scrap come down on top motor.

[00:09:31]>> On top motor you always run as you did as a guy man.

[00:09:37]You know we do inside game now.

[00:09:40]>> One or two year now.

[00:09:41]>> Which court you do?

[00:09:42]>> A year now.

[00:09:43]>> A year.

[00:09:44]>> Apart from your friend with a key. What make you choose your life? I just like normal normal before I do it. I like my my brother >> because I don't want her before because you kill my brother. That is why I join her.

[00:10:00]>> The main reason we make you join court is now because of say you want take revenge.

[00:10:06]I want I want take revenge.

[00:10:08]>> So you later revenge. Ah sure >> you revenge >> 100%.

[00:10:12]>> Who you for?

[00:10:13]>> I don't many people like this as I deal like this.

[00:10:19]You don't fall people like you.

[00:10:21]>> I don't fall like two people.

[00:10:23]>> Two people waiting waiting cuz I'm waiting.

[00:10:26]>> You don't fall so many of the purchase and stuff. You go purchase now >> with which other court?

[00:10:32]>> Men now.

[00:10:33]>> Men.

[00:10:33]>> Yeah. This court is when you do always get peace of mind.

[00:10:37]>> I don't lie for you.

[00:10:39]>> I get peace. I don't get peace.

[00:10:42]So >> anything start anybody can sh >> don't get peace now. Don't settle peace now. Don't go this fight. Don't call now anybody go settle your area. Go stay your area.

[00:11:03]What be the last fight between boys? The concept to the matter fight >> the two boy inside your b now >> for year.

[00:11:15]>> Yes.

[00:11:16]>> Two boy be your gang me.

[00:11:18]>> Yeah.

[00:11:20]We collect with them.

[00:11:22]>> Collect with them.

[00:11:23]>> What they always cause the fight between the rival gang. What they always cause the fight >> other men they say they want call our wife. We say we don't call it their wife.

[00:11:34]>> Their wife.

[00:11:35]>> Yeah. Wife >> just wife.

[00:11:38]>> No woman.

[00:11:40]>> Woman they cause the water. Why say instead of killing then settle things know the person pass.

[00:11:52]If another court gang enter this like this go on must kill a men inside that mean that >> don't settle like this enter >> for now they don't settle anything go please How about it?

[00:12:38]>> What you don't achieve being a cultist?

[00:12:40]>> I don't achieve money. I not achieve any I don't get post inside this >> which kind of post level things now >> I don't benefit so many things like money >> I don't bomb I don't do many things I don't buy landism they give you money >> no because you because I do cies >> that is why I get that thing >> how tell me >> she you know the thing they call am >> yes >> that is the work I do >> so courtism make you connect to buy land now >> you come meet us >> you sell for you if they collect your land >> if you come meet us help you collect this life where you live now the best life you only pay you >> this life 50 come now 50/50 >> so the first time where you fall person how you take feel >> I don't feel anything now >> you don't feel anything for so many of my >> you don't feel anything but people way you don't fall you don't feel say the family of that person they sad >> no concern you >> no concern you don't cism don't mind >> what's one thing that the ghetto life and cism has taken away from you that that you can never get back.

[00:14:14]>> I I don't go prison. You don't go prison before?

[00:14:17]>> Yes.

[00:14:18]>> How many years you use for prison?

[00:14:19]>> No, it's like 3 years.

[00:14:21]>> 3 years you go prison. You cannot lie for dead body. Dead body. Yes. How it happen? Tell me.

[00:14:29]>> Because okay.

[00:15:15]carry inside prison.

[00:15:18]>> Court season.

[00:15:19]>> Yes. Get things where you go learn inside prison. What you learn?

[00:15:24]No good person.

[00:15:27]They come steal again.

[00:15:43]2020 person that I don't person before >> okay >> okay >> so many men I don't fall make no lie for 2020 6 months >> prison >> for the person you buy prison they always change person for good I be They change person for bad.

[00:16:12]>> They change person for good in you. I want another person they change them for bad for them. No one for just keep them for they come back.

[00:16:48]You go prison. What you change you?

[00:16:51]>> I change. I know they put game. I do any wrong thing. I do before again calm down.

[00:16:58]>> What still they fear you? I should still be cultist. What they fear? Nothing fear me. Nothing you fear me except God. Except God. So you feel say person don't do bad things for this life still be good person. Sure you still be good person.

[00:17:18]>> You know they always feel say one day this thing will end bad for you.

[00:17:22]>> Sure. 100% going bad.

[00:17:35]So you as a day like this as a cultist you always fear to die.

[00:17:39]>> No fear to die here they fear to die at all.

[00:17:42]>> No >> at all >> fear death.

[00:17:47]>> A man must die something must kill a man.

[00:17:49]>> Yeah. Sure.

[00:17:51]>> Which advice you could give young guys?

[00:17:53]Maybe say they always feel say they want joism they sweet them and maybe some of them say they oppress them they want cultism. Which advice you give those guys? But I give my advice say I bad person say I go I don't feel I don't want enter that's why they be our go which advice you give person never did cism but he want enter the courtism >> if you give advice you not go hear >> which advice you give yourself if you go back to your past where you never enter cism advice at all >> to yourself >> you like being difficulties video now.

[00:18:36]>> You like him?

[00:18:36]>> I like her >> die.

[00:18:38]>> Uhhuh. If I don't like sister you would like me your children live this kind life for you.

[00:18:45]>> No, I don't like you like change. Just like the lifestyle we live make today.

[00:19:04]Oh, today when I was in secondary school, >> everybody shout say I look horrible.

[00:19:17]It's like I'm like monster.

[00:19:19]>> Like monster?

[00:19:20]>> Yeah. Everybody call me this guy just look like monkey.

[00:19:26]>> Monkey?

[00:19:27]>> Yeah.

[00:19:27]>> Do you look like monkey to yourself?

[00:19:29]>> Sure. Now >> you look like monkey. But every blessed day I if I look at the mirror >> yes >> I see that okay between me and you we find pass >> no that does not make you a monkey now >> no >> but if you look at yourself in mirror what do you see >> the appearance look like monkey >> monkey >> how was your child upbringing like how did you grow up >> when I was >> maybe 11 years old >> I started dancing go Charie, it's your birthday. We want power. So that's where I start.

[00:20:06]>> You start breaking.

[00:20:07]>> Yeah.

[00:20:07]>> You can break dance like this.

[00:20:09]>> I'm a very stupid breaker.

[00:20:11]>> Yeah.

[00:20:13]>> Okay.

[00:20:18]It's your birthday.

[00:20:21]Everything like everything with me is just funny.

[00:20:25]>> It's just funny. So So you break dance and you slap yourself. I can slap 200 times and it's not ordinary slap.

[00:20:35]Had one >> slap had hard one.

[00:20:37]>> Have you slapped someone before?

[00:20:39]>> No.

[00:20:40]>> You've never slapped someone before?

[00:20:41]>> It's like had if I Okay, let me tell you something. If I slap myself to the extent of the slap is very heat, >> tears will be coming out from my face.

[00:20:52]>> Tears?

[00:20:53]>> Yeah.

[00:20:53]>> Do you want Do you want to try and slap yourself?

[00:20:57]>> You slap yourself later. later.

[00:20:58]>> It's part of my ability. That's what I can do.

[00:21:01]>> That's what you can do.

[00:21:02]>> I can do a lot. If I don't do that one, >> I get another one. It's like when somebody is going like this now, maybe I see that this one is not a ghetto person. It's like maybe foreign when it is going like this when I'm I was in the back. I'll just like >> you know that it will scare him.

[00:21:21]>> Yeah.

[00:21:22]>> I'll just like this. Maybe it's not me.

[00:21:25]The person will be who is that?

[00:21:28]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:21:29]>> I can I can do like this too. Maybe I just want to scare someone.

[00:21:38]>> So that person just look like maybe this guy is mental.

[00:21:43]>> What advice would you give to a young boy, a young guy out there that that wants to live a very rugged life?

[00:21:51]>> Wow.

[00:21:52]It's because some of them >> are not seeking a better future.

[00:21:58]>> Okay.

[00:21:59]>> Yeah.

[00:22:00]>> As I am like this, I want to I want to become a great comedian.

[00:22:05]>> Okay. As I want to become a great comedian, >> am I looking for a mark?

[00:22:10]>> No.

[00:22:11]>> No. I'm not looking for a mark. And the reason I'm not looking for a mark is that >> if I become a celebrity >> Yeah. and they call me for interview they will ask >> then they will just ask me Lego monkey what is this crash for >> what am I going to say >> actually actually what do you do >> I'm selling a >> what has always been your dream in life >> we cannot lie for you brother >> I want to become >> a great comedian >> a great comedian in the comedy industry who do you look up to >> the first person >> that is in my mind is brother Shagi.

[00:22:51]>> Brother Shagi.

[00:22:52]>> I swear down.

[00:22:53]>> Wow. You love Brother Shagi so much.

[00:22:55]>> I swear down.

[00:22:56]>> What do you love about his character?

[00:23:09]>> You don't get money that big love. Big love. You don't get >> You love his character so much. See, see the little thing that that I just give you. If it is badashi, oh my god, >> 1 million views.

[00:23:25]>> So, so, so if bad shagi call you for a comedy.

[00:23:29]>> Wow.

[00:23:31]>> Senior man. Ah. What would how will you react? Maybe you imagine >> over reaction.

[00:23:37]>> Overreaction.

[00:23:38]>> I swear down >> if brother Shag just call you.

[00:23:41]>> If you just give me a little as in a little dialogue. Yes. Yes. A little dialogue.

[00:23:46]>> Yeah.

[00:23:47]>> Everything don't finish.

[00:23:48]>> You don't finish.

[00:23:49]>> I swear down.

[00:23:50]>> You have blow. You go tear online everywhere.

[00:23:52]>> Oh my god.

[00:23:54]>> Ah, >> brother Shaggy, you're watching this.

[00:23:57]>> It's not that I'm making m It's not that I'm making m >> I have a little talent. Where do you think you're going to see yourself in the next 3 years if he give you that opportunity?

[00:24:19]>> But Shaggy gave me that opportunity.

[00:24:21]>> Yeah.

[00:24:22]>> By the grace of almighty God.

[00:24:24]>> Yeah.

[00:24:30]>> A skit with brother Shagi.

[00:24:32]>> Yeah.

[00:24:32]>> Oh my god.

[00:24:36]If that thing can possible with me.

[00:24:39]>> Yeah.

[00:24:41]I'm a somebody.

[00:24:42]>> You're a somebody?

[00:24:43]>> I swear down.

[00:24:45]>> Really?

[00:24:45]>> I'm a somebody.

[00:24:47]>> Where do you think you're going to see yourself in the next 3 years if brother Shaggy give you the opportunity to be in his skits with him?

[00:24:56]>> Huh?

[00:24:58]>> Senior man, >> tell me now.

[00:25:00]>> I will see myself in a very good place.

[00:25:04]In a very confident place.

[00:25:06]>> In a very confident place.

[00:25:07]>> I swear down. I swear. See, so since you've been inside this ghetto, what have you achieved so far?

[00:25:13]>> Nothing.

[00:25:14]>> There's nothing.

[00:25:14]>> I It's just that I just want to upgrade my brain. But the upgrading of the brain in this ghetto is totally wrong.

[00:25:24]>> H >> I swear down. I don't have choice. But I know that >> God is planning something for me.

[00:25:33]>> What do you wish and hope for this country in the future? to my own opinion >> when I become someone is like in life >> this country is very good for me that's it >> if you not happy like this what they make you happy >> ah >> if you did sad you did sober >> I've not been sad every blessed day you can ask now >> you always happy >> everybody if you finish this interview if you are still here most of everybody they will just be asking about day what is your problem H you are too disturbance.

[00:26:08]>> As I as I stay inside like this now >> I I I feel just start singing.

[00:26:35]Some people continue singing. Continue singing.

[00:26:40]Continue singing. Continue singing.

[00:26:48]I appreciate