I’ve lived in Iyana Ipaja years so I know how things work around there. There are a lot of area boys around where I live and they’re known for harassing people, stealing and causing chaos. One wrong move and they’ve assembled to harass you.
Some nights I would get home late from work so I had to learn street sense by force. I’ve learned small habits that help me feel safer. I don’t walk with my phone glued to my face. I stay alert. I move with purpose, even when I’m tired. Sometimes I call someone and talk loudly till I reach my gate.
I don’t carry anything that can put me in trouble. I just make sure I’m not looking lost, scared, or distracted. In Lagos, confidence can be a form of protection.
Sometimes I carry a pen. Just a normal pen.
It stays in my hand when I’m walking late. It makes me feel a bit more confident and alert. A pen can pierce through the skin. If you’re ever under attack, you can easily use the pen to strike the neck, eyes or face of your attacker.
This isn’t encouragement for violence. It’s about being prepared in a city where young women learn survival early.
If you live in Lagos, you understand.
