Forty-year-old Radio Nigeria journalist in Kaduna State, James Ogbu, speaks with DANIEL AYANTOYE about how suspected bandits attacked him near his residence, and how his dogs rescued him
You were recently attacked by some bandits. How did it happen?
I closed from work on Wednesday (May 13, 2026). As you know, I am a broadcast journalist with Radio Nigeria. So, I left for Good Times, where I normally pick up my dog food. I wanted to take a motorcycle, but I noticed how the rider was all over me and appeared too nice. So, I declined and moved forward to another bike.
I boarded the bike, and when it approached my place, I stopped because I don’t usually take them to my house. That was between 9 pm and 9:30 pm. I then began to trek to my place, about a four-minute walk, when I suddenly saw a bike approaching me at full speed. The next thing, they stopped, and one immediately came down and hit me on the head with a knife.
How did you react to this action?
I was shocked. Immediately, I switched to self-defence because I didn’t know what was happening. So, I grabbed him and gave him a head butt. Both of us then fell down. I held him down so that people would come out to save me. The other one who was riding the bike also came down and started hitting me with a stone. He used a big stone to hit my nose, face, teeth, eyes, and everywhere he could reach.
I was shouting, but people could not come out. However, my two dogs heard and came out. The dogs started barking, bit one of them, and that was when they left me and zoomed off. I was bleeding heavily. People later came out and rushed me to the hospital.
When the hospital noticed that too much blood was coming out of my nose, eyes, and other parts, they referred me to another hospital. I am currently at a private clinic (May 16, 2026). It was the dogs that saved me; neighbours could not come out to save me. The hoodlums wanted to assassinate me.
What do you think was the reason why your neighbours didn’t come out when you were shouting?
They actually came out after the guys had run away. My closest neighbour was not at home because he had gone out to watch a football match. I couldn’t tell if the one directly opposite me, who has a large fence, was at home.
It was the far neighbours that came out; it was not intentional that they didn’t come out. I believe anything that wants to happen will happen. This is just the way God has designed it. I thank God I didn’t die.
Was your family not at home when this happened?
They were not at home. One of my children had just finished his examination and signed off at KadPoly. He had been with his friend, so he didn’t come back until after 9:30 pm.
So, it was thereafter that I was taken to the hospital with the help of those around me. The injuries were severe, and I lost a lot of blood. You can imagine that when we got to the hospital, they initially wanted to reject me because they didn’t know if I would survive.
They later tried to stabilise the situation and gave me some injections to see if the bleeding would stop, yet it didn’t stop until the next morning. Blood was still coming out of my nose and left eye.
But how did the dogs know you were being attacked?
My dogs are a special breed. They know the time I usually return from work, and they wait for me because I bring their food. They are three cross-breed dogs. On hearing me shout, they came out and bit the one who was struggling with me on the ground.
Again, because they were fierce-looking dogs, the guys got scared and perhaps thought that since the dogs had come out, other people would also come out, so they fled. Later, my son and other people came and tried to see if they could catch the hoodlums, but they had already gone.
Did they steal anything from you?
Yes. It was later that I discovered that while they were beating me, they had checked my pockets and taken my phone, wallet, and other valuables. Although it’s not like they came and asked me to give them the items, I would have done that. What is a phone? I would have given it to them if they had asked. But that was not the case. They came directly and physically assaulted me.
Do you think it was a plotted attack against you?
Yes, I think so because they thought I was already dead because they hit me so much and inflicted knife injuries on me.
Do you suspect anyone to be responsible, perhaps someone you had issues with in the past?
Firstly, I don’t have problems with people. That is the slogan I use on the radio, ‘Stay out of trouble.’ I do this so much that anything that involves arguments over money, I allow you to have your way. I can deliberately allow you to cheat me, just not to have an issue over money. I am involved in many things that can bring money to me, so I don’t have any reason to have issues with anyone in that regard.
As I am talking to you, there are people who owe me a lot of money, but I don’t disturb them because I don’t see any reason to do so. Relationship-wise, I stop hanging around anyone who I feel is not safe. What could it be, except envy?
We suspect some of the boys who hang around the area may be dangerous because some of them don’t have homes, and I am not sure, because we all go our ways even when we see them.
I don’t have problems with anybody. It is money and women that can create problems, and I don’t involve myself in dragging money or woman with anyone. So, I can’t see anything that may cause anyone to target me.
How did your family react to this incident?
My family reacted so well. In fact, they had to start holding my wife. Even our street was filled with people. There was a massive reaction because I am very popular, as I am friendly with everyone. I don’t carry my shoulders up.
Actually, the neighbours who came to help me were not close by; if not, they would have come out earlier. When I came to the street, I formed the neighbourhood watch so that we can look after the security of each other because we have porous areas that anyone can come into at any time.
Did you report to the police?
Yes, I spoke with the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) after I had been treated. Even from my report to the DPO, I believe this was an attempt to incapacitate me and cart away my things. Unfortunately for them, I fought back and held onto the one with the knife.
If it were not the one with the knife I held onto, I would have been a dead man. So, it is not yet a case because I have not established a case against anyone. Again, we have not identified anyone for now. Barnawa Police Station is in charge of it, and the DPO is a good friend.
What have the police been saying since the incident?
They detained some people, but I said they should leave them because they are not my real attackers. Some motorcyclists have also been checked for me to identify them. They detained them, but I asked that the wounds sustained from the dog bite be checked. The investigation started, but I told them to hold on until I am back on my feet to be able to identify them.
What measures have been taken to secure you and the area?
The whole area is under massive security watch now. I am now looking for many ways to protect myself. Even if a small screwdriver will help me. If I had not been brave enough to fight back, I would have been a dead man now because the guy with the knife was ready to kill me if not for the fact that I focused on him and knocked the knife away from him. That was what saved me.
How is your treatment presently?
It is going fine. My office and my General Manager at Radio Nigeria have been above board. My media friends have also been very supportive. The whole street was filled with people when they found out that I was the one who was attacked.
My major concern now is that I am supposed to see an ophthalmologist. My left eye is not opening. I have also reached out to some people for support, and responses are coming in.
