- Safiu Kehinde
Lagos-based content creator, Onyi Ella, popularly known as Darkskinned Ella, has raised alarm over alleged threat to her life for calling out the Lagos state government over shortage of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses at her community’s bus stop in Elepe, Ikorodu area of the state.
NPO Reported that the content creator renowned for documenting plights of commuters at the bus stop, had last week attracted public attention after being harassed by a BRT bus staff for recording the long queue at the bus stop.
While sparking reactions from netizens, the video had also drawn the attention of the state government as buses were deployed to the bus stop days after with Ella confirming the development.
This however would not last long as the content creator, in a post on her Instagram handle on Wednesday, disclosed visiting the bus stop on Monday with no bus at sight.
While she had recorded the development again, the video appeared to have upset some officials as she alleged that armed thugs were deployed to the bus stop on Tuesday to attack her.
“Nigerians, if anything should happen to me, you guys should know who to hold. On Monday, I texted Mr. Ken and told him that I just want to confirm if there will be bus or not and there was no bus.” She said while sharing a video of another content creator, simply identified as Peterson, who visited the bus stop on Tuesday and recorded the suspected thugs.
Petereson, in the video, alleged that the thug who were all putting on a nose mask to conceal their identity were waiting to see if Ella would turn up at the bus stop.
“Nigerians see we need to speak out. Yesterday, just because Ella came outside to say the provision of BRT was temporary and not permanent, today, look at thugs with nose masks waiting to see if Ella is going to come today.
“They think I’m the only one. They’ve been monitoring me left and right. One guy recognised me, but he could not come to me.” He said.
Reacting, Ella explained reasons behind her which she claimed to be her way of documenting her daily struggles in Lagos.
As against claims of her doing the videos for entertainment purpose, Ella held that she only record in order to get her voice heard over the plight commuters in Ikorodu axis.
“Before all of these happened, there was an Ella that was a fashionista, Ella that was a mobile videographer, Ella that was a content creator and influencer.
“So, these things I did was documenting every struggle of mine. Right from time, I started documenting because of course, Lagos is stressful and I’ve always been that child that loves documenting and keeping memories.
“I started voicing out little by little. People that started following me right from time, they know how I started voicing out. The last one went so viral and the government heard about it.
“They promised to provide buses. They said I should blur out people’s faces. Of course, I blurred out people’s faces because that was never my intention.
“My priority was for my voice to be heard. That was it was never a big deal for me to blur out people’s faces.
“They said it was for entertainment purposes. But they never saw the problem of no bus. After promising us there will bus, they did it for two days. And the next thing on Monday, there was no bus.” She said.
Ella thereafter disclosed how a stranger came to her residence and claimed to be a plumber, raising her suspicion of being tracked.
“If anything should happen to me, Nigerians you know who to hold. Because I don’t how somebody will knock at my gate and say plumber service.
“For me to step outside now, I’m scared. If they should come an arrest me, just know it is a set up.” She said.
Replying critics who accused her of clout chasing while charging her to take her advocacy to Enugu State where they claimed she came from, Ella maintained that she only schooled at Enugu but was born and bred in Lagos State.
“For some people saying that I’m from Enugu, why didn’t I start voicing out at Enugu? I just came to Lagos because of clout chasing.
“Oga, I am not from Enugu. I was born and brought up in Lagos. I just came back to Lagos after my University.” She said.