"Robbers Gave Me N200 For Pure Water On The Road" - Suleiman Hashimu

Suleiman Hashimu (man pictured above in red), will no doubt enter the Guinness Book of Record as the first man to trek from Lagos to Abuja. And in a new interview with newsmen, 'The Traveller,’ as he is now called, a native of Katsina State, has talked about his over 2-weeks journey.

According to Hashimu, he was in Lagos when Buhari was announced the president-elect of Nigeria, so he left Lagos at about 5.am the next day and arrived in Ibadan around 6pm.

Narrating his ordeal to newsmen upon his arrival in Abuja, Hashimu said he had gone to get a police report at Ibadan to allow for an unimpeded journey, but that as he could not wait for the processes be completed, the divisional police officer (DPO) gave him his phone number.

The journey man said when he first embarked on the journey, many persons discouraged him, especially family members but he never gave up.

He told journalists that in Ilorin, people accompanied him for several miles until he stopped at Oloru, where he received much hospitality in Jebba. He said unlike other villages, he met people who had heard of him.

He further explained that about 20 people set off with him from Jebba and after some miles, 18 turned back, but the other two were more strong-minded and followed him.

The Traveller narrated how they encountered armed robbers close to Mokwa, but that, fortunately, he had already met one of them in Jebba and the would-be robber ended up giving him N200 for ‘pure’ (sachet) water.

Hashimu said he continued his trip from Mokwa to Kudu, then from Kutigi to Bida, and then to Suleja, after which arrived in Abuja yesterday.

Upon his arrival in Abuja on Monday, many residents were already waiting to receive him. When residents of FCT saw him, the chorus of Sai Buhari rented the air.

Hashimu Suleiman yesterday received a horse as a gift from the Agora Of Zuba, HRH Mohammed Bello Umar.