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For whom the ring tones

The following responses were among those given to a survey conducted in Lagos last year by the Daily Times of Nigeria that asked people whether they believed rumors that answering cell-phone (GSM) calls from certain “killer numbers” causes bleeding and death.

I think it is true. They mentioned in our church that a woman died at Oshodi. They said she collapsed after receiving a call. Maybe some people have gone into research to develop charms that suck blood through the phone. What we must do is develop our own counterattack. For me as a member of the OPC [a vigilante gang in Lagos], I have gotten some protection for myself, and I don't care if anyone calls me with the so-called killer number.

Though I use the commercial phones, I don't have any phone on which a killer could call me even if it is real. But due to the rumor, a man ran into a huge business loss because he refused to answer a call at about three in the morning. Later, when the man checked his missed call, he found out that it was a call to invite him to come and pick some goods as early as possible the following morning. Therefore, it is left for anyone to believe or disbelieve, but I don't feel concerned about the whole episode.

I didn't believe it before, but now I do. Somebody just came to tell me that a man in a Mercedes Benz collapsed at Ikeja at about 10 A.M. on Monday morning. Similarly, the pastor at James Osu Street, off Odunsi Street, collapsed after receiving a call from an unknown number. He was rushed to the hospital. He was discharged the following day, but since then he has not been the same again. If you go to Odunsi Street, just ask for the pastor GSM almost killed, and they will take you to his house.

Everybody using the GSM phone should beware and be careful. Many people are saying it is a lie; but what we have heard at Ogba last week convinced a number of people. Wednesday last week, two people at Ojudu, and one at Oke Ira, were reported dead. Hence, I resolved not to pick up any number that does not indicate a caller name that I know personally.

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SEE ALSO: Nigeria; Superstition

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