While I'm putting finishing touches to this project please enjoy these excerpts from some of my previous works. Introducing;

MALEVOLENT

It was an unnaturally windy night in Lagos. Bits of debris whirled about lazily in the air while in one of the shops nearby, an argument was taking place.
"What's wrong with you? All your friends are married and here you are, whining about your suitors. He's too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short! Grow up. Your beauty is fading. I'm sorry but I won't deceive you. Time is not on your side." the shopkeeper ranted growing more irritated with each word.
"Yes mom. Thanks for pointing out the fact that all my friends are married. However I will not marry some illiterate farmer, and yes I mean uncle Deji, just to give you grandchildren thus helping you achieve your dream of spawning the leaders of tomorrow!" the young lady spat vehemently her chest heaving rapidly.
"I don't care if you throw your life away but you will not be rude to me Ronke Bamidele! Do you hear?!" her mother screeched.
"Yes mom I hear you. But I will live my life as I see fit. So just leave me alone ok?" with that she squared her shoulders and stomped out of the shop, making it a point of duty to slam the door shut on her way out. She walked briskly, hands in her pockets and her shoulders hunched against the cold wind. Ronke was lost in deep thought and a frown creased her forehead as she mulled over the events of the previous day. Her parents had invited uncle Deji over for lunch. Then they both sneaked out leaving her alone with the cretin, who slobbered all over her, professing unconditional love for her. She tried every trick in the book but he wouldn’t budge, she pleaded, cried, yelled at him, argued with him but the thick headed slowpoke just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Finally she got through to him and he confessed that her father had assured him she was madly in love with him. How her father could have set her up with his own cousin she would never understand. Her blood had boiled over several times during the fiasco, and at a point she felt a very strong urge to brain the man with any heavy object she could lay her hands on. She was furious with her parents, but she pitied them. It couldn't be easy having a thirty-eight year old spinster as an only child. People were constantly asking for the date of her wedding, and she knew her parent's friends mocked them openly about their middle aged spinster daughter. Her parents were getting desperate. She thought about all this as she walked absent-mindedly and didn't notice when she crossed over to the alley. Neither did she notice the strangely grotesque shadows moving across the walls. She was so engrossed, she didn't look up till she heard a faint hissing sound and she dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Ronke's eyes fluttered open and she saw she was in a large room with white walls and a door in the corner. The chair in the other corner was the only piece of furniture in the room besides the bed she lay on, with a white bed sheet covering her nudity. What happened to her clothes? The place looked like a hospital ward. She tried to get up but couldn't move a muscle; she was paralyzed from her neck to her feet. Then she turned her head to look around and she saw a shelf behind her. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers when she recognized the tools on the shelf. The shelf was lined with scalpels and forceps and a host of other surgical tools, all arrayed on the shelf like trophies. Her eyes bulged in terror as her memories came flooding back. She remembered walking from her mother's shop, heading into the alley then hearing a faint sound like gas being sprayed. She faintly remembered being dragged up some stairs, which didn't make any sense since she had been in an alley. Her mind raced and she considered her options scream or Play dead? She still hadn't decided when the door creaked open and someone came in. The person had very little hair but wasn't exactly bald as when compared with hairless. It was as if the person was born that way. She knew it was a man from his appearance, but there was something deformed about him. He didn't seem to have any skin and was all flesh. His face was weird. His brow ridge was non-existent and for a nose he just had a lump on his face with two holes. He walked towards her and she noticed how impossibly tall he was. The ceiling was at least ten feet high and his head was practically brushing it. He also walked in a very strange way, as though hopping from one foot to another. He was definitely human but there was something very wrong with him, he was somehow animalistic and she felt hatred and disgust for him. Maybe he was sick. He reached her bedside and stroked her hair with his abnormally long delicate fingers. Next he selected a knife from the shelf and unceremoniously tossed the sheet aside. He started cutting through her stomach and though she was paralyzed she felt the pain vividly as he hacked away at her abdomen. She screamed piteously and tossed her head from side to side, then she woke up.


CHAPTER ONE
Ronke opened her eyes and noticed a few changes to her surroundings. First of all there were other beds in the room with dozing occupants and her bed space was partitioned with a curtain. A plastic bag containing a clear liquid was stuck on a long metallic pole and was feeding its contents to her intravenously. This time she was certain she was in a hospital. Relief flooded through her when a nurse carrying a pitcher of water approached her. She suddenly realized how parched her throat was and drank thirstily when the nurse lowered a cup to her lips. When she had had her fill she turned her head aside and croaked “What....where...?"
The nurse put a hand to her forehead and said "You've been out for two days. Don't worry you're okay, just a little dehydrated. Do you remember what happened?" Ronke shook her head. "Alright your parents will be notified you've come to. They just left. Just rest for now." The nurse smiled and moved on to the next patient. Ronke didn't quite know what to think of her memories. Was it just a dream, or a hallucination? Was her mind playing tricks on her?
She was still mulling over her dilemma when her parents rushed into the room. Her mother flew straight at her, crushing her into the bed. "Oh thank God! I thought I had lost you. Oh Ronke my last words to you were that I didn't care what you did with your life. I'm sorry." her mother gushed, managing to cry and smile at the same time. Ronke just patted her mother’s back numbly and looked imploringly at her father.
"That’s enough. Don't smother the girl Lily." her father said, prying her mother off her then patting her shoulder reassuringly.
"What happened to me?" Ronke asked, shooting a grateful glance at her father.
"Some men found you unconscious in an alley close to your mother's shop. They rushed you here and you were promptly admitted. The nurses identified you through your national ID card and found our numbers on your phone. By the way thanks for storing my number as the man I call my father!" he said swatting her arm playfully. Ronke grimaced at her cheekiness. "We were rather worried when you didn't show up that night and refused to pick our calls, but I just assumed you had gone to your friend's house to stew. Your mom told me about your little spat." her father looked down guiltily.
Ronke squeezed his hand then asked "What happened to the men who rushed me here?"
"Well they stuck around long enough to accept a very generous present from your mom and I, but fled the scene at the mention of the word police. Apparently their activities in that alley were a bit questionable." her father chuckled.
"But what were you thinking, passing through that alley at such an ungodly hour? And what happened to your car? I assumed you would go straight home when you left the shop." her mother berated her rather sternly.
Ronke gaped at her mother before responding "I left my car at sade's place. I told you I would spend the night with sade yesterday. She needed it, so I took a cab to work, and I went to your shop from the office. I don't know what I was thinking going into that alley." she said sheepishly.
"What happened? Did you fall?" her mother asked searching Ronke's head for bruises.
Ronke shook her hand off then proceeded to tell her parents the whole story, trying not to omit anything. When she was done her parents gazed at her dazed looks on their faces.
Her mother placed a hand on her forehead and asked worriedly "Are you okay darling?"
Ronke inhaled sharply. "What? You don't believe me?" she asked testily.
Her parents exchanged a worried glance. "of course we believe you dear." her mother placated. Ronke sighed "It’s okay. I know the story sounds incredible. I can hardly believe it myself. It just felt so real. I guess I'm frustrated. So how is Susan?" Ronke fluffed her pillow as her mother told her how upset their neighbor had been when she learnt she intended to impeach her and become the next president of the street's vigilante group.

Ronke's story spread through the hospital like wildfire when she repeated the story to a nurse the next day. Ronke was discharged from the hospital three days later. The day before she was discharged, a reporter from Tell magazine paid her a visit. Apparently someone in the hospital had connections. Funke was asleep when the reporter arrived, so she was startled when she woke up and found a young man sitting beside her bed, reading a novel. He looked up when he heard her sheets rustling.
"Ah. You're awake. Ted Olujobi. I'm a columnist for Tell magazine. My column is called Panorama, maybe you've heard of it?" he said, offering her his hand.
She shook it then asked "How long have you been here and what do you want?"
"Just a few minutes." he said with a dismissive wave. "I heard your fantastic story and I just had to hear it again from the horse's mouth" he said, trying to stifle a yawn. The reporter must have seen the alarm that flashed across her eyes at that. "Oh please don’t be alarmed, I promise to keep you anonymous." he assured.
She looked warily at the stranger. "So you believe me?"
Ted hid a smile as he said “It doesn’t really matter whether I believe you or not, you’ll get your chance to be heard."
“Well ok then. Where do I begin?"
The reporter flipped his notepad open "Why don't you start from the beginning?"

Here's where we've gotten so far with;

THE ULTIMATUM

"You see most cults in the Yoruba tradition exist only-" the lecturer was cut short as his phone started ringing.” Please excuse me." he said putting the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
"Good morning Dr. Francis. If you ever wish to see your wife and daughter again you will do exactly as I say. Do you understand me?"
"Who...who are you?! What are you talking about? I think you've got the wrong number. Leave my family alone!"
"You have twenty-four hours to get to Abeokuta before I put a bullet in your daughter's brain, then we'll torture your wife till you comply. It’s your decision. Good day Doctor." There was a soft click as the unknown caller cut the connection.

CHAPTER ONE

Francis stood facing his class, an astonished expression on his face. His expression soon melted into terror as the gravity of the situation sunk into him. He looked as if he was on the verge of collapsing and he quickly dismissed his class and rushed out of the lecture theatre. He scarcely made it to the toilet before vomiting what little breakfast he had eaten. He cleaned himself off and ran to his car, dodging the crowd of students milling about. He sped to the gate of the University of Ibadan and didn't lift his foot off the pedal until he got to the police station at Bodija. He flew into the building, drawing some curious stares from the occupants. He went straight to the officer behind the counter.
"Please help me. I'm in trouble. They've taken my family. They've taken my family! Help me." He panted as though he ran all the way there and leaned over the counter to clutch the hands of the corporal, who just sat there, gazing dumbly at him. "They've taken my wife and daughter. Help me...help me!"
"Oga abeg calm down. Who carry your-"
"Don't you get it? They kidnapped my family!" he snapped, grabbing the officer's collar.
"Hey! What the hell is going on here?" a deep voice demanded. Startled, both men turned round to face the Divisional Police Officer. Apparently their ruckus had caught the attention of everybody in the police station, and a small crowd had gathered to witness their altercation.
"Shun sir!" The corporal said snapping to attention. "I just dey siddon when this man come jack me. E just dey shout anyhow."
"Is this true?" the DPO asked, addressing the stranger.
By now Francis had calmed down a little and had regained some composure. "Yes. I'm sorry about that. I...I need help" Francis said dejectedly.
"Please let’s go to my office and talk about it" the DPO said kindly.
They walked to the DPO's office and Francis told him everything, beginning from the strange phone call and ending with his mad dash to the station.
The police officer listened with rapt attention and when Francis finished his narration he took a few moments to ponder on it. Eventually he said "I will instruct some of my men to escort you home. Whatever the situation is they'll handle it." The police officer excused himself and left the office for a few moments, when he returned, he said “I’ve briefed my men on the situation. Don’t worry ok? They’ll handle the situation.”
Francis thanked his benefactor profusely and stood up to leave. The two men exited the room together and walked to the front door. When they got to the car park, Francis shook hands with the police man, and without another word climbed into the waiting police cruiser and headed for his home.

* * * * * * * * *

The police car pulled up abruptly at the residence of the Francis family. The house was built in the Mokola district of the Ibadan metropolis. Francis was about to unlock the front door when one of the officers stopped him “Better let me do that. You stay here till we clear the room.” He went in with his men and searched the house for about five minutes before signaling for Francis to come in. The house was empty, though there was an upturned pot on the floor, as though someone dropped it in surprise. When Francis went into the bedroom, it was evident that there had been a struggle. There were shards of broken glass on the floor alongside a small pool of dried blood. A note was left for Francis on his wife’s dressing table. It read;
"I HAD A FEELING YOU WOULD DISAPPOINT ME DOCTOR. PLEASE DON’T DISAPPOINT ME AGAIN."

I started writing this script in 2007 (before bombings became commonplace in Nigeria), and I sort of lost interest. Presenting;

THE MIMIC
PART 1

THE MEMOIR

PROLOGUE

Writing this memoir is the most difficult thing I've ever done. Mostly because I really don't know where to start from. There are so many memories flooding through my mind. I best go back to the beginning, where it all started.

Some men sat on mats in the dimly lit mosque and spoke in hushed voices, as they impatiently awaited the arrival of their Imam.
A figure entered the room and raised a hand for audience. "Good evening my brothers. Thank you for honoring my invitation, may Allah reward you. Friends I requested for your presence because we have a problem. Yes, we have enemies in our midst. This morning a woman of the book dared to disrupt our jumat prayers, demanding passage. During prayers! These vile dogs have brought their blasphemies to our people. They are corrupting the minds of our children.....my son, they took my son from me." his voice shook slightly at this.
"You all know what happened to Kabiru. They turned him against us. They forced my only son to sin, to turn his back on Allah and he was smitten by Allah's wrath! Now his mangled body lies rotting in the ground, victim of a car accident in which only he died. That was no ordinary accident. Believe me; they will turn your children against you too. The curse of Allah shall be upon us all. We must act quickly. Brother Salisu is back from Mecca. Welcome back." he said, gesturing to a robed figure that looked up at the mention of his name. "I shall entrust this great commission into your capable hands. We will strike these people of the book so hard they will flee our lands! Together my brothers, we will bring them to their knees! Praise be to Allah the all-powerful!"
As the congregation chanted after him, some other figures came into the room carrying large boxes, and started opening them.
"Tonight my brothers, we strike the first blow!" Salisu snarled, speaking up for the first time.
That night the men exited the room and set in motion a chain of events that would eventually bring the country to the brink of civil war.

CHAPTER ONE
A HARVEST OF BLOOD

Plateau State, Nigeria
September 7th, 2001.

Of course most of what I know now, I found out only recently after years of research. I guess you could say I became obsessed with this story. I just had to know every detail no matter how small. I've had many sleepless nights since all this happened and I foresee many more before I finish writing this memoir. Most of the dialogues are guess-work based on various events that occurred at different stages of this story, and on documents and video tapes gotten from security cameras .But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's how I imagine it happened on that fateful chilly night.

"Hurry up darling we're going to be late." Pastor Bode said in a somewhat panic-stricken voice from the foot of the stairs.
"Yes sir!" his wife said, saluting him smartly.
"Cut it out honey. You know that is one of the major reasons why I left the Police force. I can't stand all that saluting and groveling." Bode groaned.
"Okay dear. Except I thought it was because the take-home package wasn't taking you home." she replied grinning mischievously.
"Fortunately for me I found the kingdom of God and its righteousness." he said steadfastly ignoring her.
"Yeah and every other thing was granted to you!" she replied cheekily.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Bode asked feigning annoyance.
"This house didn't exactly build itself." she said wagging her brows suggestively.
"Well the bible says that a prophet should eat from his work doesn't it?" Bode asked triumphantly. He sighed again and looked at his wrist-watch. "Time up."
"Oh honey would you just relax? I'm certain the sky won't fall on our heads if we show up five minutes late for this vigil." Funmi replied dryly. She admired her outfit in the mirror, smiling as she absent-mindedly stroked the pearl necklace Bode had given her for her last birthday. She was jerked out of this reverie by the sound of footsteps pounding down the hallway.
"Give me my glasses you dummy!" Stella yelled at her sister, Kemi, who laughed gleefully as she sprinted away.
"Come and get them smarty!" Kemi retorted.
"Ok girls cut it out. Kemi return Stella's glasses, and for the love of God stop screaming." Bode said sternly.
Stella snatched her glasses and kemi stuck her tongue out.
Bode glanced up at his wife and said in an exasperated voice "Honey..."
"Okay, okay. I'm out." she said coming down the stairs and leading the twins outside.
Bode locked up and went to the car. Twenty minutes later they pulled into the church's parking lot.
"Great, its 11:27 pm. We're late." Bode declared running to the entrance.
"Honestly mom, he's going to get hypertensive." Stella remarked solemnly as they watched him disappear behind the door.
Funmi rolled her eyes and led them to their seats.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The service ended five hours later, with Pastor Bode saying the grace. Suddenly sixteen men all armed with assault rifles strolled into the church. They fired a few shots and ordered everyone to lie down.
One of them went to the pulpit and announced "I am Alhaji Salisu, and these are my brothers. We have a little game we would like to play with you. It’s called who wants to be a martyr!" Guffawing, he dropped to his knees and yanked the Pastor's head up.
"Where is your family?" he spat. "Point them out!"
Bode scrambled to his feet and ran to funmi.
"Very well, separate them." He said curtly to his men.
Bode and his family were led aside while the other gunmen tied the parishioners up.
"We warned you people, but you wouldn't listen. We told you we didn't want your lies and blasphemies, but yet you persisted in corrupting the minds of our children with your filth. Well this is the end of the road for all of you, and make no mistake-"
He never got to finish his sentence, as at that instant brother Alex, the head usher cried "Father save us from these devils! Help your children-"
Alex never got to finish his sentence either, as his head was ripped apart by Salisu's bullets.
"Anyone else?" he mocked. "No? Ok. Who still believes that Jesus is the son of God? Come on, stand to your feet." out of about thirty-three church members, thirteen people stood up.
"Let me get this straight. Mary was the mother of Jesus and she was married to Joseph. Doesn't that make Jesus Joseph's bastard son? And what was God like, her boyfriend? Was she playing hooky with Joseph then?"
Bode looked up and said "There are things you will never understand, things you can't-"
"Oh shut the hell up! Was I talking to you?" Salisu turned back to the congregation.
"I have travelled around the world, met so many people from diverse cultures and religions but you Christians are the worst bigots I've ever come across. You believe yourselves to be better than everyone else. Why, to join your faith one has to profess oneself to be a sinner, a miserable wretch incapable of making any rational decisions without first consulting with your famous Christ, a prophet who for some reason you worship like some kind of deity." He pursed his lips as though in deep thought, and then said "Shoot them." The church hall rang with the thundering explosions of gunfire.
Pastor Bode was beside himself with anguish. He roared with rage and tried to attack the gunmen, until one of them hit his head with the butt of his rifle.
The gang leader turned to the remaining terrified hostages.
"So you all denounce your Christ? Are you all sure? Good." he gave his men a grim nod, and three men went out and came back in carrying kegs.
"What the hell are you doing?" A man in the front pew asked. "We have done what you demanded now leave us alone!" he screamed hysterically, froth forming on his lips.
The gang leader smiled unpleasantly. "Oh I intend to leave you alone alright. In hell! You renounced your faith, so you are all going to hell. That's how it works isn't it? Yes, but first, a demonstration. What do you say to a little taste of hell on earth?" He laughed manically as his men poured the contents of the keg on the hostages then lit a matchstick and threw it at them. A roaring flame engulfed the hostages, whose screams of anguish could be heard miles away.
Bode started stirring and the gang leader turned from the inferno to him. He vomited at the sight of the gruesome murders.
"Pastor, so sorry for ignoring you. I had bigger fish to fry!" he said chortling. He walked up to Stella and snatched her from her mother's vice-like grip. He then unwrapped the parcel he was handed, revealing a long, sharp knife. "The sins of the father…" he said glancing at Bode before cutting into her throat, slicing the knife back and forth like a saw. He didn't stop till he ruptured her carotid artery. He let her slump to the ground in a dead heap and wiped her blood off his face. Salisu ignored her screaming parents and grabbed kemi. He quickly made short work of her before turning to Funmi, who by this time had grown unusually quiet, with a dazed look in her eyes.
"No. Please God no. Take me, take me instead!" Bode screamed.
Funmi laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"Hush now my dear, it’s okay. I'll go and wait for you in heaven with the girls." she smiled softly and didn't even flinch when the knife was raised to her neck.
When Salisu was done with her, Bode dropped to his knees and pointed to his outstretched neck. "Well? What are you waiting for? Come on!" he sobbed miserably.
"But where would the fun in that be? Oh no, I have a more interesting plan for you." He said, motioning to his men. A rope was tied around Bode's legs and he was dragged to the altar and slung up the statue of Jesus Christ. "You know, you both share a lot in common. You both stuck your noses where they didn't belong, and have both suffered for your mistakes. May you serve as a lesson to others." With that he stabbed Bode midriff and left him hanging upside down to bleed to death.
The last memories Bode had were the gang members clearing from the church, and the suffocating odor of burning flesh.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The police arrived a short while later and put out the remaining smoldering flames, while Bode was cut down and rushed off in an ambulance. The paramedics at the scene bagged all the bodies, but the church was left as it was, blood stains and all. The police dispersed the curious passers-by that had gathered, and left a few hours later on.
At dawn the reflection of the sun on the church building had an eerie effect, like a carnivorous building that had devoured its occupants for breakfast and was now contentedly basking in the sun.
The next day, the Punch Newspaper featured the story as its headline;
JOS KILLINGS INTENSIFY. FAMILIES OF VICTIMS PROTEST
Yesterday witnessed what has been described as the cruelest act of religious sadism ever witnessed in Nigeria. According to the State's Commissioner of Police, a church in the Nasarawa Gwom area of Plateau state was raided by a group of unknown gunmen in the early hours of yesterday morning during a vigil. These gunmen killed everyone in the church, save the Pastor, Mr. Bode Adegoke, a retired superintendent in the Nigerian Police Force. He was hung upside down and left to die from a life threatening wound on his midriff. Luckily for him the police rushed to the scene and were able to stop his bleeding before he was rushed off to St. Bernard's hospital where he remains unconscious. The Police Commissioner assured the nation during the ensuing press conference that the police force was presently investigating the incident and would not stop till they got to the bottom of it. Christians in the Nasarawa Gwom area are protesting and demanding for justice.
An Imam in the locality commented that Islam is a religion of peace and should be practiced that way by all who profess faith in Allah. Members of the Holy Christian Church of Christ have organized a peaceful rally slated to take place tomorrow morning.

CHAPTER TWO
HIDDEN MADNESS
Life can be funny at times. When I read that particular story in the newspaper, I never imagined it would change my life forever, nor did I suspect I would refer to it at this point in my life. It’s been so long. Anyway during the course of my investigation I found Bode's files in the archives at the assylum he was eventually placed in. I also interviewed the doctors that were assigned to him, and the things they told me were very puzzling. I'll try to recreate it for you, though I may have to leave some things out.

Bode looked up at the sound of keys jangling in the door lock.
The staff at Aro psychiatric hospital in Abeokuta all referred to the occupant of cell 37 as the Forsaken, because that's what the occupant had scratched on the wall. Bode was brought to the Psychiatric hospital two days after he regained consciousness at St. Bernard's, at which point it became apparent that he had suffered a mental break down and needed psychiatric help immediately.
He was put in cell 37, where he had been for the past six months.
The cell was rectangular and mostly bare, except for a plastic chair and table set in a corner, and a bed that was welded into the wall. The room had only one window, which was about eight feet above ground level.
Bode had shown no signs of recovery and was to be subjected to electro-therapy the following month if he still showed no sign of improvement by then.
The nurses who brought him his meals and medications always complained of the pungent odor in his cell. The nurse who brought his lunch on Thursday however, found a little present waiting for her splattered on the wall.
Apart from the usual jargons he had scratched on the walls till his fingernails bled, the nurse found a large brown circle of feces on the wall. Some clumps of it were still fresh.
The nurse gagged, dropped the tray she was carrying on the table, and ran out, crying for a cleaner. Eventually one appeared and started cleaning up the muck, while Bode ignored the nurse and the cleaner and ate his lunch of beans and plantain, all the while mumbling insanities under his breath. When he was done, he took his medicines and turned back to the puzzle he had been piecing together before the nurse's interruption.
The nurse took the tray and fled the cell.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"It’s extraordinary." Gabriel commented flipping through the patient's charts.
"No, what it is, is impossible. Insanity doesn't just vanish in the blink of an eye, its a gradual process of recovery." Tunde replied.
Gabriel and Tunde were the two doctors assigned to the patient in cell 37.
"Well he certainly seems to have regained his sanity." Gabriel said closing the charts.
"Or he's pretending." Tunde said thoughtfully.
"I guess we're about to find out." Gabriel said reaching for the doorknob to the examination room.
Bode turned round as the door swung open. "Good day gentlemen" he said cheerily on sighting them.
They exchanged a glance then sat on opposite sides of the table facing their patient.
"Hello Mr. Bode. How do you feel?" Dr. Gabriel asked.
"Fine thank you. I feel....fine" Bode replied.
"Yes" Tunde said speaking up for the first time. "We heard you felt fine when you smeared your excrement all over the wall."
Bode sighed. "That has been over a week ago, and I assure you a lot has changed since then."
"Really?" Gabriel said sounding skeptical. "What caused these changes?"
"Five days ago I completed the puzzle I was given. It read 'God works in mysterious ways', and then I had a vision. A figure glowing with a brilliant light appeared to me." Bode paused, as though out of breath.
"And then? What happened?" Tunde demanded obviously enraptured with the story.
"And then the figure spoke to me. You see I lost my mind when my whole church was annihilated, and my family murdered. As could be expected, I blamed God for everything. I couldn't understand how God could allow my life to be destroyed. I mean I served him, obeyed him, I sacrificed so much for him. I felt cheated....betrayed even. I felt humiliated that all these years I had been serving a wicked and weak God. At a point I even began to doubt his very existence. I truly believed him to be a myth, a last resort for explanations of things when all other forms of reasoning failed. A lie. But the figure opened my eyes to the truth. I had lost my focus, my cause. When I got married and built the church I ignored God's original plan and purpose for my life. Those things were distractions... my wife... my children. They had to be taken from me. I lost sight of the plan, so I was punished. Now my senses have been restored. I shall carry out God's will." Bode's eyes shone fervently as he said all this.
"And what is God's will?" Tunde asked intrigued.
"The conversion of all Nigerians to Christianity, the eradication of sin and rebellion against God, and the preservation of God's precepts." Bode said matter-of-factly.
"But how will you achieve all these? There are other religions practiced in the country. How do you intend to convert everyone to Christianity? You can't force your religion on people." Tunde gushed, exasperated.
"That's for me to know and for God to reveal to you." Bode said in a voice that made it clear he wouldn't answer any more questions. This meeting was over.
The two doctors stood from the table similar frowns creasing their foreheads. "You may well be putting on a show of sanity for us." Dr. Tunde said studying Bode.
"How could I? Don't I sound coherent? Do I appear insane to you?"
"Actually you seem pretty sane to me. But then it's not the first time a lunatic seems to miraculously regain his sanity". Dr. Tunde retorted.
"Either you're lying or you're experiencing a temporary restoration of sanity and will soon suffer a relapse. Either way we'll find out soon enough. We intend to keep you under close observation for the next few weeks. Any sign of a relapse and you're going to be here for a very long time Mr. Bode." Tunde said menacingly.
Bode just smiled politely. The two doctors swept out of the room, leaving Bode alone with the guard standing outside the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Two weeks later the board members all sat in the conference room as they discussed the important issues pertaining to the hospital. The next topic on their agenda concerned the fate of the patient in cell 37.
"He has not displayed any signs of a relapse, however I suggest we keep the patient here for further observation, at least until we can establish his mental status." Dr. Gabriel said taking his seat once again.
"And you Dr. Tunde? What is your assessment?" The Chairman asked.
"I agree with Gabriel. We should keep him here for further observation as we still haven't ascertained the level of damage to his sanity due to the trauma of witnessing the massacre of his entire family. Legally, though, we ought to release him. It’s been two weeks and protocol demands we discharge him.
The board members put it to a vote and Bode's release papers were signed.
"Now, on to the other matters for discussion. I believe the patient in cell 21 is next...." the Chairman said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Once again Bode looked up at the sound of keys jangling in the door lock, except that this time around his room was in a pristine state and he sat calmly on his chair, hands folded neatly on his lap. He had an air of impatience about him having packed what meager belongings he had accumulated in the hospital and was awaiting his release.
"Is anyone coming to pick you up?" Dr. Gabriel asked entering the room.
"No.I have no one left." Bode replied wistfully.
"Come on, I'm on break, let me give you a lift to the bus station." Gabriel led the way to his car, a Mercedes Benz V booth, and they drove off.
"So what are your plans Mr. Bode?"
"I'll sell the church and probably use the money to set up a charity organization or something." Bode said looking out the window as the trees flashed by.
They got to the bus station and climbed down from the car.
"Do you have the bus fare?" Gabriel asked.
"No. I didn't think that far ahead." Bode confessed.
Gabriel wordlessly handed Bode an envelope. Obviously he had thought ahead. Bode took the envelope, nodded at Gabriel and boarded a Jos bound bus. He watched Dr. Gabriel climb into his car and disappear around a corner.

CHAPTER THREE
ARSONIST
This is where I come into the picture. For me it was just an ordinary day on the job. I thought if things kept going at that pace I would be home in time for dinner. How wrong I was. I remember that day clearly, I remember how easy it was to capture the man. Yes, it's easy enough to capture a man when he's not always three steps ahead of you.

The man strode across the tarmac, heading towards the warehouse unaware he was being watched.
"Target is in sight, heading north. Over."
"Copy that. Take position".
The plain clothed agents that had mingled with the crowd started closing in on the target. He reached the warehouse and signed some sheets of paper on a clipboard given to him by the guard on duty. He was just handing it back to the guard when he suddenly found himself surrounded by five security officers, all armed with service revolvers.
"DSS! Get down on your knees, hands on your head, now!" the team leader barked.
"Ah I just came to clear a container shipped in from Angola! It contains new furniture for my company. Please no kill me. Nothing dey there." the man pleaded.
"Furniture? We'll soon see about that. Search the container." The team leader, Danladi said to me.
I moved towards the guard who had been watching the spectacle excitedly. The guard however refused to hand the clipboard over to me so I could check the container number.
"Don't you need a warrant for that?" He asked defiantly, not at all perturbed by all the guns around him.
The guard collected the sheet of paper offered to him by Danladi, then handed his clipboard over to me.
I managed to locate and open the container, and discovered it was stocked full of sophisticated arms and ammunition.
"Yee! I no know. Dem decieve me. Abeg! Abeg!" the suspect sobbed as he was dragged off by the security service agents. The man was hauled through the throng of people as the airport guards tried to hold back the curious witnesses.
Two black Range Rovers were awaiting our arrival. The man was hauled into the second truck and we sped off, leaving the airport guards with instructions to call the police to confiscate the illegal merchandise.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Yes sir. I understand." The man replaced the telephone in its cradle with an astonished look on his face. After staring into space for a few minutes, he activated the intercom on his desk "Salima round the guys up, I want them in my office in ten minutes."

"But sir they are-"
"I know they're on a mission! I gave it to them, remember?" The man exploded. Then with a sigh added "Just get them here."
Salima lifted the telephone on her desk to her ears and punched in some numbers.
"Danladi speaking." the team leader said, exiting the interrogation room where he had been grilling the terrified prisoner.
"Hello Sadiq. It’s me, salima. Oga said he wants to see you guys."
"But we're still working on the case. We don't know who sent the cache or who it was meant for. The poor chap we got was just a pawn, he doesn't know much."
"Too bad. I guess you'll have to turn the case over to the police to handle. Oga has another job for you. I suggest you get a move on. Bye."
What could be more important than this? Sadiq wondered as he walked back to the interrogation room. A few hours later the group pulled out of the gate of the police station where they had dropped the suspect off, and set out to command center.
The two SUVs were parked and the group consisting of three men, myself included of course, and two women climbed up the stairs to the building of the Department of State Services outfit in Plateau state. We rode the elevator to the second floor then walked in silence to our boss' office.
"Hey salima. What's up?" Sadiq asked coming into the office.
"No idea. Welcome." she said as she leaned forward to activate the intercom. "They're here sir."
"Good. Send them in." Sadiq winked at the secretary as he turned the handle to the door.
"Good afternoon sir." We chorused as we filed into the room. The room was large, befitting of a state director of the DSS. The room had some chairs arranged in front of a white Formica board.
"Afternoon. Did any of you hear about the mosque that burnt down two days ago?"
"Yes sir. There was a power surge that caused a socket to spark. Some sparks got on the carpet, thus setting the mosque on fire." I said eagerly.
"Very good Daniel. Except I just got off the phone with the Director General. The fire fighters found some blasting caps onsite. CID was going to handle it, except another mosque went up this morning at 08:00am. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe we have a serial arsonist on the loose. I want you to learn all you can about those blasting caps. Daniel you're in charge."
"What? But..but I outrank him." Sadiq spluttered.
"True, but I need someone to take the fall if this investigation hits the rocks, and trust me, it might. You have anyone else in mind?"
"Oh, no. Daniel will do just fine sir." Sadiq said sheepishly.
"I expect you to keep me posted every step of the way. This is a secret investigation so let’s keep it that way okay? If my suspicions are right, the fewer people who know about this the better. Alright get out of my office I've got to make a phone call." He said dismissing us.
The group climbed down the stairs and headed for the parking lot.
"So, what’s the first step?" Saudat asked, adjusting her skirt.
"Sadiq, Mariam and David, you guys meet the CID boys and recover those blasting caps. Saudat you're coming with me to the fire station. We'll meet back at HQ at 09:00pm."
"Fine, let’s go." David said, climbing into one of the Range Rovers.
I watched the others get into the vehicle and drive off before getting into the other truck.
I opened the door for Saudat then pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the fire station. I felt a little uneasy about this case. Something didn't feel right.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was already time for afternoon prayers when we arrived at the fire station, so we had to wait for a while before the captain returned from the mosque. When he returned, he shook our hands before ushering us into his office.
"So, how may I help you?" He asked, steepling his hands on his desk.
"We would like to talk to the men who found the blasting caps at the mosque that burnt down two days ago, and if possible, take them to the site so they can walk us through exactly what they saw." I said leaning forward.
The captain stiffened at this.
"I was given strict instructions not to discuss this with anybody." he said hesitantly.
"Captain, we-"
"Oh please, call me Audu." the captain said, beaming at Saudat.
"Mr. Audu we are DSS agents. Surely you realize that we were not included in the category of people not to talk to." She shot him a charming smile of her own. Audu seemed to ponder upon this for a while before shouting "Isabelle!"
A young attractive woman came into his office
"Sir?"
"Go get Roland, Ahmed, Abdul and Jafar."

More to come shortly