₦airaland Forum

A few hours later our car broke down. The scorching sun was merciless on us. Everybody kept to her water can while the driver was busy with it. He had convinced us that it will be up and running in a jiffy. In a matter of minutes, my gown had become soaked, likewise everybody. Madam UC lamented, "you drivers are too mischievous, I asked you before paying if you are certain that this car is in good condition, you said yes. Now, look at this" she kept pacing around the car and checking her wristwatch.

Two hours on, he was now pacing and looking at his phone screen. He said he'll have to call his mechanic friend. Suddenly Madam UC exploded, "this man you're very stupid, l believe you're trying to rob us and I'm sure this car is in good condition" He also got angry and replied annoyingly. Consequently, a quarrel broke out between them. we gathered behind her and began assisting her in the duel.
"Girls we have to trekk, this man is a thief, he wants to rob us. Let's be on our way before he reaches his friends!" She announced. She took her handbag, handed it over to me, then we set out. Looking forward I got convinced that the journey will be endless, I believe that was how my colleagues felt but who are we to complain. We followed her like sheep following their Shepherd. Although she kept assuring us that the journey only looks endless but it is actually a little distance. "Just a little more and we'll meet other drivers that will carry us" she kept voting.
The fact that the sun has begun to set gave us a relief, but the fact that we were in possession of no torch except madam UC's phone which had no torch was horrifying. She kept cursing the driver and complaining about the lack of torch. She drank her water once in few hours while we kept drinking and pouring ours on our heads every minute.

Ijeoma had ran out of the water by the time we sat down to rest. Madam UC noticed it and shared her own with her. "We'll continue by ten, so you can sleep if you want to," she said, recollecting the fact that the ground was hot she added, "just pour water on the spot you want to lie down, we'll soon get to refill the cans, just two or three hours more"
While others slept, I and madam UC kept sitting. I was wondering what could possibly happen while she was looking in the direction we came from. Suddenly she sighed, then said, "I knew it, wake the others it, the thieves are here", instead of giving me hope the light from the car gave me heartache. "Aunty, what do we do?" asked Idowu. She was silent a while before replying, "we have nowhere to run, let's pray they don't rape us". The news came to me as a shock, we kept staring at the approaching car. It was exactly that situation when doom is about to happen to you and all you could do was anticipate the possible damage it might cause.

As the car oozed to a stop before us we began to cry because the countenance of the men that were stepping out of it assured us of getting raped. "Oga this thing you did no good, I knew it," said madam UC to the driver. He told she'll lose her life if she spoke again. "Everybody remove your clothes!" Bellowed the shortest among them. "Again?" I whispered as I zipped down. "You no Dy hear!?" The driver asked madam UC. She sighed, then began to strip. They packed everything thing on the car bonnet, the driver and one of them began to search the pockets of every dress. They announced to the short one that they found only three hundred thousand cefas inside madam UC's handbag. "So you have buried the remaining abi?" he asked madam UC. We didn't burry anything abeg, that is all we have" she answered.

"No wahala, Oya lie down!" he ordered her. "Oga abeg, Na beg I Dy beg, Biko just take the money, Biko" she pleaded. "You Sabi as we Dy do am madam, abeg lie down make I do comot here". He slept with her a little, then asked me to lie down. I obeyed without delay, while I watched as the others took turns in raping madam UC. Then it dawned on me that the boss must go first before the others. Which means we shall all suffer the same fate she was suffering. Within a matter of minutes, we all had someone on us. I heard madam UC saying, "easy oga!" to one of them. I looked in my sister's direction, shame overwhelmed me when her gaze met mine. The tears on her face dehumanized me, I closed my eyes in regret.

To be continued
Ade Richards
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By #aderichardss

We arrived at Niamey (Niger's capital) at exactly 7 pm. We trekked about two kilometers to where she said her Friend lives. The woman was around six feet tall, hefty and has a very bright complexion. They exchanged greetings and afterwards marched us into a bungalow. She has an exotic house and from the look of things she is rich. They told us to take turns in taking our bath in the guest room's bathroom. She even gave us new blouses to change with. Our mood lightened up when we were invited to the dinning table. We were served fried rice and chicken. Her benevolence came as a surprise to us, unlike the other one who left us in a dirty bar where we got raped.

"Girls" she began, "first of all let me commend you for taking a step towards making it in life. You see, life is not a bed of roses, to make it is not easy. I was just like you in the year 2001, I spent twenty years working for my madam before she finally freed me. Your madam here is even nice, she offers ten years in as much as she has to run away by her twenty-fifth year of working for her madam. There is nothing much in this thing, people keep saying rubbish about going to Italy but is it not better than sleeping with broke people in Nigeria? Although ashawo no be work but life gives us no other choice. It's all about the money, after you have made it and have money will people mind what you did ? They will even associate with you. See me now, I have five houses, four in Nigeria, and one here. And as you can see I'm enjoying my life. What else do I need in life? Although I'm not married but what will men offer you? They will start commanding you and telling you that they're the man of the house, I don't care about marriage, any time I feel like I find a man to ....you know what I mean" at this, they both laughed, then she continued "so when you get there don't betray your madam ooo! , Don't run away with a man oooo! They will ask you to run away with them, claiming they love you, then when you do, they will start using you as their sex slave, they will lock you up in a room, bring countless number of men to sleep with you and they will film it all and sell it to pron companies. If you refuse, they will call the police . And when they're tired of you they will throw you out, so serve your madam well, when you complete your ten years she will give you the connection you need and you too will start making money. Hope you all heard me!? "

"Yes Ma!" we echoed.

She then asked us to go sleep so as to get enough rest for the journey ahead. As we retired to the room, confidence and hope was evident on our faces. Finally, I and my sister talked as we lay side by side on the rug. She was the first to sleep off, having no urge to sleep, I lay there thinking about my old helpless mother who we've left behind and my boyfriend Chucks. I wished that her sister, Iya Rachael will take her to her place as soon as possible and assume responsibility of taking care of her. I vowed to call her immediately I get the chance, then I remembered Chucks' advice, he had warned me not to embark on this journey, he was very caring and to be honest, he gave me all I ever needed and always promised to send me back to school once he starts working ( he was a corper then). Obviously his advice fell on deaf ears as my sister- who was the first to meet madam UC made sure she convinced me, giving me instances of a lot of girls that have gone to Italy and are sending money to their parents. "Even that small ogechi have built a duplex for her mother" she kept saying.

Madam UC"s tap woke me up, she kept shouting oya!! Oya! Oya! I could remember my sister going into the bathroom, madam UC asked her what she was up to, " I want to bath" she replied. She gave a little laugh and told her to tag along. Her Friend stood by the door wishing us safe journey as we marched into the dark morning.
By the time the sun rose, we were staring at an endless sea of sand through the window of a golf. The view was the same on both sides , it was terrifying.

To be continued
#aderichardss
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Visiting day

It was on a Saturday, after the sanitary inspection, they were all free to go stand by the school gate. They stood there waiting , the turning up of their parents, a fact they aren't sure of yet they held on to faith.
Dauda had called his father last week to inform him. He plans on telling him his wish to leave the school, and this time, he must win the argument. He kept reciting his defense speech.
Parents were showing up one after the other, each student jumps in jubilation once he/she sees their parent(s). The end to every other person's wait sickens the heart of those yet to meet their parent(s). Dauda and Ebuka kept gallivanting around the school gate, their patience was fast diminishing. By evening, Dauda had began to sob. Ebuka kept convincing him of his father's arrival. relief came to Ebuka when his mother finally showed up. He introduced Dauda to her. She told them to eat together and also share everything she brought equally.
Dauda's resentment towards his father gained momentum. He wondered if he will even come to take him home when they vacate.

To be continued
Ade Richards

Pages77.

​ THE BOARDERS (PART FOUR)
MONDAY MORNING

It was very early in the morning, dauda was the first on the junior student's queue. He watched as senior mike lashed some boys mercilessly with a big cane. He imagined himself receiving a cane that size, he wondered what the boys must've done, he was terrified. His heart sank when senior mike asked him to come, he approached slowly as he tried to figure out what he must've done wrong. "How are you?" The senior asked to his surprise. His heart grew hot in relief. "Why are you afraid smallie? I won't beat you" promised the senior. He placed his arm on his shoulder, then began addressing other boys. After his speech, he looked down at Dauda again, and remarked, "Nna, this boy small oh......" "What is your name ?" senior zai, "Dauda" he announced.
The quadrangle got lively as everyone got amused. "How old are you?" senior mike enquired. Everyone was stunned when he announced, "eleven!"
At the class that his ugly short form teacher changed his seat from the back to the front, right in the middle of two girls. Not even a word transpired between him and the girls throughout that day. After classes, Ebuka took him to the staff room-he had informed him of how dangerous it is to keep money in his tinker box. Mr Akintunde (ebuka's guardian) was a tall mean looking man, Dauda kept looking into his eyes. He handed him the money which the man kept in his drawer. "Boy what is your name?" He asked . "Dauda!".
Ok, you can go" he dismissed them. On their way to the hostel, ebuka told him all about Mr Akintunde.
#aderichards
To be continued!
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THE BOARDERS (PART TWO)
Anybody that touches you, just come and tell me but don’t disrespect your seniors”.
Well, it worked on dauda. He went to the field that evening, he was chosen to join a football team of five boys from his room to compete against room two boys. He had fun doing what he loves but never had the chance at home. He liked the sight of many children playing on the large field. Some were running but most were playing his game. Girls were gathered together towards their hostel doing what he couldn’t figure out. He unleashed his great skills. This made him new friends and a new status in the eyes of all.

On getting to the hostel, there was a long queue at the tap, he noticed that the queue consisted of only junior students. Seniors would come and ask them to leave the tap, they stood some distance away from the tap and watch while the seniors take their bath.

That was the day he met Ebuka who offered him half bucket of water from his reserve.

He even accompanied him to the big bathroom they call laundry. Dauda turned away from Ebuka as he was about to strip, he stopped half way leaving his pants on, he bathed with it on.

Ebuka laughed at him, as they retired to the room, he told him he would soon get used to school life.

When the bell was rung, he asked, “Ebus what is that sound”? Ebuka told him ” it’s time for dinning, let’s go! prepare” Dauda started getting into his white shirt, He got annoyed when he heard Ebuka laughing. Ebuka opened his tinker box, handed him a checkered shirt and khaki shorts, “that’s what you should wear” he said.

At the Dinning, Dauda watched everybody eat, he couldn’t eat with everybody looking at him like that. His eyes caught Ebuka’s who motioned to him to eat. The beans was very appaling, he stopped at the fourth spoon and stood up to leave. Ebuka motioned to him to sit down. Suddenly he heard, “bow your heads” which he obeyed

“For the food we have eaten we thank you oh Lord!”

To be continued

#aderichards

Pages77.

Published by Ade richards

I know he’s too young but we have no choice, we cannot keep him home for one whole year, it would be detrimental to his brain.





That was my father in a discussion with my uncle. My case has become popular. At the age of eleven everybody believed I was too young to go to secondary school- talk more of living there. But my father refused to harken to them. As the headmaster of the only primary school in the local government area, this qualifies him as the spring of wisdom in the village. His decision to send me far away to boarding school at a tender age was the final, not just as my father. His bald head gives him that look of a wise man, age and poverty have shrinked him physically but not mentally. I take his big eyes, round face and most of all his gentle look. The idea of education appealed to him a lot. My good grades never surprised anybody. He forced his formulas, theories, definition and so on down my throat. Perphaps if my mother hadn’t died during my birth she would have saved me from his tyranny. I have no choice, I must go! I wonder what it looks like to remain within a compound and never to see home and watch movies; though under his supervision, play with bello and other kids from the next street on Sundays, then count the cows being driven by those men with rags around their head. I won’t forget that day when one of their cows ran off, he went after it and while running his rag felled. We laughed so hard tears came down our cheeks. Whenever I remember that incident, I laugh just like I’m doing now. He finally got what he deserved for beating those innocent cows. I’ve heard stories of ghosts tormenting kids that live in the hostels. Maybe I should tell my father about it, he might change his mind because of it. Though there will be many children to play with at the hostel but I don’t know them. I have no choice! Federal government college, Nise; I don’t even know why he loves the school that much.

That was Dauda, he passed the federal common entrance examination in primary four. Like he said, his father doesn’t joke with education- science and mathematics to be precise. He looked eight at the age of eleven and has been condemned to the boarding house. He knew none of the kids, even his roommates seemed to avoid him for weeks. By the third week, he became home sick. He would go away from prying eyes just to cry. Senior Nzube shocked him the day he asked him why he likes crying.

“I want to go” was his reply. The room head did his usual job of convincing every jjc that the place would appeal to them soon enough. “Anybody that touches you, just come and tell me but don’t disrespect your senior oh”

To be continued!!!