₦airaland Forum

maclatunji: Mama Lola's heart skipped several beats as she feared the worst- here was her only daughter in front of her lying so still almost lifeless. "Lifeless," that word seemed to jolt her to reality, Lola was still alive and would soon become lifeless without emergency medical attention. Then it hit her, she could call the Lagos State Emergency Numbers 777 or 112 for help. She wasn't sure that her call would be picked-up but she thought it was worth a trial especially with the encouraging advert that she had heard earlier-on in the day on Lagos Radio. Sandra started crying; "Is mommy dead?" she asked in-between sobs as she shook her mother's arm with her delicate little hands. Mama Lola ignored her granddaughter and brought-out her battered Nokia 3310 (it was the only phone she had ever owned). She called out the numbers 7-7-7 like a Primary 1 pupil learning arithmetic as she dialed the number. The phone made a beep and a friendly female voice responded: "Hello! My name is Ronke from the Lagos Emergency Centre, how may I help you?"

Mama Lola screamed, e gba mi O, it is my daughter O. She just escape explosion and is now unconscious. Ronke, the emergency centre attendant at the other end of the call responded: "Was it a bomb explosion and where did it happen?" Mama Lola responded: "no, it is generator explosion, the explosion happened at Chief Adedayo's house, No. 1 Adedayo Street, Amuludun, Lagos." Mama Lola who was all-the-while dancing without music due to fear and anguish quickly added: "but madam I am calling you because of my daughter, Lola O, our own address is No.4, Adedayo Street, Amuludun, Lagos." The call center attendant replied: "no problem ma, I am forwarding the information to the ambulance service right now, they will be on their way soon, please be patient as they will definitely come." Mama Lola responded, Um-ha ese O, thank you. She ended the phone call as she thought of her next line of action.

*****************A couple of streets away from Adedayo Street************************

Baba Lola was arguing at the viewing centre over whether Chelsea could come back from a 1-3 deficit against Napoli in the 2nd leg of the second round of the UEFA Champions League with his best friend Papa John at Mosco's viewing centre. He had been anticipating this match for two weeks and now that it was time for it to kick-off, he couldn't hide his excitement. He told Papa John with all sense of seriousness, "I trust Drogba he must score three goals, tonight." Papa John retorded, "like he scored in the first leg, abi?" Baba Lola in the heat of the excitement of Champions League Football did not notice that his phone was ringing...