Painful a lot of people rose up to counter what I wrote. I am not fazed though. Moving to the permanent site with this story soonest. Okada books, here I come!!!

#JoeyReminisces

Good morning Nairaland...
Let's continue...

TRIALS (Episode 5)
The captives were all arranged and their hands bounded behind their back while their feet were bounded underneath them. A plastic tape held them to their chairs. The camera had already been set up and was running but it hadn’t been connected to any of the media houses just yet. Time was being wasted on purpose or used according to plan. The chilly air-conditioned room had suddenly turned hot for the captives. Those whose bowels couldn’t hold anymore had uncontrollable movement that caused the air to become unpleasant. Urine was freely passed out. There was no shame as the captors waited for the clock to strike and for the daggers to begin slicing and slashing through their throats.

Dogo moved uneasily up and down the room. He wasn’t one used to receiving orders when he was still in the forest as a fighter. He gave the orders and waited for jobs to be done. If it wasn’t done according to his specifications, he acted as both the jury and executioner. The boys he controlled in the Sambisa forest knew that it was better coming back dead from a mission than to come back from a failed mission. He considered that a taboo. They would soon be dead anyway but in the most gruesome manner possible.

Dogo was a regular student in one of the Nigerian Universities. He attended lectures and made sure he studied hard to pass. He was gunning for a federal scholarship to do his masters outside the shores of Nigeria. Malaysia was where he had in mind to go. He wanted a conservative place where he could study among true Muslims and would also be able ask pressing questions.

When the first wave of Boko Haram was thwarted by the Yar’adua administration, he was indifferent. He had regarded the Haramites as people who practiced a different kind of Islam and were extreme in some of their measures. But something happened. Someone he looked up to because of his veracity in speaking against the government and pointing out corrupt practices was extra judiciously murdered. According to reports that circulated the media, he had tried to escape and was shot. Funny even though it wasn’t, were the handcuffs on his wrists and the gaping bullet hole in his head. Dogo had reasoned that for someone who was escaping, the bullet holes would have been in the back and not on the head and he wouldn’t be posited like someone that was shot at close-range. That did it for him. He looked for an opportunity to join and the opportunity came when Kano was attacked two days after the National Strike was called off.

Dogo had to bid Sambisa well when the heat became much and different factions materialized. He saw himself as a commander, a war commander and not some leader that would strive with others for power. That was basically what they had fought against, constituted authority. He also knew that his reputation preceded him and no fighter would love to identify with him. Those that had been drafted to him had committed one crime or another and were already condemned to die albeit they knew nothing about it.

“Stop pacing around Dogo. Everything is going on as planned. The negotiators will come up and then we would have the chance to tell them what we want.” Arrow cautioned him. He looked towards the window.

“I am not afraid of death. I have already offered my life as a sacrifice when I decided to abandon everything to forward this cause.” Dogo replied.

“Well, stay away from the window. I don’t want to see that brain of yours splattered everywhere. It is enough that these men have shitted themselves. I don’t want no smell of blood here.” Arrow replied.

“Sooner or later you will when the time starts ticking officially.” Dogo said as he turned to give the captives a smirk. He had a nice smile and if he wasn’t wielding an Ak47, he would have looked approachable as he was handsome.

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

Maureen sat on the chair that Dauda was supposed to seat on. Dauda looked at her briefly and took one of the two spare seats in his office. As he balanced himself, he looked at everything else in his little office. The attendance sheet that he made sure was submitted to him daily was opened in the middle. Blank pages stared at Dauda as he detached his eyes and looked at the calendar. The date read 23rd June, 2021.

“How did you do it?” Maureen’s voice cut through Dauda’s thoughts.

“How did I do what?” Dauda asked. He had not expected the question. His mind was on the Fura da Nono he had asked Ade to get for him.

“This whole stuff. Put an end to the robbery. You know these guys are bloody and are always known to leave a trail of blood behind whenever they come around.” Maureen picked an old newspaper and flipped through it.

“Let’s say Allah was with me.” Dauda simply replied.

Ade walked in through the already opened door with a covered plate of Fura da Nono in one hand. He was surprised to see Maureen sitting on Dauda’s chair. He masked the surprise by coughing slightly and saluting.

“Your lunch is ready Sir.” Ade said as he handed the plate to Dauda, saluted again and was about to head out when he paused and turned. “Chinedu has returned Sir.”

“Tell him I will have a word with him when I am done here.” Dauda discharged Ade with a slight movement of his hand. “Bis-mi-llah”

“Na gode,” came the reply.

“Oh, you speak Hausa?” Dauda asked smiling as he lifted the curved spoon full of soured milk and millet dumpling to his mouth.

“Who doesn’t? We have more Hausa speaking officers in the Force than any tribe.” Maureen replied smiling.

“That’s true. You said the commissioner wants to have a word with me.” Dauda said absentmindedly.

“Yes. I have a new mission for you and it is in Abuja. You will be debriefed when we leave here.”

Dauda choked on his food. He looked at the female officer in front of him and at the picture of the commissioner that hung on the wall. There was no difference except that she currently appeared younger and smarter and was dressed in the uniform of a constable. The name below the picture also read “Maureen Joseph” same as her tag.

Dauda stood up and saluted smartly.

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

Darkness had fallen over Gwarinpa. Rahila’s phone had been ringing incessantly. She had picked some and had ignored some. When she couldn’t anymore, she silenced her phone and threw it far away from her. The calls were from family and friends, even those she hadn’t heard from for a while also called in.

Aliyu slept beside her. He had eaten dinner; something that she couldn’t bring herself to put in her mouth. All through the time she played with her food and smiled at Aliyu when he looked up at her, her eyes was on the television set. NNPC towers had been vacated and all the staff within the building had been accounted for. Aminu’s name wasn’t among the names the management of NNPC had released.

Rahila had managed to add volume to the television set. The reporter was saying something about the people being held hostage to be top executives in the Corporation. Aminu couldn’t be among them considering that he wasn’t in the top echelon of the corporation.

“Ya Allah, please protect my husband and let him come back home safely to me. Let those who are also held hostage return safely to their families. Amin.” Rahila felt Aliyu stir. She stretched her hand and petted him on the shoulder gently until his breaths became regular again. The pain in her heart swelled. She saw herself drifting into a helpless and hopeless state as each passing minute registered itself with a tick on the grandfather’s clock that hung in the room.

“Be strong Rahila.” She whispered to herself as a single drop of tear escaped her eyes.

To be continued...

#Foxy_Flows

TRIALS (Episode 4)

People on Bank Road, Offa started trooping out of their houses one after another. The shooting had ceased fifteen minutes ago but nobody came out. They only came out when they heard the siren of police vehicles coming into the street. Shops that were originally locked with their owners inside opened and everyone came out. The sight they met wasn’t pleasing to the eyes but they couldn’t just help it. They all started jubilations that lasted a while. Policemen had a hard time creating a perimeter around the crime scene because everyone that had a mobile phone wanted to take a picture of the dead men.

Inspector Dauda sat on the bonnet of one of the police cars. Ade was by his side. The two of them waited for the person in charge of the investigations to come in. When Ade had earlier ran outside after taking the rifle that Chinedu had left behind, he was surprised to meet all the armed robbers dead or so he thought. Dauda himself sat on the stone that had the brain of one of the robbers splattered on it. He was resting. Ade had looked at him like some kind of ghost and had been too overwhelmed to say anything. He could not even commend him. He just went around adding one more bullet to the body of each slain robber to make sure they were dead. He wanted his name to be called when people spoke about the policemen that had stopped the robbery in Offa.

“Are you Inspector Dauda, the officer in charge of this police outpost here?” A female officer with the name tag, Maureen Joseph asked.

“Sure is. I am Ade and am one of the gallant policemen manning this outpost.” Ade stretched his hand forward for a handshake. He only succeeded in getting a long stare from Maureen. When he was tired of holding up his hand, he slowly retracted them and started drumming tunelessly on his rifle.

“Inspector Dauda, the commissioner of police is requesting your presence.” Maureen said and moved away.

Dauda looked up and followed her movement as she made her way into the compound that housed the police station. He was only steadying his nerve that was why he hadn’t answered her. Adrenaline still cruised through his veins and his fingers still twitched from squeezing the trigger. Even though this was his first gun fight, he had surprised even himself with the precision with which he had taken out the robbers. The heat of the trigger too as the nuzzle of the rifle fired shot after shot remained imprinted in his mind.

“Oga, you no go follow her talk? Make she no go claim credit for this killings o.” Ade started.

“She won’t. And no, I am not in the mood to talk to her. What I need right now is a calabash of cold fura da nono to calm this nerves of mine. Run up the street to that Nono Joint, get me one calabash with plenty of grated coconut inside please.” Dauda requested.

As Ade moved away, Dauda stood up gently.

“Allahu akbar.” He whispered to himself as he walked towards the compound. He was going straight to his office. He already had the feeling deep inside that that was where the female officer had headed to.

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

Alhaji Musa adjusted his babariga as he walked briskly into the complex. He hadn’t had a wink of sleep since the last time Danladi came. He had stayed up all the time talking to himself. The good thing was his wife was away in Dubai for her monthly shopping spree cum vacation. She would have thought maybe some Aljanu had taken possession of him.

“Ra’n ka dadde!”
*May you live long*

Everyone he met greeted him. The irony of it. Who would have thought that he had received a message that not only spelt doom but drew the time when he would close his eyes in death nearer? Here are people praying him to stay in perfect health and even live longer than Methuselah. He shook his head as he thought about the possibility of living to a thousand years. No way, he will personally ask doctors to put him off. What pleasure would the world offer when he has no teeth and his manhood has gone past the hour of six?

Into the elevator he walked. Those who waited on the same queue all moved to the second elevator door. Alhaji Musa was surprised. He knew they had done it out of respect but respect wasn’t what he needed at the moment. He needed people close to him. It is said that a man in his last days begins to see the beauty of life and the colours of sound in its truest form. Whichever philosopher had made that statement had been divinely inspired to. As the elevator took him to the 8th floor, Alhaji Musa felt a sudden calmness come over him. It was like he had come to terms with his predicament.

“Salam alaikum ya Alhaj, ban san wai za ka shigo yau ba. I was planning to come and see you when I leave here tonight.”
*Peace be upon you Alhaji, I did not know you would visit today.*

“Ya zan yi aboki na? Gida ya ishe ni. Na cewai bari dai na zo inda dan hira.”
*What do you expect of me my friend? I’m tired of staying in the house. Just wanted to come to a place where I could discuss.*

Alhaji Musa replied. He adjusted his babariga and sunk into the seat that Danladi had offered him, a couch in the office. As he sat down, he noticed Danladi staring at him. He smiled and pointed at a picture of Danladi carrying his son on his leg while his wife flanked him.

“What of my namesake?”

“He is fine. The young lad is growing up very fast. Soon I won’t be able to carry him on my legs for long.” Danladi replied.

“Yeah. Kids. They grow up so fast.” Alhaji Musa said as a mist passed over his eyes.

“I know what runs through your mind my friend. I have asked myself that question. Why you?”

“No you don’t Danladi. I just thought about how quickly life left me behind. It could be because I decided to go on the fast lane and was so lost in the euphoria of it that life overtook me without me knowing.” Alhaji Musa replied.

Danladi who had stood up from behind his giant mahogany table walked around to a table where a flask rested. Three coffee mugs and a tin of Peak Powdered Milk sat on it.

“You know how Hasiya my wife is. She doesn’t want a female secretary waiting on me and I for one get irritated by all these men and young boys that have come seeking for jobs as secretaries.” Danladi said as he turned one of the mugs face up and scooped a large quantity of milk into it. He opened a packet of St. Louis sugar and dropped two cubes inside before opening the large flask and pouring steaming tea coloured water into the mug. He took same to Alhaji Musa who accepted it with a smile.

“About your secretaries, I wonder what’s wrong with a male secretary. They are always more efficient than the female ones and you don’t get to see tears dropping down their eyes when you go out of your way to correct them with a raised voice.” Alhaji Musa pointed out.

“I quiet agree with you but a male secretary is a no no for me.”

“Unless you my dear friend have some hidden agenda...”

“Oh common, you know I will never cheat on my wife with someone below her status. Moreover, I still have like three vacant spaces if I want a new woman, remember? I can always elevate the secretary to the position of a wife.” Danladi said smiling. He had joined Alhaji Musa on the couch.

“You can say that again. I feel relieved coming here. I seem to be at peace. The loud silence of the house was already driving me crazy.”

“Allah sawoke! God forbid that my friend should go em... em... I can’t even pronounce the word.”

It was that same moment that Alhaji Musa’s phone rang. When he looked at the screen, the name he saw on it made him squint. He thought he had left military life behind but General Ojukwu was never going to let him be. Flipping the receive button from left to right, he brought the phone close to his right ear and said:

“Hello...”

To be continued...

#Foxy_Flows

Sorry for the delay. I have been down with a pinch of malaria.
Let's continue...

TRIALS (Episode 3)
The force headquarters was a hive of activities as officers and detectives ran around trying to get Intel on the hostage situation. The force headquarters had given a special directive to the media outlets not to release any information on TV. People who got the information of the attacks were bloggers and Nairalanders who were present when the attack commenced. Aljazeera was able to get firsthand information and were on ground because the attack took place very close to their office at the Bank of Industry building. A team of policemen had already condoned off the road from the Defence academy to the Central Mosque junction. The GMD of NNPC and the Minister (State) of Petroleum were amongst the hostages. Their captors had not made any demand yet and it was already forty-five minutes into the situation.

The Inspector General of Police who had gone to Benue State on the order of the President was already on his way back. Police helicopters hovered over the towers but none of them made a touchdown. The military men who guarded the building and had been there since Nigeria came under threat by insurgents felt powerless. They did not know how the men had smuggled the rifles they were armed with into the building. The weapon detecting van mounted at the gate plus the other sophisticated machines around the building that was supposed to alert securities when weapons or metallic objects comes into the building did not work. Naturally, the military personnel that were on guard were the first to be questioned by the detectives. New men who were fiercer manned their positions. These ones wore masks that had padlocks dangling where their lips were. It was crystal clear that they had just one order.

Police snipers had taken their positions on high rise buildings. They all aimed at the windows of the conference room where the hostages were being held. The blinds of the windows were drawn. Once in a while one of the captors peeped through the window but they were always quick to withdraw their heads back.

AIG of Police, Emeka Don was the one controlling the affair before the Inpector General would arrive. He had already assembled the best Police Negotiators to carry out the negotiations. They wanted to know the reason for their actions and who they really were. It was rumours that have had it that the assailants were workers of the Corporation that had grieving against the executives of the Corporation. The detectives all came from different backgrounds and from different parts of the country. Some of them who stayed close had to abandon all they were handling to report to Lois Edet House at Area 10.

“This is a matter of National Emergency and we have to do everything within the power of the police to curtail it before the rumours gets blown beyond proportion. You know we have over 2 million people on Nairaland who may also have families of over that amount. We don’t want them publicising this for us. So your instructions are simple. Negotiate.”

The men looked at themselves and at their superior. He wasn’t wearing a smile and the beads of sweat that had already formed and was tickling down his face added to the tension in the room. He picked up a file and flipped it through.

“Light man!”

And the light in the room went dim. The projector came on. It was still loading. The detectives all brought out their jotters to take down notes. They all want to be the one to solve and put an end to the hostage situation.

“The President has already been debriefed and I can swear to you that he is not happy and is also in a tensed mood. The international community has already heard about it. You know what that means on the major source of our economy?” The AIG continued. His hand shot out angrily to remove the stubborn sweat that was making its way to his eyes. “You know the economy has not been diversified as promised by this government and the ones before it. So let’s make this as smooth as possible.”

He flipped the remote control and the picture of a dark man sporting long beards appeared on the screen. The shuffling feet of the detectives in the command room suddenly went quiet as everybody took note of all the features from the bulgy eyes to the deep scar that ran on the right cheek of the man. The remote flipped to the next picture and everyone dragged their breath in. It was Umar Ibn Babangida Dogo, a wanted Boko Haram king pin. He had managed to stay under the radar for a while. The AIG paused for the effect of the picture to sink in and as he did, a finger slowly pointed upward.

“Is that who we think it is and how come he is called a staff of NNPC?” A thickset jawed detective asked slowly.

“Yes. Investigations have already begun as to how he got employed. His name wasn’t registered as Umar Ibn Dogo though. He was registered as Babanle Zahradeen. Someone up there knows something we don’t. “

The officers exchanged glances as if to say, “shey I been tell you”. The atmosphere was suddenly changing. They knew this job wasn’t only about the Police Anymore. All hands from the Military, Airforce and Navy will be on deck. The DSS will definitely take charge soonest. But they had to be on ground in case they were needed. The remote flipped again and another picture came into focus.

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

Everyone in the room had their hearts in their mouth. The meeting had been in progress and was about to be concluded when the door opened and five men walked in. They were all dressed like regular workers except that they came in brandishing machine guns. The GMD had screamed “Olurun Oba!” when he saw the weapons. That seemed to provoke them as they raised their guns up and released volleys after volleys of shots into the roof of the room. This has covered everywhere with dusts. All the men and the women in the room had ducked under their table. They did not believe what was happening or they were either praying for the bad dream to come to an end as soon as it started. They all wanted to wake up.

The men had suddenly set up cameras and had brought out a telephone which they had set up too. It was an internet telephone. Their supposed leader, a dark bearded man with a deep scar running through his right cheek kept checking his watch over and over again. Sometimes he would walk to the window side to observe the security situation outside. He did not stay by the window side for more than five seconds and would always use a different window each time.

“Alaiku salam brother. Yes, we are progressing.” He finally spoke into his handset. He had held unto it all the time too. “We are surrounded but we will be victorious. They must hearken to our demands. If they don’t, then we will air a live execution of these men on international televisions. The equipments are already in place – and the daggers too.”

When everyone heard daggers, the women amongst them burst into tears. Shooting would have been better than having a dagger run through the throat cutting their windpipes and exposing them to severe pain and loss of blood before their jerking bodies will finally stop moving. It was horrifying thinking about it.

“Okay brother. We will make the calls immediately. Peace be upon you.” He dropped the call and used his finger to call one of his men. The clock slowly ticked on his wrist.

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

The robbers had finished with the banks and had all streamed out of the banks and were making their way to their getaway cars quickly. Inspector Dauda thought of what to do. He did not want it to be that there was a police post really close to the bank and they did nothing when the onslaught was going on. The road that overshot the banks didn’t lead anywhere close to an exit of the town. Instead it leads to the hinterlands whose roads were bad and terminated in a river. The bad roads will definitely slow down the robbers and the river wasn’t really a river but a shallow water body that ran over sharp rocks for miles and miles.

Dauda grabbed Ade’s gun as he returned his to its holster. Ade looked at him like he had gone mad. It was a suicidal thing to do.

“Oga, I have already wished you luck o. I am not going to repeat it again. Odabo!”

Dauda looked at him and shook his head. He cocked the Ak47 and moved towards the gate of the police station. He checked the other side of the road to see if there was unusual movements coming from that direction but there wasn’t. Balancing his rifle on the hinges of the little gate, he took a shooting position. He aimed and said a little prayer in his heart.

“Ya Allah, please make this successful. Protect me from their bullets. Amin. La illa a illalahu!”

The cars were already speeding towards him. Two robbers balanced on the windows of the first car. They shot sporadically into the air to clear the road ahead of them or to announce they were leaving. Which of these, Dauda did not know.

As they came within 200 meter, he opened fire. The robbers had not expected it. The windscreen of the car shattered and blood and bones splattered about. The two men hanging by the window were already hanging upside down their positions – dead. The car skidded off the road to get its two right wheels entangled in a gutter by the side. The second driver sped past but not without collecting some slugs from Dauda’s rifle. The third car was the one that opened fire. The bullets whizzed past Dauda but none touched him. He turned around and opened fire at the car puncturing two tires. The car braked hard. Three men jumped out of the car with rifles blazing as they tried to make their way for cover. Two fell down in quick succession, dead. The third one succeeded in getting to the side of the road where he hid himself behind a stone hedge and returned fire. Dauda too had taken cover behind a truck. Everyone in the town listened as shots after shots rang out. They prayed for the sound to end quickly.

To be continued...

#Foxy_Flows

TRIALS (Episode two)
The room was empty except for Alhaji Musa who sat down on the sofa at the far end. The silent humming of the air-con plus the coldness of the room irritated him. He was deep in thought as his eyes roamed around the room absentmindedly. He did not see any of the expensive furniture that lay sprawled in the gigantic room. The cupboard that housed glass wares specially shipped in from Italy or the huge Persian rug that covered the entirety of the room mattered little to him. He felt alone and desolate in the world.

Slowly he stood up and began a silent pacing around the room. He would pause briefly as if to catch his breath then continue pacing. He muttered words to himself and shook his head gently. Once, he paused in front of a framed picture. It was him in his younger days. He was dressed in a military fatigue and the rank was a colonel. He appeared rested in the picture with his eyes as alert as ever.

"Da ban shiga siasa ba."
*I shouldn't have dabbled with politics*

He muttered. His life had been perfect, or lets says near perfect. He had retired from the military with all the accolades pinned to his shoulders. He had led successful missions which had determined the direction in which the country was headed. He wined and dined with presidents of other countries and was always sort after when matters pertaining to security arose. His retirement had shocked both his seniors in the army as well as those within the junior ranks. He didn't wait till he got to the peak in his career. He just left unceremoniously.

Unknown to them, Alhaji Musa had money to throw about. Not just money. He had the different currencies of different countries tucked around houses built all over the country to spend. He had helped laundered money for governors, senators and even past presidents. He always kept a huge chunk for himself. He had also connived a number of times and had caused ships loaded with crude oil to "disappear". That was where he truly made his money from. He pulled three heists with four other accomplices and pulled three other successful ones all by himself. Tankers from seaports with already processed crude oil that got diverted to neighbouring countries had his name written albeit in tiny letters in their disappearance.

What about assassinations of members of the opposition carried out? Anything that would bring in the money was what he did. How he had managed to truly stay other the radar without attracting attention to himself is commendable. And when he entered into politics? Everybody regarded him as a saint. His military achievements were put to the fore. It was impeccable. He soon found himself as a member of the lower chambers. He rendered his voice there, got involved in a number of fights and also saw a couple of bills passed.

Civilian politics was different from what he had seen in the military. Force was hardly used. Instead money spoke volumes. He also had to align himself with a group before he became recognized. That was how he joined the brotherhood. His position in the house also gave him the freehand to spend money without actually drawing stares. Typical of Nigerian politics; anybody that was elected had the right to spend money. No question was raised until the person finds himself in the opposition.

Alhaji Musa had long removed everything military from his person and had become a "full" civilian. Just when he thought he would finally rest, his day of reckoning came swiftly.

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

Rahila looked at her phone for the umpteenth time. No call came through. Even though she was disturbed, she still managed to keep her wit together. The news had said it all. There is an ongoing shooting at the NNPC towers. It was a botched attempt by a group of employees that were pained by how things were being run in the Corporation. They had forced themselves into the conference room at the eleventh floor of the building and had held the directors hostage. It had been a quiet day at the Central Business District of Abuja before the sound of gunshots rented the air and had everyone scurrying away for their lives.

Inna lillahi wa innali rajiun!
*From Allah we come and to him we shall return*

Rahila muttered over and over again. Aliyu sat by her side bent over the book in his front. His pencil dangled in his hand as he waited for her to return her attention to him. The little lad kept wondering why his mother kept talking to herself.

None of these channels is reliable. Ha, I cannot believe that NTA and AIT arent airing this thing. Aljazeera and BBC seemed to be on the ground covering the whole thing. Yet NTA refers to itself as the largest TV network in Africa. Rahila said with a tinge of mockery in her voice. She looked down at Aliyu. He wasnt writing anything. She could not bring herself to blame him.

Aliyu, I thought I had told you everything you should write. What are you still waiting for?

Nothing. I just want you to see what I am writing. I dont want you to make me use my eraser again. It will make my work look rough. Aliyu replied in his tiny voice. He moved the pencil in his hand towards his mouth but his mother stopped him before it got between his teeth.

“Okay, okay. I am watching you, start writing. Rahila said.

As the boy bent over his book again, she sighed. Her eye was on the television. She couldnt bring herself to increase the volume to hear whatever it was that the reporter was saying. She kept reading the news updates that scrolled through. Only one thought ran through her mind, Aminu. She prayed that he was safe.

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

Inspector Dauda joined Ade where he had hidden. He had been in Offa for a while and thought he knew all the hidden places in the compound that held the police station. Where Ade hid overlooked the street. He could see till the end of the road that had suddenly become deserted. Two banks, Kings Bank and Sahel Bank were under attack. Even though he didnt see the attackers, he knew they were there somewhere. They had apparently driven past the police station on their way to the bank. They did not bother to stop for an attack on the police station. They had probably looked down on the police station and hadnt considered them threatening enough.

Where is Chinedu? Inspector Dauda whispered.

That one? Him na fear fear na. Him don jump fence run go house since. Ade replied

Oh! He abandoned his duty post? Who does that? Inspector Dauda asked.

Chinedu Sir! Ade replied.

Shut up your mouth young man. You werent supposed to answer that. It was a rhetorical question. Dauda said and went back to staring through the crack to the banks under attack. The gunshots had reduced to intermittent burst of fire but the sound still shook Ade all the same.

Minutes passed with the radio in his hand quiet. The air too had suddenly gone quiet. It was like the whole indigenes of the town had suddenly gone cold like the bodies that graced the cemetery. Inspector Dauda looked at Ade and wondered if he could hear the sound of his heart thumping wildly in his chest.

Oga, make we move closer now. At least, e go keep us for vintage position to fit engage the armed robbers. Ade suggested.

Dauda did not know if the boy meant it or not. He looked at the .9mm that he held. He could not remember the last time he had shot it. He knew he cleaned and oiled it regularly but he had never really used it. Even though he was a top shot while going through the police academy, he had not really engaged in anything that warranted the use of the gun.

So you want us to engage those people with these things we are holding?

“Na suggestion sir. Ade replied.

Allah tsine ma. Kai da suggestion din!
*God punish you and the suggestion!*

Inspector Dauda blurted out in Hausa. Ade turned to look at him and smiled.

I was only joking Sir. The reason why I didnt run with Chinedu is because I want to be one of the first policemen on the crime scene after they leave. At least, I would be able to stuff my pocket with enough money.

You will do no such Dauda was in the middle of his sentence when the radio came on. Ade and he nearly jumped out of their skins. When they realized it was just the radio, they smiled embarrassingly at each other.

Offa Police Station, stand by. You will be the first wave of men to go for an offense.

Inspector Dauda knew he hadnt heard it clear or so he thought until the command was repeated.

We request backup. The men carrying out the attack are more than thirty and this is just a police outpost. We dont have the manpower and ammunition to carry such an onslaught. He spoke into the walkie talkie. He was sure he had said the right thing when Ade nodded at him.

Okay, stand down then. Backup is on the way but they are more than thirty minutes away.

Standing down. Dauda felt relieved. How was he supposed to attack daredevil robbers whose mission was to rob and kill if possible anybody that tries to put up a resistance?

“Oga, you said the right thing. I want to go back to my wife and two kids alive. If I die today, some officers will only come to my compound and fire their Ak-47s into the air while wobbling on their feet in intoxication from alcohol intake. How much will be given to my wife? Is it the police flag and the National Flag? Who will train my kids in school? Oga, even if you had agreed to the order, I would have given you this rifle and bid you safe journey to the land of the dead.”

Dauda smiled. He felt the same way Ade felt but he did not voice it. He knew that some ogas at the top sat on allowances that were to be accrued to the families of slain police officers, especially those who were killed in action.

Dont worry. You wont die today. Dauda said as he went back to peeping through the crack on the wall.

Neither will you die today Sir. Ade replied.

To be continued

Stay tuned!

TRIALS (Episode 1)
Alhaji Musa stood in front of his house with his arms akimbo as he watched the car drive away. This wasn't the first time that his friend Danladi had visited but this particular visit left a dark cloud hanging over his head. He shuddered briefly at the thought. The brotherhood had requested for something dear to him and his friend Danladi had been chosen to deliver that message. He had heard it s several times, this idiomatic expression:

"If you must dine with the devil, use a long spoon"

The words now made a lot of sense to him. He had been careless or he had become careless while supping with the devil. He had exchanged his long spoon for a fork and a knife. The meal had been delicious but now, he just discovered that because of his close proximity to the devil, he had been included in the course albeit without his knowledge.

"Haka ne komai zai rikice?"
*Is this how it will all end?*

Alhaji Musa whispered to himself. He shrugged and walked into his giant compound. The message had been delivered. His schedule has been disrupted. Now is the time to meditate and plan for the known. The unknown had already been revealed.

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

Rahila stretched her body to its full length. She had just finished praying. As she folded the mat she had used, her eyes caught a piece of fork under the room divider. Aliyu must have played with it and had allowed it slip under the divider. She shook her head as she went on her knees to get the fork from where it had lodged.

"Mama, ina kwana?" Rahila heard a tiny voice behind her. She paused what she was doing and turned to look at Aliyu. At the age of seven, he still behaved like he was three. His clothes was dripping wet.

"Ka yi fitsari a kwance ne?"
*Did you wet the bed?*

Rahila asked exasperated. She was hoping he would say he had gone to the kitchen and had tripped over a bucketful of water. When he nodded his head in affirmation, she sighed. The boy was making all her effort go down the drain. She had tried all the methods she had learnt and heard about to make him stop the habit of bed wetting but none worked. From serving him the burnt part of food to making sure she woke him up every two hours to go ease himself, nothing worked. He still found a way of wetting the bed before standing up. Since he had a room all to himself, it was difficult keeping the vigil. The last option left was to boil him the head of a red necked lizard to eat with enough pepper.

"Je ka canja rigan ka."
*Go and change your clothes*

The boy simply nodded and went out of the room. Rahila continued her task of reaching for the fork.

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

The first shot rang out. Inspector Dauda cocked his ear. He prayed fervently that it was a knockout that had gone off since it was close to the yuletide season. But when he heard a progressive crack of shots, he knew that his day had just begun. Men of the underworld had come again to do what they do best. The weapon didn't sound like the regular ak47. It was a French machine gun with sound enhancer. The type that if being shot miles away would make you feel that the shooter is in your bedroom.

"All officers, be on the alert. Ongoing robbery in progress. I repeat, officers be on the alert. Wait for further instructions."

Inspector Dauda looked at the walkie talkie on the table and hissed. He cringed anytime he heard the static sound come on. If not for the high rate of unemployment in the country, he would have been in the bank counting wads of cash instead of wearing a black uniform while seating behind a desk all day in the sleepy town of Offa.

The crime rate in Offa was low that most time he had to stay late into the night serving as a judge and jury to the numerous marital cases that finds their way to the police station. He had found it amusing at first but as time went on, he got tired. If a woman wasn't denying her husband sex, it is the man complaining that his wife acts like a porn star on bed.

"Humans! They never get satisfied."

Inspector Dauda stood up and dragged the walkie talkie from the table. Moving out of the office to the counter, he was surprised that none of the junior officers was on ground. The place was empty. He turned around it to check on the two boys that had been brought in the previous night for fighting. They were still there. They were calmer this morning and every trace of fight was gone from them.

"Officer, we no go fight again. Abeg let us go. Na best friends we be." The dark one with torn lips pleaded.

"I will do that later. Only that right now the town is not secure. There is a robbery going on at the moment. You are safer here." Inspector Dauda replied.

"Oga boss, abeg na. Those men fit reason this place first o." The slimmer one said with fear showing in his eyes.

"Don't worry. The police will protect you." Even Dauda did not believe himself and he knew that the boys knew that he didn't believe himself.

"With wetin?"

The resounding gunshots came alive all over again with explosions rocking the air. Dauda was outwitted. He turned and hurried out of the police station. He wanted to know what had become of Constable Ade and Chinedu. As he stepped out, a bullet whizzed passed his ear. He ducked quickly and rolled on the ground. He did not know who had shot but he was very sure the shooter wasn't one of those that were shooting sporadically. His hand dragged out his service pistol from the holster.

"Oga no vex! Na me!"

It was Ade. He held his rifle up. Inspector Dauda looked at him. The young lad wasn't on his uniform. When Dauda looked down, he saw the liquid trace that had been drawn by urine forcefully ejected by fear.

To be continued...
#Foxy_Flows

As expected, he comes in again with a new title. Let's see what he will write this time. Just wait na, shey it's Foxyflow that we know.

Well, good morning. This story should last for a week or so. After that, we move to the next tale.

#Foxy_flows

Episode 1

Okay, thanks to my ever teeming readers. Your constant likes have spurred me on. It is a pity I cannot write on Nairaland at the moment though but I look forward to going back to my roots. Nairaland actually nurtured my ambition to become a writer. So far, I will say, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Your collective efforts will see that dream come to past.

This story will be a mixture of pidgin and regular English plus a touch of translated Hausa. As you know, I am from Kano and cannot help representing.

**************************
THE BEGINNING

My name na Istifanus. All my friends dey call me Bobo. Sometimes e dey pain me but other times, I go just laugh the matter throway. Na for Kano gan them born me and I never ever comot from there. The highest wey I go na Naibawa and that na because I follow go write Common Entrance Examination wey I no pass. Sometimes I dey feel like say na my father brain I carry. Book no dey ever gree enter my head at all.

My father get house for Kawo Maigari and him dey sell otapiapia and snuff for Kawo bus stop. Because of how him like women reach, na so him go marry another wife put for House. Initially I been dey wonder. Shey Bible say as Christians make we no marry more than one wife? Maybe my father wey like to dey attend block rosary for Holy Cross Badawa no see that portion for Bible.

Anyway, life been just dey normal until my father and mother fight o. I no even know wetin cause the fight sef but I know say my mother pack leave house for us. I still small when the matter happen. My step-mom no bad sha because she dey treat us like her pikin dem. But trust my brothers na, all of them run go village. Nobody wan stay with my father except me. I no know if na good something o, but me self wan make na me dey connect both my father and mother together.

For the first time ever, my father enter my room one evening.

"Bobo, tomorrow we go go Zaria."

I first surprise. So finally I go see Zaria be that.

"Mpah, wetin dey carry us go there na?"

I ask am.

"I been get farm wey I hire people make them dey farm for me. As you don grow finish, I say make I go show you. One day you fit begin farm am too."

Omo the reply shock me. Farm wetin? For this twenty first century? Abi this man think say because I dey like work, farming follow for my hobbies?

"But papa, since you dey pay people, how I carry enter the equation?"

I no waste time ask.

"Eh, you know say this government na hard one. Since Buhari say na who work dey chop, I realize say e go make sense make you work so that the food wey I dey carry feed you no go for waste."

Who suppose feed me before? I no ask am sha.

"I get hand work na. I dey do POP already. Just tell me say you wan pursue me from your house."

I don begin vex small small.

"No be so na. I just want make you know how e dey hard to grow food so that when you dey chop, you do dey appreciate God."

Na so I just weak. I comot from parlor go enter my room. Which kind scopes be this one self? But Wetin I go do? Bible don already say make we obey our father and mother so that our lives for fit long for earth. Me I no ready for die quick neither I wan make God use my life play hockey. Na so I just reason matter till sleep carry me.

With all the harmatan wey dey Kano, na so my father come wake me up early in the morning.

"Ah ahn, Bobo, you still dey sleep?"

"No oh, I dey practice how to die. Who dey wake up around 4:00am during harmatan for Kano?"

I no ask am o. The man fit make me die true true.

"No Sir, I don wake up since. I just dey plan to go boil water make I bath."

I dey answer dey yawn.

"Boil which water? Man no dey use hot water bath. Na cold water I carry bath. If me wey don old use cold water, young man like you go do the same o. Oya go carry that water wey dey outside. Go use am bath."

Sleep wipe comot from my eyes immediately. Kano harmatan, cold water, die, die, die, na the only thing wey just dey ring for my mind.

"Papa, kukuma kill me o."

I reply as I stand up.

"I no go kill you because my papa no kill me. Go bath make we dey go."

Na so him hiss turn back go enter him room. Thirty minutes later, I dey bathroom, I dey look water, water dey look me. Wetin I wan do for this kind situation.

"Istifanus! No allow me enter that place come bath you o."

My papa shout from outside bathroom.

Which kind devil be this sef? Where I wan begin pour water from. I put my hand for water, na so the coldness go make me pull am out. The moment e comot, breeze go blow am, e go turn kankara (ice block). One mind just tell me make I do koskorima (rub and shine) comot from there.

"No do rub and shine follow me from this house. You no fit come dey smell inside car with me."

My liver cut. Papa don begin read mind. One bowl of water for my body, my spirit just run leave me. Up till today, I no know how I carry survive that bathing. Vaseline and Mentholatum wey I rub full body no be here.

After I dress finish, me and my father carry torchlight begin waka. We wan first reach road before we go get car or achaba reach court road roundabout. From there na him we go get car wey dey go Zaria.

To be continued....

#JoeyWrites

Note: I started this story on my Facebook handle. I will update twice daily but it will be regular until the story finishes...

Good afternoon people and a happy Sunday to y'all. Hope say we go church? I pray your prayers gets answered and everything turns around and start working for your good.

Okay, I know how much I want to write a story. Not those poems, nope, will be dropping once in a while though. I want to write a real story but I would be needing encouragement from all of us. It could be just clicking the like button, commenting on the post or contributing on the direction that the story is going. These will spur me to right some more.

I promise y'all, it will be a ride you will enjoy and you will also pick a thing or two on life's lessons. Yeah, every story comes with a lesson to learn. That was how I was brought up.

Seat tight, relax and go with me on this voyage. Share with your friends, mention them also to come and read. You can reach me on this number through WhatsApp:

07017330864

And also call me here on:

07031382548

Leggo!

#Naveh
#JoeyWrites

Seat tight people... JoeyWrites aka Foxyflow aka Foxybone aka FoxyRebirth is back....

#JoeyWrites

chuxjay:
To continue reading the story, go to www.chuxzville..com

Which continuation kwanu? People saw the end there na....