BOOM! 1 -- by Kreed

BUHARI TRAVELS….AGAIN!

So I was walking on a street on Saturday and then I came across a book store and newspaper stand. A slowed a bit so I could read the headlines. One newspaper headline SCREAMED “Buhari travels again” and right beside the Newspaper was the novel ‘The Long Walk To Freedom’. Well, at least we now know who inspired Mandela. Without mincing words, many who saw him as the 'messiah' before the presidential elections, have been left disappointed. My man has shown that he is more of a Gulliver than the messiah 'they' all thought him to be. Some still think he is ‘The One’, but Jet Li begs to differ.

In his defence though, he has done just what he promised. Most Nigerians are just an ungrateful bunch. First and foremost, they promised change and are you all going to claim you haven’t witnessed that? Drop in power supply, incessant fuel scarcity, increase in prices of commodities and last but not least, heat.

Finally, he has refused to devalue the currency (I don’t even know what that means) and most importantly, the price of egg roll has remained unchanged (For this alone, he deserves a nobel price).

COFFIN OF WAR

 This is huge. According to the report, a group of 'sympathisers' were headed for the burial of their loved one. They were stopped by the Police at a check point for the usual stop and search. Trust the Nigerian security outfits, they respect nobody, Dead or Alive. So obviously, they asked the sympathisers to open the coffin. However, what they saw wasn't a human corpse but...*gulps* some weapons enough to make commando (the Aba version) grow green in envy. There is a general believe that those weapons were for some politicians but we'd love to counter that notion. According to a reliable source (emphasis on reliable), the weapons were actually going to be buried. 'Bhet why would anybori wan tu bury weapons?' we probed further. "Well, it turns out, that the devil now deals in the lucrative black market." our source replied. Apparently he was going to capture the 'souls' (this isn't funny by the way) of those weapons. You must be wondering what Satan would want with guns? Well think no more. According to this 'reliable' source of ours, there is a serious war in hell right now. In fact he went further to say, "Hell is not a place you want to be in right now." (as if anybody has ever wanted to be there)...but not to worry, the CIA(not to be mistaken for DSS) are unto this already. I so love the rapid response of these Americans (not to be mistaken for Nigerians).

BATMAN

Have you watched the video of the fracas in the Nasarawa House of Assembly? It wasn’t funny…up until that moment when one of the legislators fell while jumping from a table…lol. There are several questions I’d like to ask our Batman of a legislator. Like what exactly was he running away from? In the video he is seen running all the way from back (on tables! A stuntman this one), only to fall in front of the camera (a real showman this one). I hate downloading videos of national embarrassments but not this one, Batman broke that jinx. He’ll definitely star in Nollywood’s next blockbuster (literally) movie. I just hope they don’t title it ‘Blockbuster’, I’ve seen crazier names though. Here is a link you can use to access the video by the way. There is joy in sharing:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T9XxW6NzPCQ

DEAR ALUKO...

Big grammar is to Hon Patrick Obahiagbon as lack of dignity is to --- Aluko. He is the perfect example of how one can lose his/her face value. With all the ‘supporters’ he’s garnered, I can’t help but wonder if he goes about with a mask these days. I still love him though. His attributes are amazing; honest to a fault, fearless and not one to be taken seriously.

BUHARI TRAVELS….AGAIN!

This issue is so contentious, it made the list twice.

Okay that’s it today from this Boom Box. While I’m away, make sure you make the headlines by doing something crazy. Jumping off a skyscraper isn’t crazy but it’ll do. See you when I see you.

NEW CATEGORIES! --TeamGistCreek

Welcome once again to our blog. In continuous fulfillment of our promise of making your visits worthwhile, we’ve added two new categories. Boom! That's the first one. In this category, we cull interesting Nigerian political, economic and other related gist and present them to you in a special way; our own way. That’s why we’re Gist Creek.  The other category is Knowledge Box. It’s a special category which is created to keep you informed and enlightened on a wide range of topics including science, nature, history, health, phenomena, technology etcetera. We always spice it up to make it interesting and also to add that uniqueness to it. 

Do enjoy your time here and don’t forget to drop your comments as they encourage and improve our services to a great extent. We’re here for you!

THE PHOTOGRAPHER 15 --by Rose

(Image source: www.gettyimages.com)

Udeme was laughing as Duncan had been tickling her on their way to see Bode. Noticing her initial depressed mood, he decided to do something funny to help his friend but he quickly took his hands off her as they stood facing two stern looking women. Udeme had recognized Adenike immediately and understood her visit was quite official. The other woman looked familiar and very unfriendly. Duncan who was quite uncomfortable with the situation excused himself, explaining the reason for his exit to no one particular. He wasn’t totally lying, he had to see the caterer on Nadine’s behalf.

Nike briefly paused at the door as she looked Barrister Edwards over. Poor girl, she thought. Your friend has ruined any chance you had with him. She wondered if exposing Nadie’s plan to Udeme was the wise thing to do. She had to think that over but she pushed the idea away. Considering her harsh attitude towards Udeme, the girl won’t even listen to her twice but she had to be warned before it became too late. She would come up with a plan, one that wouldn’t involve or hurt Udeme in any way, she had suffered enough. Adenike braced herself for her new task as Udeme’s savior; she greeted the girl and walked out the door leaving her astonished.

She stared at the retreating figure of Adenike Olagbemiro, the harsh head of department, who had stood staring at her for complete five minutes, she wondered if she was mistaken but she had seen something like pity in the woman’s eyes towards her. She shrugged, who wouldn’t pity her, she had found herself in a hopeless situation. On her date with the love of her life, assassins had attacked them and if not for divine intervention, one of them would’ve lost their lives. Thankfully, Bode was alright, she had something more dreadful to face. The woman who stared daggers at her, she now saw the resemblance; it was no other person than Mrs. Thomas who she’d seen many times in pictures.

Mrs. Thomas stared at the girl who almost got her precious son killed. She had the guts to bring in her husband to be, into the same room Bode lay. She was so disgusted at the sight, being tickled by her lover while her son was on his sickbed. For a moment, she wondered if she was doing the right thing not putting the girl behind bars because she had the power to do that. She felt so angry at the cheap whore her son had bedded, but she planned to keep her cool, she had made Nadie that promise. She would keep her cool, she wouldn’t expose her here, but as she stared once more at her son, who escaped death by slight chance, she was sure Udeme’s relationship with Bode was over.

“Good day Madam,” Udeme greeted politely but the woman completely ignored her. She swallowed and wondered what she had done wrong. She carefully placed the clothes she had brought Bode and some beverages he would take when he woke up. “Who are all those for?” The woman asked coldly, Udeme smiled trying to please the woman “For Bode Ma, I went to get him all these in preparation for when he is discharged.” She was silent for a while then uttered the abominable. “You can go, we don’t need your services and don’t think about coming back here.” It was like something hit her on the head, she felt numb all over, she couldn’t move or breathe, maybe she didn’t hear well, she mustered up some courage and looked straight into the pair of cold eyes that stared at her suspiciously. “Madam, please I don’t understand.” The woman did the unthinkable; before she could say Jack Robinson, she felt the coldness of the Glucose powder she had brought for Bode and immediately she broke down. “Please if I have done anything to hurt you, please forgive me,” she begged but the woman couldn’t be pacified. “Stand up, leave and stay away from Olabode Thomas or you’ll have a lot to regret about.” Udeme had no choice but to comply with the woman, who for some reason hated her so much. She felt her heart thudding louder and her brain was pounding harder, how could she be so cruel? She saw her future with Bode being shattered to pieces. She was very helpless and weak. She needed to find help soon.

Nadie spotted Udeme from where she stood and smiled mischievously, from where she was. She saw the look on the girl’s face and gosh, she looked miserable. She chuckled softly as she made to leave, obviously, her planned had worked. They had borne fruits, she was impressed with herself, it was now a surety that she could get whatsoever she wanted in this life. That thought excited her, she just couldn’t wait to be with him. But something else crossed her mind, Adenike, the nosy lady from Bode’s company who had threatened to expose her plans to Duncan and the whole world. She wondered what she could do to eliminate her biggest threat. The woman was quite confident in herself and fearless and this made Nadine very afraid. Suddenly, the euphoria she had felt earlier disappeared completely. Adenike still had the upper hand in this battle; she knew everything about her and could expose her at anytime, what if she had told Mrs. Thomas the truth? “Oh my god,” she whispered desperately, that would destroy everything and her plans with Duncan who served as her last resort should anything go bad would all crumble to pieces.

She rose up feeling nervous as she made back to the room where Bode lay, praying and hoping her secrets where not spilled. If her plans followed the right course, she would dump Duncan immediately and eliminate Udeme, she didn’t want any threat to her happiness with Bode. She had already planned her future with him but for now she had to place her stamp permanently in his mother’s heart, after which she would think of a good way of dealing with Adenike. She was ready to fight to the death and pay with her blood. No woman could take him away, she remembered how he made love to her and told her beautiful things, how he looked into her eyes when taking pictures of her and how he spoiled her with gifts, she was sure he was the one; Bode was the one for her and she remembered the saying ‘fight for love’.

“Hello Mama,” she greeted as she walked into the room. The woman who was cleaning up the mess on the marble floor smiled at her prospective daughter-in-law. “Nadie, you missed that evil friend of yours.” Nadie pretended to look surprised. “Can you imagine she actually walked in here with a man tickling her?” Nadie smiled now understanding what may have taken place, she had called Duncan earlier to bring Udeme to take over from her. “That should be the fiancé Mama, he is tall right?” the woman nodded quickly and stood akimbo with new found surprised, this girl was totally being honest. “You see I told you, Udeme my friend isn’t a very honest person,” she continued, the woman had nothing more to say as she sat speechless.

Mrs. Thomas’ phone rang a couple of times before she picked, while Nadine wondered who the caller was. She was still thinking of Adenike. But she couldn’t get anything from the phone conversation, as the woman spoke in Yoruba throughout. She sighed and wondered how she would cope with a Yoruba speaking mother-in-law. Her worries about Adenike had dimmed. “It was Chief Thomas, my husband,” the woman informed her while Nadine smiled politely. “He’s taking his vacation abroad, I told him the situation of things, he was quite furious but I was able to calm him.” Nadie wondered if that was a good thing. She rubbed her temples, she had to get some rest so she could be awake at night to watch him. “Nadine, I have to go now, take care of your husband to be, I will be back tomorrow morning and meanwhile Chief is interested in meeting you on his return.” This made her inside to tickle. Nadie didn’t believe it, her plan had worked faster than she could imagine. But she had another problem apart from Adenike, it was Bode himself. She would be a fool to deny any love he had for Udeme, he really loved her. She had to destroy that love but in her deepest of hearts she knew it would be very difficult almost impossible as she had painted Udeme black once in his eyes but it backfired. She sighed and focused on her current achievement. “Thank you Mama,”  she greeted as the  woman left the room.

She turned and smiled at the unconscious man that lay by her side and smiled. “Now you are mine, it’s me and you against the world.” Her phone beeped twice and she picked it up to see two different messages from two weaklings she despised. She ignored the messages from Duncan and Udeme. She was awaiting his full recovery as he stirred a bit, then opened his eyes dreamily and whispered “Udeme” and went back to sleep.

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A DREADED MAN… --by Nickz

Dad had a visitor. He was a close friend who had visited the country after several decades. There was a lot for them to talk about and there was enthusiasm. I was in my room doing a few things but couldn’t help overhearing their excited interaction. Their topics of discussion spanned over the regulars; religious fanatics, political challenges, violence and insurgency, and so on. I wasn’t really interested in the conversation as I already knew about most of the happenings from daily tabloids. 

Along the line, my ears twitched in attention as Dad drove the topic deeper into violence and criminality in the country. That was when he mentioned one name. He started narrating this fellow’s escapades to his friend. I picked interest on it as I was not acquainted with such news. It sounded like he was narrating a movie; a thriller to be specific. I was born in the early 90s. Maybe that’s why I barely knew about this popular and dreaded fellow who terrorized in the 80s. The cops were scared of him. The citizens feared the name. He was a brute and a villain. No, he wasn’t a military President. He was the one that gave a military president a huge headache. Some tabloids called him “Jack the Ripper”. Others called him “Robin Hood”. Let’s meet the personality of the moment; his name is Lawrence Anini.

This is his story…

Lawrence Nomanyagbon Anini was one of Nigeria’s most notorious armed robbers who held sway in the old Bendel State (Now Edo and Delta States).

His reign in the 80s was so bloody that he was even discussed at the State Security Council meeting. Wow, that’s legendary; being a subject of discussion in top government meetings. This guy a bad arse.

Birth and Early Life:

Anini was born in 1960 in a village about 20 miles from Benin City, present day Edo State. Dreadfully called ‘The Law’ or ‘Ovbigbo’, he migrated to Benin at an early age, learned to drive and became a skilled taxi driver.

He became known in Benin motor parks as a man who could control the varied competing interests among motor park touts and operators. He later delved into the criminal business in the city and soon became a driver and transporter for gangs, criminal godfathers and thieves. Hmm, I keep having this feeling that Vin Diesel and Jason Statham were his apprentices before delving into Hollywood. Okay, let the story continue…

Escapades

Later on, he decided to create his own gang which included Monday Osunbor, Ofege and others, and they started out as car hijackers, bus robbers and bank thieves. Gradually, he extended his criminal acts to other towns and cities far north and east of Benin.

The complicity of the police is believed to have triggered Anini’s reign of terror in 1986. In early 1986, two members of his gang were tried and prosecuted against an earlier under-the-table ‘agreement’ with the police to destroy evidence against the gang members.

The incident, and Anini’s view of police betrayal, is believed to have spurred retaliatory actions by Anini. In August, 1986, a fatal bank robbery linked to Anini was reported in which a police officer and others were killed. That same month, two officers on duty were shot at a barricade while trying to stop Anini’s car. During a span of three months, he was known to have killed nine police officers. Mehn, I hate cop killers. I guess the cops also learnt not to double cross a villain.

In an operation in August of 1986, the Anini team struck at First Bank, Sabongida-Ora, where they carted away N2,000. But although the amount stolen was seen as chicken feed, they left the scene with a trail of blood. Many persons were killed. Yeah, it wasn’t really about the money. Personally, I’d have loved to meet the mother of this scoundrel and ask where she got the sperm that fertilized her egg to bring out this blood thirsty creature.

On September 6, same year, the Anini gang snatched a Peugeot 504 car from Albert Otoe, the driver of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Christopher Omeben. In snatching the car, they killed the driver and went to hide his corpse somewhere.

It was not until three months later that the skeleton of the driver was spotted 16 kilometers away from Benin, along the Benin-Agbor highway. A day after this attack, Anini, operating in a Passat car believed to have been stolen, also effected the snatching of another Peugeot 504 car near the former FEDECO office, in Benin.

Two days after, the Anini men killed two policemen in Orhiowon Local Government Area of the state. Still in that month, three different robbery attacks, all pointing to Anini’s involvement, took place.

A day after the operation, Anini, The Law, turned to a ‘Father Christmas’ as he strew wads of naira notes on the ground for free pick by market men and women at a village near Benin. What a sweet hero. This man has a lot in common with present day politicians.

Anini thus spear-headed a four-month reign of terror between August and December 1986. Anini also reportedly wrote numerous letters to media houses using political tones of Robin Hood-like words, to describe his criminal acts. Even criminals are writers..smh..I think I’ll resign.

‘My friend, where is Anini?’

Worried by the seeming elusiveness of Anini and his gang members, the then military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, ordered a massive manhunt for the kingpin and his fellow robbers. The police thus went after them, combing every part of Bendel State where they were reportedly operating and living. The whole nation was gripped with fear of the robbers and their daredevil exploits.

However, police manhunt failed to stop their activities; the more they were hunted, the more intensified their activities became. Some of the locals in the area even began to tell stories of their invincibility and for a while, it felt like they were never going to be caught. However, at the conclusion of a meeting of the Armed Forces Ruling Council in October 1986, General Babangida turned to the Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang, and asked, ‘My friend, where is Anini?’

At about this time, Nigerian newspapers and journals were also publishing various reports and editorials on the ‘Anini Challenge’, the ‘Anini Saga’, the ‘Anini Factor’, ‘Lawrence Anini – the Man, the Myth’, ‘Anini, Jack the Ripper’, and ‘Lawrence Anini: A Robin Hood in Bendel’. The Guardian asked, emphatically, in one of its reports: ‘Will they ever find Anini, “The Law”?’.

His Arrest

Finally, it took the courage of Superintendent of Police, Kayode Uanreroro, to bring the Anini reign of terror to an end. On December 3, 1986, Uanreroro caught Anini at No 26, Oyemwosa Street, opposite Iguodala Primary School, Benin City, in company with six women. Wow! he must have been feeling like Rick Ross; a boss. The fall of most men usually comes when in the midst of women.

Acting on a tip-off from the locals, the policeman went straight to the house where Anini was hiding and apprehended him with very little resistance. Uanreroro led a crack 10-man team to the house, knocked on the door of the room, and Anini himself, clad in underpants, opened the door. “Where is Anini,” the police officer quickly enquired. For real? The cops couldn’t even identify the criminal? Idon’tbelieveit!

Dazed as he was caught off guard and having no escape route, Anini all the same tried to be smart. “Oh, Anini is under the bed in the inner room”. As he said it, he made some moves to walk past Uanreroro and his team.

In the process, he shoved and head-butted the police officer but it was an exercise in futility. Uanreroro promptly reached for his gun, stepped hard on Anini’s right toes and shot at his left ankle. Anini surged forward but the policemen took hold of him and put him in a sitting position.

They then pumped more bullets into his shot leg and almost severed the ankle from his entire leg. Already, anguished by the excruciating pains, the policemen asked him, “Are you Anini?” And he replied, “My brother, I won’t deceive you; I won’t tell you lie, I’m Anini.” This is where I started laughing. Don’t mess with the Nigerian police when it comes to confession. Let’s proceed…

While in the police net, Anini who had poor command of English and could only communicate in pidgin, made a whole lot of revelations.

He disclosed, for instance that Osunbor, who had been arrested earlier, was his deputy, saying that Osunbor actually shot and wounded the former police boss of the state, Akagbosu.

Anini was shot in the leg, transferred to a military hospital, and had one of his legs amputated. When Anini’s hideout was searched, police recovered assorted charms, including the one he usually wore around his waist during “operations”. Hmm..He must had been a charming young man..lol.

                 

It was instructive that after Anini was captured and dispossessed of his charms, the man who terrorized a whole state and who was supposed to be fearless suddenly became remorseful, making confessions. This was against public expectation of a daredevil hoodlum who would remain defiant to the very end.

Shortly after the arrest of Anini and co, the daredevil robbers began to squeal, revealing the roles played by key police officers and men, in the aiding and abetting of criminals in Bendel State and the entire country.

Anini particularly revealed that George Iyamu, who was the most senior police officer shielding the robbers, would reveal police secrets to them and then, give them logistic supports such as arms, to carry out robbery operations. Very disappointing…all the bad guy rampage, I was expecting a tougher disposition like a mocking laugh while in the interrogation room or something like, “I ain’t saying shit so kiss my ass cop! I killed your men so go f**k yourself.”

Trial and execution: 

Due to amputation of his leg, Anini was confined to a wheelchair throughout his trial. He was sentenced to death by Justice James Omo-Agege and executed on March 29, 1987.

Finally, evil ends. But wait a sec. March 29? Did you see that? That’s my birthday! Don’t you see my birth brings evil to an end? What does that make me?

Reference: www.naijaloaded.com

SWEET CHOCOLATE 4 --by Rose

“That’s a good decision you’ve made Ani darling.” Mrs Briggas was pleased her son had finally made the right decision; Morganna Esio was going to be her daughter-in-law soon. “Bro, don’t mind mom, take things slow, get to know her better. Ain’t no turning back in African marriages,” Clarabella advised. Serene glared at her disapprovingly. She liked Morganna and couldn’t wait for her brother to be married to her. “Why don’t you mind your own business,” Serene flared. Clara hissed and left the dining table. This made Aniebiet to chuckle. “You girls are so dramatic, I’m the one getting married here remember?” He stared at his mother who looked quite confused. “Where’s Andy?” He didn’t show up for breakfast. Aniebiet smiled. He knew his cousin was banging a particular maid and didn’t need another breakfast. “Mom he’s doing fine wherever he is.” “So can I do the planning for the engagement party?” His mother further asked. Even if he said he didn’t want an engagement party a thousand times, his mom wouldn’t listen. He simply nodded and ran off to take a shower. Today was gonna be such a busy day for him.

He passed Andy’s room and shook his head. His cousin hadn’t repented unlike him. He remembered banging all these maids. Now, he was grown and more responsible and was about to take up even more responsible stuff. He quickly dialed Morganna’s number to check on her. “Hello baby, how are you?” She responded happily and he fixed a date with her where he would propose. He was already feeling nervous. He was looking at a future with Morganna already and wondered what marriage felt like.

Morganna had arranged a meeting with the boyfriend of her one time best friend Inemesit, who had betrayed her by sleeping with Aniebiet. It wasn’t just once but five times. That girl hadn’t meant well for her. She had found out from one of the maids then who had seen them hang out in Ani’s room. She shook her head. She had confronted Inemesit but she blatantly denied, feigning innocence. Well, she had evidence. She had forgotten her undies at Aniebiet’s place and it proved to be useful. She was going to payback, after all those years she couldn’t even apologize for her wrongdoing, and now she was asking for her help, she would definitely help her with the fashion show but she was sure going down to hell.

“I’ve waited for twenty minutes for you, please where’s the stuff I asked for?” The man presented the parcel and in exchange collected a signed cheque. “Disappear” was all Morganna said to him before walking away. He wondered if he was right by revenging his ex, Inemesit who had cheated on him severally with Aniebiet Briggas, the rich guy on campus then. He remembered how she started acting funny, calling him a lowlife who wasn’t worthy of her. In his agony, he had fallen for Morganna who had only used him as a pawn in her own game of revenge. She was paying her friend back in her own coin, apparently the coins weren’t enough. He took a deep breath and disappeared. He needed to leave town. What he had just given Morganna would ruin Inemesit for a long time to come and she was the biggest fashion designer in the country, he had to run!

SWEET CHOCOLATE 3 --by Rose

As he drove back he smiled to himself. He had missed her, his Morganna. He chuckled. He liked her enough to marry her especially when his mother wouldn’t let him rest; Mrs Ekanem Briggas could make one’s life miserable. She had taken a liking towards Morganna since the first day he introduced them, surprisingly both women had very similar character. In one of the occasions his mother had made a deliberate remark. “You are the model daughter-in-law any mother can dream of.” She was actually saying this to give Ani, as she fondly, called him a hint. She loved Morganna; she was from a high class family just like them, very fashion conscious and classy, educated and beautiful and her manners were refined. Aniebiet wondered why his mother was rushing, he had his plans. He wanted to make more money before settling down so he could have ample time for his family but his mother kept reminding him of the fact that Morganna was having suitors daily. Well he was going to marry her, he would. After his string of girlfriends, he finally found someone he liked.

He was heading to the family house, not his own personal apartment which was currently under construction. He missed his sisters. Clarabelle and Seline had just returned from their holidays at Paris, it was going to be a full house. Just as he turned off the car engine, he spotted his very naughty cousin, Andy. He grinned from ear to ear as he walked towards the car. Mehn! This was going to be a full house. Just then he received a text message from the jewelry store where he had ordered for a ring of blue diamonds. It was ready and he was gonna do the gentleman deed.

“Guy howfa?” Andy poked his tommy. “See as you big o, you dey chop money,” he continued assessing his cousin’s body. “Andy, my man, longtime, how Lagos dey? You just forget me your brother for here.” Andy hugged him. It was good to get back together again. He missed this naughty cousin of his. Andy and him were best friends. They told each other everything, sometimes shared each others’ girlfriends–or stole rather but that stopped when Ani started dating Morganna. That one was not to be toyed with and Andy had noted that. Just as they walked in, they spotted mother and the sisters filing their nails near the swimming pool. “Look who we have here,” Seline screamed as she rolled her eyes, she missed her brother though but they quarreled mostly because of her domineering attitude. “Miss you love,” he whispered as he hugged Clarabella, pretending to ignore Seline. “My dear son is back to momma,” his mother pulled him for a bear hug. “Ani, don’t tell me you’re actually snubbing me o, Seline, don’t even try that’, he just smiled and hugged her. He missed his family; everyone but his dad was here. He had travelled to Netherlands on his holiday trip leaving their mom behind because she wanted to visit New York, but Engineer Tomson Briggas had refused because he needed a quiet place to cool down from stress. Being an adamant woman, Mrs Ekanem Briggas didn’t compromise her choice. She had given Seline her first child, that domineering attitude.

****

She had woken up and walked about the streets of Uyo, more determined than ever to make it. After helping her mother prepare the moi-moi, she had stacked her plantain in a tray neatly and hurried out so she could get customers. She stopped by Udi street, to take breakfast, she was very hungy this morning. Most times she hawked on an empty belly so she could save more money. Constant starvation had made her very slim. She stopped by the mai sha, an ordered for tea, akara and bread. As she ate silently, she watched the ash pigeons fly towards her, she almost ran, the Mai sha had to calm her down, speaking in poor pidgin that it is a sign of good luck for pigeons to fly near a person. She gulped her tea hungrily and asked, “Mallam are you sure?” “Gaskia wallahi, it is real, for my place for Kebbi, e dey give person good luck.” She smiled and paid him and took off, praying for that luck to manifest.        

As she approached the hawkers’ camp by the road, she noticed her friend Sara was not yet there, she wondered what went wrong and she had no phone to call her. The morning sun was becoming more visible and she couldn’t talk to the others; they hated her for no reason. She waited patiently but her friend didn’t show up. She took giddy steps towards Papilo, the popcorn hawker. He wasn’t friendly, neither was he harsh. “Good morning Papilo, abeg u don see Sara?” He eyed her for a minute and shook his head. “She no go come work today, she dey sick,” another hawker supplied. She went back to her stool and made plans to visit her later when she was done for the day.

As the Mai sha had said, she was truly lucky, she was able to sell all her chips. What excited her most was a family of four children who bought 600 Naira worth of plantain chips, the other hawkers rallied around her trying to advertise their goods but were met with disappointed, she folded her wrapper neatly and placed the tray in the leather bag and was about to leave for Sara’s when Mama Labito cursed her. “Yeye girl, so you feel say jazz na d only way wey u go use to steal our customers, I go show u peper for this place!” Others had joined in calling her names. She cried and walked away silently. It was already dark, she had to see Sara and return home, but their bitterness wouldn’t kill her joy. She had made profit today, she could start saving up at least for diploma program at the University. She was confident that she would achieve her dreams.

As she approached the route leading to Sara’s, she noticed something strange about the street, it was unusually quiet. She was a bit frightened but walked on, suddenly she felt a hand cover her mouth and her screams were muffled, she was being dragged into the bush nearby. When her captor had release her, he assessed her body quickly, then put his hands inside her brassiere as she tried struggling, she felt a heavy object crash on her legs and she screamed in pain. “Pontus, stop am, no be wetin we come for,” the other voice spoke harshly. It was dark so she couldn’t see. “Wey your money?  Give us money and u go leave here free!” “Oga abeg help me, I no get any money on me, please,” he ignored her statement and asked the other to search her bag. They quickly retrieved her little purse, gave her one hard blow on the head and ran off.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER 14 --by Rose

Adenike had given up on calling the boys. She had just left their house and headed to the hospital where Bode was admitted. She blamed herself for everything, she should’ve been more discreet, she reasoned. She should’ve charged the boys to attack Udeme when she was alone and not with her love. But she was a woman in love and she couldn’t imagine him in the arms of another woman, an ugly one for that matter. She hissed. She prayed with all her heart that Bode would be alright but that wasn’t her only fear; the case was a criminal case and she was quite sure it had been reported to the police. Knowing the qualifications of Udeme as a Lawyer, she would investigate to the end those behind the attack. She shivered at the thought of being jailed for years, she had to find those guys, she had to cover up her tracks. This was the first time the boys had messed up and it disappointed her greatly, she had to think of a way to end Barrister Udeme Edwards for good; that would be her only saving grace. If she was able to do that in a more subtle manner like poisoning, something that wouldn’t raise any suspicions she was sure to cover her tracks neatly.

She quickly got information from the nurses explaining her relationship with Bode and they kindly directed her to one “room 54”. She climbed the stairs hurriedly, she couldn’t wait to see him; the man that rocked her world. She smiled as she approached the room remembering all the vacations they had spent together in each other’s arms. He was very generous; he took her along some of his business trips in America. Although their affair didn’t affect their working relationship, it affected her greatly. She had come to fall in love with him. Sighing, she touched her golden necklace which Bode gave her as a Birthday present, an expensive gift it was, such as none had ever given to her before and that was even before they started their affair. He had shown interest in her the first time he laid eyes on her during her transfer from Artmaster branch at Abuja, he persisted for a month or two. She blinked trying to remember. It was quite fun to be chased around, but she had been forewarned by her colleagues of the flirtatious lifestyle of their boss; she had ignored them actually, not believing one bit of it because he was just too loving and caring.

However, their predictions had come to pass after their first night, where he unleashed all his bottled lustful passions on her, it was never the same anymore. She came to discover she wasn’t the only woman in the company Bode had an affair with. She shook her head angrily as she remembered how vulnerable and naïve she had been. Wondering for a second if trying to kill another woman for a man who cared less for her was the right thing to do. She shrugged as she opened the door, maybe she was right or wrong but she was simply a woman in love who was standing yet another time with another competitor.

‘’Ah!  Nike you are here,” Mrs. Thomas welcomed and beckoned her for a hug, it was long she had seen the woman. They exchanged pleasantries before she slowly looked up at the other skank who stood there looking like an angel when in reality, was a devil. She chose to ignore her. She hadn’t come for that. She had come to see how Bode was faring. “Mama what happened to him? I just heard of this occurrence early this morning. I would have come earlier but I had to do some things.” Nike sympathized with the woman, the woman smiled kindly tapping her on her shoulder. “My child, you should be happy he is alive. He’s well and would be discharged tomorrow. It was her friend that almost killed my son.” The woman pointed to Nadie and left Nike wondering her friend? The woman noticed the confused look in her face and went further with her explanation. “Udeme or whatever she calls herself almost got my son killed. Just look at this, she hasn’t been here for him, she dumped his body after those hoodlums hurt him and left with another man.” Now that was some gist, Adenike thought. This was quite confusing; what other man? Clearly Mrs. Thomas was quite confused.

Nadie froze where she stood, this woman talked too much, she was scared of the worst now. Everything could blow back on her face because Adenike knew the truth about her. She wondered how the lady had even located the hospital. She had to do something real fast. Now she had gotten herself a place in Mrs Thomas’ heart, she had to remain there for a long time. She prayed and hoped her plan worked. She had to excuse herself and breathe in some fresh air to let go of the tension she was feeling now. She had to think! And act fast. “Mama let me get some drugs at the pharmacy, I’ll be back.” The woman smiled, admiring her hard work and love for her son Olabode “Alright don’t be long, we still have a lot to discuss.”

Adenike watched the half cast lady with utmost disgust, obviously she hadn’t taken her warning, she had come back for Bode once again abandoning her fiancé who loved her more than anything in the world. She had to think of something, she would teach that girl a lesson. She had to be put in her rightful place where she belonged. It was with Duncan and not Bode. Noticing the distant look in Nike’s eyes, the woman tapped her again, wondering what went on in her mind, keeping that aside she continued her story. 

“So you see, Udeme is a real whore, she wants to put my son in trouble, she is as good as married and yet she still sleeps with another man, if not for her friend, Nadie who told me everything, my son would wake up and continue dancing to her deceitful tune.” Adenike felt shocked as the woman recounted all what Nadie had told her to Nike, Adenike couldn’t hold it any longer, she stood up and paced around the room. Something wasn’t right at all. Noticing the troubled expression on Adenike’s face, the woman inquired concernedly. “What’s going on Nike? Don’t you believe me?” The younger woman paused for a while thinking of a reasonable answer. She was too shocked to think. Nadine was a devil in a blue dress; she had just succeeded in painting the Barrister black in front of Bode’s mother. “My!” She mused, Nadine was a bloody liar and a betrayer, coward of cowards! Her thoughts paced. She had fed Mrs Thomas with lies concerning Udeme, and knowing Bode’s mother well, she would act on that. Suddenly she felt sorry for the poor girl whom she had tried killing, she wondered how she would’ve felt knowing that the real person that deserved that bullet, Nadine, was walking about freely. She shook her head gently and sighed, Nadine was more dangerous than she thought, she could kill, she was engaged to be married within a month and she was here frolicking with another man, who was in love with her friend, her friend she had accused wrongly.

The opening of the door brought her back to reality, when she looked up, she decided to take her leave for further plans, for now, she had given up on Bode, she had a new fight knowing who her real enemy was. Nadine was a betrayer who loved to play dirty and dirty would the game be, she smiled mischievously and her thoughts echoed, “Let the game begin!”