Chidi woke up with a nagging headache, he tried to move his hands up to his head to feel the liquid there if it was blood or something else, but his hands were tied, so also were his feet. He wanted to scream but he couldn\u2019t, he couldn\u2019t even make a sound, his throat was sore.<\/p>\n
it was so dark here, even with him opening his eyes, the darkness was still heavy on him, he tried to move sit up but he couldn\u2019t, he was beyond tired, he was seriously gasping for air.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, there was a creaking sound, it was a door not properly fitted, its dragging against the floor as the door was being opened, it was still dark but the light from the lobby illuminated the room a little bit and he can see a tall huge man, almost 6\u20195 in height, dark looking, wearing a light blue ankara attire.<\/p>\n
Chidi spoke, not audible enough managing to produce each word with so much stress \u201cWheeeeeere am I?\u201d<\/p>\n
The tall man introduced himself \u201cHello Chidi, my name is SJ, you\u2019ve been here since Friday night, you\u2019ve been asleep for over a day, you will be here with us for a while\u201d<\/p>\n
Chidi managed another line \u201cWheeeeeere are my friends, we wereeee in the club\u201d<\/p>\n
SJ replied, \u201cWell, about that, you\u2019ve been kidnapped but don\u2019t worry, we will take care of you as soon as your father gives us what we want?\u201d<\/p>\n
Chidi managed another line; with agonizing pain \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
SJ replied \u201cI can\u2019t talk right now, Chidi, I am going to church but my people will take care of you, when I come back, we will talk\u201d<\/p>\n
SJ stepped out of the room and locked the door, and locked another door outside again.<\/p>\n
SJ proceeded to his car where his wife and 2 kids were waiting for him and zoomed off to church.<\/p>\n
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Airport<\/p>\n
Bernard Ejiofor came out of the arrival terminal with just a small portable carry-on luggage dressed in corporate attire without a tie, in a dark grey suit with pointed black shoes and a light blue David August Designer shirt. He made his way to the road to get a cab; however the Abuja 10AM sun wasn\u2019t for kids, so he reached for his Ray Ban dark shades from his jacket.<\/p>\n
He moved over to an empty cab and told the driver his destination, the middle-aged Igbo cab driver opened pulled a lever just beneath the seat to open the boot of the car, Bernard moved back and placed his luggage there, closed the boot, unbuttoned his jacket and sat at the back of the car, the cab was fairly new, the driver increased the radio volume a bit , switched the A.C on and eased on to the FCT roads, the cab driver was making little conversation but Benard\u2019s wasn\u2019t up for it.<\/p>\n
Everything was going on fine today for Kemi, but the thought of the text message she got early today wasn\u2019t helping her think straight, she couldn\u2019t go to the Police, the Nigerian Police would never know how to handle this, moreover this menace has people everywhere, she knew who the menace was, it was Ken, one of her customers, she met him few years earlier when the bank sent them out to bring in money, the target Kemi got was so impossible, she looked for people everywhere until a strange number called her one hot Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Ken had a sweet calm but firm voice; he spoke with so much confidence,<\/p>\n
She picked up and said hello,<\/p>\n
Ken: \u201cHello, am I speaking with Kemi?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, this is Kemi\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you, hope your day has been very good?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, my day is good, please who am I speaking with?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Ken, and I was hoping we could do business together\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay Ken, what kind of business do you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand you\u2019re a marketer with a bank, I want to open an account and hope to run the account frequently\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, where is your office, so I can come over to discuss this with you and how much are we talking about\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo use coming to my office, lets meet at a neutral location, most of my business is abroad, so I don\u2019t have a registered business address here\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still haven\u2019t told me how much we\u2019re looking at\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, since you\u2019re so adamant, am looking at N50 million for a start and then monthly or bimonthly installments of lesser or higher amount\u201d<\/p>\n
Kemi was ecstatic on the phone but kept her calm and responded \u201cOk, I\u2019m sure we can arrange something for you sir, but if you don\u2019t mind me asking, who gave you my number?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ken broke a small laugh and told her \u201cThe person who gave me your number wants to remain anonymous, let\u2019s meet at the Palms, Soul Lounge, tomorrow after work by 7pm\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would still want to know who gave you my contact still, but I don\u2019t think I can meet 7pm, can\u2019t we make it earlier like 4pm\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, will try to make it for 4pm then, have a good day, I need to end this call now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cvery well then, tomorrow is a date, I will call you tomorrow to confirm\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOk then, bye\u201d<\/p>\n
Kemi was so happy that she screamed out that all colleagues in her office looked at her cubicle, she covered her mouth and apologized as she went back into her seat, Lola, her close office colleague went to her and asked what it was, she explained to Lola and they both laughed and hugged, at last Kemi was going to make her target for the year.<\/p>\n
That was almost 2 years ago, now Ken had her laundering his dirty money around the country and abroad, although he gives her tips, he has made sure she keeps her mouth shut by threatening to kill her mother in Ijebu.<\/p>\n
Ken had put a couple of local mercenaries in O.O.U to tail her, and luckily for Ken, one of the boys lived in her mother\u2019s house, Ken had told her that if anything should happen or even as much as get unwanted attention from the Police, her mother dies.<\/p>\n
This new money is to be put into different accounts and moved into a Singaporean account for some oil trade transaction, she had done her part of the job, all she could tell was that she was part of a bigger and broader conspiracy.<\/p>\n
Umar knocked on BK\u2019s door,<\/p>\n
BK screamed \u201cWho is there\u201d, BK wasn\u2019t in the mood to receive any visitor right now, moreover, none of his friends nor that sexy girl from 2 houses away had called to say they were on their way, so he was wondering who was at the door.<\/p>\n
Umar answered, \u201cOga BK, na Umar\u201d<\/p>\n
BK answered \u201cUmar, the door is locked, what do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar continued to plead \u201cOga, please open , I wan talk to you\u201d<\/p>\n
BK murmured as he dragged himself off the couch, paused his movie, he unlocked the door and resumed back to his couch potato mode.<\/p>\n
Umar moved to the front of the couch blocking BK\u2019s direct path to the TV.<\/p>\n
BK replied sarcastically \u201cUmar, you\u2019re not transparent, you know\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar looked confused.<\/p>\n
BK replied his look with \u201cUmar, you\u2019re blocking my line of sight, I can\u2019t see the TV, so move elsewhere\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar smiled and replied \u201cSorry, Oga B.K, I no know\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what do you want? You do know there isn\u2019t any house-girl here right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar knelt and started pleading \u201cOga B.K, I come because of that day wey you see me and Enoh for my room\u201d<\/p>\n
BK replied \u201cOk, what about that day?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOga, please I wan ask you say make you no tell Oga Nnamdi or Madam Vivian\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Umar, I don\u2019t know if I can help you here, if Enoh gets pregnant, they will send her away\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOga, i know but body no be firewood, my wife dey village\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou go soon hear am if you give am belle, how long una don dey do am?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOga, e nefa tey, 5 months\u201d<\/p>\n
BK screamed \u201cUmar!!!!!!! So when we leave the house, you just drag her out of the house and bang the living daylight out of her in your room\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar smiled sheepishly \u201cOga, no be every time na, we no dey do am when she dey her period\u201d<\/p>\n
BK laughed hard and replied sarcastically \u201cEhen, you for fuck am when she dey her period na\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow the thing take start sef?\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar was hesitated, but when BK threatened to tell Nnamdi<\/p>\n
Umar forced himself into divulging the information \u201cOga, na long time ago, nobody dey house, na him Enoh come call me from my room say the tap no gree lock say water dey waste.<\/p>\n
Oga, she no wear bra that morning o, but me I no get mind for there,<\/p>\n
I come follow am enter inside house, wen we reach inside the kitchen, the water don the waste, so i come help am lock am from under the zinc, the water come stop\u201d<\/p>\n
BK getting impatient said \u201cSo, Umar, wetin come happen\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar continued \u201cSo, as I wan start to dey go, she come hold my hand, put am for her chest, her breast soft well well \u201d<\/p>\n
BK getting impatient \u201cSo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar continued \u201cShe come put her hand inside my jeans, come touch my something, my something sef come dey hard, she come use my thing drag me enter her room\u201d<\/p>\n
BK stopped him \u201cOk, that\u2019s it, I don\u2019t wanna hear any more of it but let me tell you this, next time, lock the door! \u201d<\/p>\n
Umar interjected \u201cOga, I dey always lock am but I no no wetin happen dat day\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe una don miss each other\u201d, BK was already cracking up in laughter<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you should try something invented a while back, it\u2019s called CONDOM!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOga, Enoh no like am, she say she no dey enjoy am with condom\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, she\u2019s a calabar woman, it\u2019s in her blood\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar added more details \u201cOga, Enoh no be small pikin for that thing o\u201d<\/p>\n
BK screamed jokingly at Umar \u201cUmar, comot for my house jo, I don tell you say I no wan hear about your sex stories with Enoh, comot jo\u201d<\/p>\n
BK added \u201cPerson dey gate jo, carry that your \u2018baby-hand\u2019 dick comot for hia\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar was laughing as he left BK\u2019s flat and moved back to his room, he heard another knock on the gate and moved to the foot entry part of the gate, he opened it and saw Vivian\u2019s mother at the gate, she was getting impatient.<\/p>\n
Umar greeted \u201cGood afternoon ma\u201d<\/p>\n
She answered \u201cDo you know how long I have been at this gate, where have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n
Umar responded \u201cNo vex mama, I no hear am, I dey BQ\u201d<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s mother was a warm looking elderly woman, she had little wrinkles on her face, she was fat but not too fat, but short unlike her daughter, Vivian must have gotten her height from her late father.<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s father was a good-looking Igbo trader who started his work life in Nnewi after the civil war, before moving to Lagos for a few years but moved back to Nnewi after about 3 months of working in Lagos, he complained about the speed of Lagos, he said he couldn\u2019t live with the craziness of Lagos, he died a few years after moving back to Nnewi, he died before he could give out his daughter to Nnamdi in marriage.<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s mother was the main reason why they dated for so long because she dint like Nnamdi, she always told Vivian that there was something shady about him that she dint know, she still didn\u2019t like him.<\/p>\n
Umar helped her with her bags from the white haggard looking Santana taxi, she brought all sort of things for her daughter, from banana to yam, oranges, plantain chips and vegetables she bought during her bus trip to Lagos.<\/p>\n
Umar lifted the bag and found out, it was heavier than he had estimated but he still lifted it and placed on his head.<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s mother screamed \u201cUmar! take it easy with that bag o\u201d<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s mother made her way upstairs and knocked, Enoh asked who was at the door, she replied \u201dOpen the door Enoh\u201d<\/p>\n
Enoh quickly unlocked the door and greeted her, she didn\u2019t think much of Enoh, so she responded to her greetings sheepishly and moved over to the couch.<\/p>\n
Vivian\u2019s mother wasn\u2019t in the mood for small talk especially since Umar refused to come open the gate leaving her stranded outside for more than 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
She asked \u201cEnoh, where is Vivian? Bring me some cold water\u201d<\/p>\n
Enoh replied \u201cAunty is in the bathroom\u201d she then went into the kitchen to get a jug of water for her.<\/p>\n
As she drank her second cup of water, Vivian came into the living room and shouted \u201cMama, welcome, how are you\u201d<\/p>\n
She replied \u201cI amm fine, but na wa for you and your husband o\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should sack Umar\u201d Mama added<\/p>\n
Vivian replied \u201cMama, what did we do? And what is Umar\u2019s part in this conversation\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI call you people most times, once you send me money, you feel you\u2019ve fulfilled all your obligations ehn and that your mai-guard left me out for more than 1 hour, I was banging on that gate, even you people in the house dint hear it, sheesh!!!! \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMama, it\u2019s not like that, Nnamdi and I have been very busy, it isn\u2019t easy working and raising 2 kids mama, I will deal with Umar myself\u201d<\/p>\n
She replied \u201cI know that\u2019s what you will say, didn\u2019t I try you and your brothers and sisters, dont even give me that excuse\u201d<\/p>\n
Vivian smiled and replied Mama, are you here to fight me or visit my family\u201d<\/p>\n
She replied in a strong voice \u201cBoth\u201d<\/p>\n
They both laughed and hugged closely.<\/p>\n
Vivian replied \u201cMama, go and freshen up, let me prepare you something to eat\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want Garri and white soup o\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard was sitting opposite Morris on the glass table.<\/p>\n
Morris started the conversation by saying \u201cHello Bernard, how are you, I heard you\u2019re married with kids now\u201d<\/p>\n
Benard replied \u201cYes sir, I\u2019m fine and its true, but that isn\u2019t the reason why am here, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cOf course, that\u2019s not why, I brought you here as a direct order from the Vice President\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris continued \u201cS.O.D has been re-activated\u201d<\/p>\n
Benard replied \u201cS.O.D wasn\u2019t just disbanded; we were sent back to our regular lives after all the training\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied in a stern voice
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t my fault, we got shut down, the ex-President didn\u2019t see the need to have another Special division, moreover they weren\u2019t terrorist threats then, they were only after financial crimes\u201d<\/p>\n
Benard interjected \u201cSo, this new case cannot be executed by EFCC, ICPC or even the other security bodies?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied in a calm voice \u201cAm afraid so\u201d<\/p>\n
Benard replied \u201cWell, I\u2019m sorry to say sir, I cannot help you, I already left that line of work\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied with a stern look \u201cBen, you cannot refuse this, do you know how much the government spent on your training, this division and facility\u201d<\/p>\n
Benard was getting angry \u201cSir, with all due respect, my life has moved on, I know the government has invested a lot in us but I just can\u2019t do this, I now work behind a desk\u201d, his temper was boiling, does Morris think he can just call him out of the blues to come and start pursuing bad guys around town? What will happen to his regular life that he has just adjusted to?<\/p>\n
Morris replied firmly with a deadly stare
\n\u201cBen, you don\u2019t have a choice, this is the government, we will hunt you down, your face will be in the pages of all the newspapers, you will be a federal fugitive, remember we know your real name and your alias. We created your alias. For the sake of your family, think again\u201d.<\/p>\n
Bernard stood up, ready to leave, Morris called out to him in a cool and pleading voice \u201cBen, your training has made you something else, you can disappear and we won\u2019t be able to find you, what about your family, don\u2019t make this harder than it is\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard moved back into the seat and his appearance became calm, nothing melts a man\u2019s heart more than his family\u2019s safety, Bernard dint want anything to happen to his family, so he succumbed to Morris\u2019 request.<\/p>\n
Bernard replied \u201cOkay, I\u2019m all ears but we do it my way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cThank you. There has been a kidnap\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s the new trend in Nigeria now, people pay their ransom money and their loved ones are returned\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I know, but this one has got a different angle to it\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the angle to this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cit\u2019s very political, we need this resolved ASAP\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you gonna tell me who got kidnapped?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Vice President\u2019s first son\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard stood up, agitated \u201cHow did this happen? Where was his security details? When did this happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cWe have a little bit of sketchy information right now, but all we know is that he\u2019s been held in Lagos. It took place in a nightclub in Lagos, our S.S.S guys were killed in the process, it was nicely organized.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave they gotten across to the Vice-President yet\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cYes and they aren\u2019t just asking for money, they\u2019re asking for a prisoner to be released as well\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat!!!! When last did they make contact with the VP?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve made contacts twice, all scrambled lines, untraceable worse than satellite phones\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, this people are advanced. Well, like you said, we\u2019re dealing with some very organized sect here. So what\u2019s our game plan now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cCommunications and Tacticals are been set up in Oregun area as we speak, they should be done with everything in 4 hours time\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard replied \u201cI need my team sir\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cI have already made the calls, all you need to do now is co-ordinate them, we\u2019ll start with back tracking because I think these are guys started with little kidnaps and now they\u2019re playing in the big league.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBack-tracking?\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cYes, I don\u2019t think they\u2019re new comers, we\u2019re getting access to EFCC and ICPC data, the money they collect from these kidnappings are laundered into our system first before they are moved to offshore accounts, that\u2019s all the sketchy intel we have right now\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard replied
\n\u201cThis is good, we can start with that, we\u2019ll have our analysts cross-reference with any transactions that looks out-of-place, thank God for the new cash transaction limits, we will cross reference with the CBN , EFCC and the Banks\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris replied \u201cWe should be able to get whatever little information we have and also talk to a few informants you have, you\u2019re going back to Lagos with the next flight\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes sir\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA car will be available to pick up at the airport and take you to the command center \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOk sir, how about my work and family\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have spoken with your boss and told him, your presence is needed at the villa for some international consulting, so that\u2019s settled\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about my family?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about them, they\u2019re fine, we got an S.S.S detail on them, disguised, they\u2019re been monitored 24\/7\u2033<\/p>\n
\u201cOk sir\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour cover can never be blown, okay? Moreover, I want you to be the commanding officer, let Lanre lead the field team, stay back and coordinate with Chika, she will be the lead analyst on this! Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard replied \u201cAffirmative sir\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris checked his wristwatch and realized, it was almost time for the flight.<\/p>\n
Morris prompted Bernard, \u201cIts time, your flight leaves in 30 minutes, get there early, clear your head, the next few days will be very crucial to this nation, this is a larger conspiracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bernard stood up and exited the building, and he was smiling, finally he had been activated and said to himself; \u201cThis should be fun\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chidi woke up with a nagging headache, he tried to move his hands up to his head to feel the liquid there if it was blood or something else, but his hands were tied, so also were his feet. He wanted to scream but he couldn\u2019t, he couldn\u2019t even make a sound, his throat was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[3999,1822,1906,2288,1855,218,2006,2242],"class_list":["post-213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-17-awosika","tag-17-awosika","tag-african-short-stories","tag-african-stories","tag-african-web-stories","tag-deolu-oniranu","tag-deolububble","tag-lagos-short-stories","tag-web-series"],"yoast_head":"\n