On a very hot afternoon, the sun was almost roasting my skin out of
my body. It was 2pm, I was going to my house from the market. I waited
patiently for bus to take me home, while I was waiting, i saw a young
man between the age of 30-35years, properly dressed in white shirt
stocked into his black plain trouser with a brown belt and brown shoe to
complete his systematic arrangement, and i guess he was also waiting
for bus, a lot of people were at that spot too.
Soon enough, a
long motorbus arrived and people starting moving into the motorbus, but
then I was walking gently to the bus, admiring the color combination of
this young man’s dressing also considering how dusty, dirty and
scattered the environment was, with hoodlum (agboro) hanging here and
there waiting for buses to come so they will load the bus and collect
their normal 50naira.
Then all of a sudden, a lady shouted, olé
olé, thief, thief, catch am, he steal my money, see am, na thief, you
steal my money and you wan enter bus run, before you know it heavy slap
from no where landed on his face. What did I do? He asked politely, you
be thief the lady replied. Then those hoodlums picked wands of different
sizes and started hitting him not minding his appearance. Tears was
almost rolling down my eyes considering how dirty Dis guys hitting him
and clean and orderly he was dressed. Bernard could not possibly be a
thief judging him by appearance and look.
Shey na u dy thief ppl
property for Dis market?? Today you go see, someone shouted approaching
him with Barton. His white was gradually changing color combination with
stains of blood from his flesh and before he could understand what is
happening, he was already lying helplessly on that dirty ground, and
gradually his shirts was flying out from his trouser and cutting down
patch by patch.
He stole my money, olé, olé, thief, give me my
money, she was still lamenting. How much hin still from you madam?? One
of the hoodlum asked. My five thousand, this man na thief. Then they
searched him and found five thousand naira and small small change,
100naira, 200naira and 50naira,. You see am?? This man na barrawo. The
woman shouted.
I can explain, please wait let me explain,
Bernard pleaded exhaustingly, but the beating only increased because
five thousand naira was found in his wallet, they were hitting him so
hard that his flesh came out with the sticks as he was gradually going
naked. Arrrrh, arrrrh, let me explain, I did not steal her money,
Bernard continue to lament as gradually his voice reduced. Arrrrh,
arrrh, arrrrh he could nearly say a word when they hit him stone and
sticks.
Chaii chaii, see fine boy, see how em dress like banker,
dy steal. Na wetin fit am, said one woman as she watch from a distance.
I get fuel, me I get tyre, if you leave am, him go steal again. Then
Bernard was almost naked because, they condemned his cloth on his body
and then he was exhausted, I couldn’t help but watch from one end of the
road with heavy tears rolling down my eyes.
Then I saw dirty
people that could not afford 3² meal a day contributing 300niara per
litre fuel and tyre. The tyre was placed on his head and body, they
poured the fuel on him and then one matchstick was enough to end his
life in pain. Arrrrrrrrrrh, Bernard shouted in great pain as he
struggled to get up but was exhausted. Those hoodlums turned away one
after another as the heat from the fire on Bernard’s body was getting
high. Bernard was gradually turning into black smoke and people that
watched from distance all went sorrowfully away,
Bernard died
slowly but painfully. The woman watched how Bernard was dying and she
heared someone calling "mummy mummy" she turned and then saw her son
junior running towards her and on reaching her he said loudly dragging
the crowds attention, "mummy daddy say make I give you this 5000 naira,
say him carry am from ur bag. Eyes widened, jaw dropped and someone let
out a cry "no be him steal the money oooo" but Bernard was just ash by
then.
It was 9:00pm that day, Bernard’s wife( newly married with
her 3months old baby boy) called her elder sis. Hello Ada, did you say
Bernard came to shop today?? Yes, and I gave him five thousand to give
to you, is he not back??? Oh my God, he’s not back. Where has he gone
to?? My husband is not like that, he he had never returned this late
before. Bernard’s wife replied with her baby in her hand. He will be
back there, maybe he branched to see a friend.
This is my story and it’s all fiction. It happens everyday in our country Nigeria.
JUNGLE JUSTICE IS NOT THE BEST OPTION, LET’S STOP JUNGLE JUSTICE TODAY AND SAVE LIFE, BOTH THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY.
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