His
head was bowed and his hands folded behind his back. In one moment, he reached
his hands down into his pocket and brought out a white handkerchief, ran it across
his face and remained calm. “Don’t worry, this is a small case. We are on top
of the situation”, a police sergeant said. Beads of intense perspiration hung
loosely again on his forehead and trickled helplessly unto his starched
brocade.
“Dr.
Mike, it’s obvious you don’t love your wife. If you love her, then another
5million naira will not be too big. You must pay in another 5million naira
before dusk or else…or else…” the call from the kidnappers cut and then, the
connection broke. Dr. Mike had spent years in the U.S with his family and has
been in the Nigeria for one year and six months. He had worked hard to empower
inner city kids and get them back to school. Tales of kidnapping had only been
tales to him until now. “How can they ask for another 5 million” he deeply
wondered.
“Sir,
our men will need 20,000 naira to fuel our car to intensify our search. We’re truly
on top of the situation” The pot-bellied sergeant said in an unconcerned tone.
“You
must be a devil’s advocate and some sort of stupid accomplice.” An angry Dr.
Mike retorted at the police man. “Hey Dr. be careful with your mouth. You must
know that we are on top of this situation.” The police officer stuttered.
After
several unsuccessful attempts to rescue the wife, he paid another 5 million naira.
When his wife was finally released, she had been shot and crippled on one leg.
Speechless, he took his wife and returned after the kidnap saga back to the U.S and a helpless
and weak security system are still on top of the situation. Dr. Mike returned back
to the U.S. with fears, with scares and with tales of woes for a country for
which he had been once patriotic.
This
may sure be fiction but it does represent the moments encountered by many
people in a nation that seems more like a Mosquitoes’ Planet where everyone is
trying to get a bite off the other. Where shall we run to; the latest in line being
the kidnap of the mother of the Nigeria finance minister. This will definitely
not be unconnected with those involved with looting the nation’s treasury
through the controversial fuel subsidy which Prof Okonjo Iweala is trying to
bring to book. While she works to fix our economy, some mosquitoes are working
to “fix” her back home; and to hear that the kidnappers are demanding 1 billion
dollars is grossly laughable.
For
a lot people, this represents their fears about Nigeria; a nation with plenty
mosquitoes, both human and animal elements. Yet, my question is this, how can
we run away from the only country we can call our own? Shall we all run away for fear of being
haunted? By no means! It’s a fight that we must fight; a fight that is needful
and we must fight it with the last drop of our blood.
It’s
not easy anywhere, but ours is a unique case and we must rise above these
numerous evils. This is our nation and it is 'ours to plough; not to plunder'!
May God help us!
