Abdul Farouk walked like nothing was amiss. He had several men watching the police officers who were stationed everywhere on the length of both streets. He wasn't going to let this amateurs get promoted by taking him down, he said to himself.
His experience in the Nigerian Army during internal and external deployments contributed to keeping him alive. He did not just make Colonel for his numerous certificates he bagged. He rose through the rank from Private. He often told whoever cared to listen to him that that is the true definition of a soldier. He had made Colonel in the Army before he began to fight for the right of his people.
Colonel Farouk, as he was majorly called by his brothers did not need a soothsayer to tell him that there was a snitch in his pack of brotherhood. There was always someone selling information about the brotherhood, he swore to fish the rat out in due time. It was not unimaginable to have a rat among his faithful brothers because it has turned out to be a regular occurrence. What where they offered to turn their backs on the fight for amenities and quality education for his people?
He remembered a similar event where a bad egg among his faithful was giving information to the government in July 2006, last year; he had purchased supplies from Chad and was importing through road to the compound and it almost got intercepted by the army.
Just like what he presently suspects, there was an informant among the brotherhood and the leak about the transfer of the supplies almost crashed years of tireless efforts and sleepless nights. The government where unimaginably informed about the movement and location of the trucks but the destination was not known.
The two of the trucks were loaded with C4's, Grenades, dynamites, RPG-7 rockets, land mines. There were also a few light arms such as AK47's, short guns, pistols of various make and sizes. Heavy arms loaded in them included China made type 77 HMG's, Belgium made FN BRG 15, the light machine gun made by the United Kingdom Besa MG which in the Czechoslovak army was marked as the TK vz. 37.
The trucks had crossed the Niger Republic border, they were running across the Kamba-Bunza road and would connect with another route to its final destination Zituma. The driver of the first truck called in to report a blockade. It was not the usual Custom Service officers check point. These were about twenty to twenty five armed soldiers maintaining shooting positions on the both sides of the road with weapons aimed at the trucks.
The driver noticed that there were two military trucks with machine guns hanging on it and each was manned by a soldier, all guns aimed at the approaching trucks.
"Run through them Ali." The one at the passenger's side told the driver.
"Are you crazy? Can't you see the MG's on those trucks? We will be toasts at a blink of an eye." He stepped a little on the brake to slow the trucks down some more.
"Call Brother Farouk I will slow down the truck, the other truck would do the same."
Abdul Farouk's emergency line vibrated in his pocket and he knew something must have gone wrong. The DG may have decided to be stupid, he thought.
"Malekum Salam, how are we doing?" Farouk responded to the greeting from the man in the truck.
"There are soldiers ahead of us, Sir. About twenty fully armed and all guns are aimed at us."
The Director-General of the Nigerian Customs Service assured him smooth passage of the consignments through that rout and it had been made clear to him that defaulting on that promise would result to the death of his wife who was already in their custody, so what went wrong, he thought. If some soldiers have stormed the rout then someone must have tipped them about it.
"What do I do, Brother?" The one riding with the convoy asked over the line with panic in his voice. Abdul Farouk did not anticipate this as he already saw the transfers as an achieved success having received four other deliveries so far and was expecting this last supplies to be a success.
He was totally confused, the content of that truck is worth millions of Naira and its importance could not be quantified in terms of cash. Razak his cousin was waiting to get a go ahead to kill the wife of the DG of NCS but that call would not come just yet, he concluded. This was obviously not from the DG, he was sure. So who leaked his plans? The voice from the truck interrupted his thoughts again.
"We are decreasing speed, Brother. We are only a distance from them now."
"I will get back to you shortly. No matter what you do don't say a word, do you understand?" He dropped the call and punched in the numbers to get the Director-General of The Nigerian Customs Service.
"You talked to the military, Sambo?" Farouk decided to play the game from that score knowing Sambo did not squeal to the Military.
"No I did not. Why would I do that? I love my wife and want her back. You made it clear that I should keep my people and any other person out of this... I kept my side of the bargain." The DG stuttered away uncontrollably.
"I assume that it happen to be a coincidence that soldiers are on the rout that we clearly agreed should be open for my transactions for the rest of the Thursdays in July?"
"Soldiers you said? I don't know anything about that. But I can help, the commandant of the Army Barracks in Birnin Kebbi owe me a favour, please don't harm my wife I can help."
"You have less than five minutes, my friend. My brothers are already being slowed down by a bunch of Soldiers. Five minutes or your wife would be delivered to you in five different parcels." Farouk dropped the line and it took the DG of NCS 30secs to put a call through to Brigadier General Bashiru Maganga.
"Bash, its Sambo." He tried to be lively as much as he could.
"Sambolino! How is my man doing?" The Brigadier-General asked.
"I am doing great, Bash. I need a favour from you. It is urgent." He was back with the stuttering tone but still tried to stay lively.
"Are you okay, Sam? What is the problem, you sound shaken. Nothing shakes Sambolino so what is the problem?" Bashiru Chuckled in a bid to spark his friend up. But Sambo went straight to the point.
"I have a consignment rolling through the border in Kebbi, right now it is…" Bashiru cut into Sambo's speech like a sword.
"Being stopped by my men right about now. I knew that deal had a high clearance but I never knew you were in the game of importing explosives, two truck load of it! What have you turned yourself into Sambo, are you supporting the terrorists?"
"Listen to me Bash, you know me better than anyone else. If this isn't a matter of life and death, I will not ask for this favour. I need you to call it off Bash for the sake of friendship. You owe me your life Bash, remember."
"Don't start with that you-owe-me-bullshit, this is way above me Sambo, the Chief of Army Staff have been notified that consignment is as good as confiscated."
"They have Dahara for God's sake!" Sambo said losing control.
"What? Who has got her? What have you gotten into Sambo?" Bashiru asked.
"Make that call, do it now Bash, please."
"That's too much of a favour, Sambo." He took a deep breath. His friend needs him now. That's what friends are for, right? Sambo has always been there for him at tough times too. But this is a crazy thing to ask for, his career could be ruined or he could be jailed for aiding terrorism, he thought. What is the hardness for anyway, he was due for retirement this year.
"I will kill you for this Sambo, you are a dead man." Bashiru said.
"Thanks Bash! You are the man." Life came back to his friend's voice. He felt satisfaction.
"Stand down, Lieutenant" Aliyu said over the telephone two minutes later.
"Repeat your orders, Sir. We have visual of the trucks as described. Permission to stop and confiscate the trucks, Sir." The soldiers asked over the line.
"You have your orders soldier, abort. You are to return to the barracks, ASAP. Roger that Lieutenant."
"Roger Sir, I hear you loud and clear."
The deed was done.
****************
She was contented with the outcome of the day's success. The women seemed to accept the idea of transforming themselves into useful and productive ladies. It would benefit them first, then their individual families and country.
"We still have to make a stop at DMFB to finalize the preparation for tomorrow, Ma'am." Angela her assistant reminded her as they walk down the hall towards the exit.
"It's not yet 4:30pm, right?" Zina asked her.
"It's 2:35pm, Madam."
"We will make a quick stop at Trendies, I need to eat something am starving." Zina said as they step into the fully packed entrance of the Dream Land Hotel. Journalist were swarming around like insects and her security officer tried to get them as far as possible from her as they walked towards the waiting car.
"Mrs. Echezina Uche, what do you have to say about the accusation levied against you by the religious heads of the north?" the question stunned her and stood looking at the reporter.
The hot February sun did not stop the function of her senses, nor did the pest that tried to suck life out of her project. She thought of the best approach to this question.
"What accusations are you referring to?" She asked the journalist with a tag that spelt ODV TV while she bought time.
"Madam you have been accused of exposing these northern women to the corrupt indulgence of civility, what are your comments?"
There was silence around as everybody quietened to hear what she had to say. In split seconds the smiles were back on her face and she headed for the black NISSAN AMANDA waiting for her by the drive way, she left the familiar words the press has always heard in moments just like this, 'No comments'.
Bishop stepped out of Tantalizers beside Agor junction just before Sele express-way Lagos. He checked his time and it showed 2:35pm. He could not believe that he had spent over an hour all alone in the well air-conditioned facility.
Ella must be very hurt right now and he is undoubtedly responsible. His thought could not sway from the fact that he had hurt her very terribly to the point that she could decide to keep away from him or avoid him. He had been trying to reach her but she seemed to be giving him the shove, maybe he deserve the break she is offering, he thought. He made his way to Sele on foot instead of taking a commercial motorcycle or a Keke (Tricircle). The exercise would help clear his head and keep him sane.
His mind kept racing from the time he had met Ella at Aquino's Eatery Lekki. He had just returned from an assignment in Enugu and was meeting Izunna his buddy from childhood.
She had caught his fancy in an amazing way. He had been listening to Izunna complain about his banking job, when he noticed the lady sitting four tables away from where he sat. She had checked her watch four times and it triggered his curiosity.
She wore an ash turtle neck top on a black jeans and a black flat soled shoe. Her hair was not made; it was tied to the back of her head just like a pony-tail. Her makeup was mild and it revealed her natural beauty. Something that shouldn't have occurred happened and time stopped moving. He suddenly didn't hear Izunna's voice anymore everywhere was silent, she caught his stare. He sat there frozen to his seat.
"Hey, what is wrong?" Izunna enquired as he followed Bishops gaze. "You love to mess with ladies." Izunna accused him.
"No, this is different. There is something about this girl." Bishop replied.
"Is that a line from Wande Coal's- There is something about you girl?" Izunna teased as he laughed sarcastically.
"I think she is being kept waiting by someone. I will fill the space, I'll be right back." What guy would keep a lovely angel waiting? He thought as he made his way to her table.
She had taken his breath away from that very moment. The thought of her makes him more intelligent in decision making, dangerous in combat and immortal in the face of death because 'Staying alive for Ella' became his motto.
All that seems to be gone with the wind now he thought. Two years of wonderful entanglement with love has just been blown away by series of lies. It all started with one lie. The lie about what he does for a living, then another lie to back up his constant disappearance, then another lie about the scars, not just the old scars but the new ones and other lies followed after that.
She had not told him a lie yet, at least he was sure she was always open to him. But she did not tell him she was leaving Lagos. Maybe, if he had kept in touch he would have known, he blamed himself for that too. It has been over one month since he last heard her voice. He had called her on her cell phone ten minutes ago and she had said she was away in some state. He didn't get the name of the state but he heard her say don't you ever call this number again.
"Ori e ope!" (You are insane) A bike man who almost ran into him cursed.
"E jo, e ma bi nu." (Please don't be angry) he pleaded as he walked on.
Lagos has this plague of overpopulation where ever you go inside of it. He worked passed Ecobank and jumped over the open drainage and the pain from his chest stung. He placed his hands on his chest where the bullet had penetrated. It was like yesterday even though it has been close to one month since his four man squad 'THE ELEMENTS' took out Akpobiroro the militant and his gang in Warri. Akpobiroro was the leader of Lets Change Warri Movement. He was plagued with greed and hunger for power that it made him violent and uncontrollable. His gang had kidnapped three American petroleum engineers and three other Nigerian engineers who were working for the TOLI Pet & Mech Engine Limited, maintaining one of the several rigs in Delta State. They demanded for twenty million Naira, as ransom.
The American President, who was represented by the American Ambassador to Nigeria, declared that the United States of America would take matters into their hands if harm befalls its citizens at the hands of Akpobiroro the militant. For the purpose of the nation's sovereignty, forty eight hours was given to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to get the American citizens out of the cuffs of these militants or the US Marines stationed in the American Embassy would be let loose to storm the hide out of these militants and rescue her citizens.
While trying to cub the situation, the Minister for International Relations, Prof. Adams Gimo assured the American Ambassador that everything was under control as the Federal Republic of Nigeria would not in any way jeopardize the long peaceful existing relationship binding the two nations.
The SSS had gotten a tip off from a concerned indigene about the activities going on in the abandoned textile factory in a remote area in Warri. It all made more sense when it was reported that Ohanetega was seen a couple of times in the vicinity. If Ohanetega was there more than twice, there is no doubt that Akpobiroro is also in the vicinity. After days of surveillance, the SSS had it on tape and series of photo shots that the factory was a temporary base for the Akpobiroro gang. Though the hostages were not seen but from the way supplies were being carried into the facility it was obvious the gang had august visitors.
The SSS Director –General Col. Saga Tafawa known as Uncle T together with his men, was briefed on the situation as it was resolved by the National Security Adviser to the President, that the special op group of the SSS 'The 'Elements' should be assigned the mission of extracting the hostages no matter the medium and at all cost.
Bishop got the go ahead to storm the facility not in the dark but at 17:00 hours by his superior, Uncle T. They had come in through the west wing after swimming to land from the Naval Boat far away from the shore. The river was all messed up with crude, it hung on the swim suits and water-proved kit, and the whole place stunk of death. It took them approximately 1 minutes and 15 seconds to get of the swim suit and 4 minutes to wear their combat gears.
They appear smart and deadly in their black combat pants, a black long sleeved combat shirt, a black bullet proof vest, a combat knife, a silenced black .45 Caliber pistol an American version of the soviets AK-47, the 'M16' which is also silenced and of course a blue tooth communicator device hanging on one ear lobe with its mouth piece stretching from the ear to the corner of the mouth. Each member of the Element, owing to their nature of specialty is allowed to take their own choice of weapon during missions.
They made their way through the mesh of bushes and came to the west wing of the facility.
Two men stood on each side of the door all had weapons. Joe took out the two of them on guard with two sharp shots from his Knights XM110 sniper rifle, from the meshes before entering into the abandoned textile factory. Damilola made his way swiftly with less noise towards the water reservoir, when he got to the ladder he waited to see if a swift eye followed him, there was no reaction from within or inside the factory building. He went down on one knee; he would get the go ahead to climb before the shooting starts.
Bishop, Joe and Clems covered the space in the parking lot to the front of the warehouse that housed Akpobiroro and hopefully the hostages. The vehicle entrance was shut from the inside but the door beside it was open, he could see from where he squatted that it was darker inside. He gestured to the others with his hands, three fingers pointing into the warehouse that means all three are going in on a full assault. Bishop's Phone rang distracting his thoughts
"Hello." He said trying to avoid the crazy bike men plying the pedestrian way.