09:55 AM. It was a lovely Monday morning, full of sunshine. Parked in front of MCB University was a dark blue INNOSSON bus with the words "AKAKPO TABLE WATER" written boldly on the sides in white letters. Both the driver and passenger door glasses were rolled up and the rest of the door glasses including the rear screen had been removed and welded shut with steel panels; typical of buses used by table water companies in distributing their products.

Inside where five young men all armed with A.K. 47 riffles. The wooden stocks had been removed to enable the guns fit snugly into the jackets they wore over jeans trousers. Each of them wore black head warmers that when rolled down automatically covered the entire face with just two holes for sight.

On the wheel was Jide a 4th year psychology department student. Riding shotgun was Emeka, the leader of the operation and also Jide's course mate. At the back, Ahmed, Tunde and Dare -all 3rd year english department students- sat on wooden benches bolted to the floor for carrying cartons plus bags of table water and satchet water.

"You all know the plan..." Emeka said turning to look at their mean faces. "...this should be a quick grab. Speed is essential."

"I just wish they would come out already, am kind of getting bored." Dare said sarcastically.

" Dare the ginger man..." Jide replied smiling woodenly. "... always ready for war."

Dare didn't even blink. "Life itself is war Jide, and living is a fight. So don't blame me if am always ready."

Then absolute silence; each of them thinking how badly they needed to be successful. This was a big one. Practically the first time they where pulling of a hit of this scale inside the campus premises in broad day light.

Emeka sighed audibly. Big hits always meant big flies; and nobody wanted a fly on his ass. Yet it was provoked. It was very necessary. The only solution they could see.

Meanwhile, an army van filled with soldiers arrived at the campus gate. Campus security halted them and one of the security men carrying an automatic pump action riffle walked up to the driver's side.

"Ah Oga. This one wey una come around; I hope no problem?"

"No..." the army OC seated beside the driver said, looking at the security man with disinterest. "...we were ordered to check in with your CSO and beef up security today."

The security man frowned. "Okay... I wasn't told about this so I guess I would have to clear it with the CSO. Just park here." He pointed at the roadside. "I will be back shortly."

He walked back to his colleague at the gate while the army van drove to the roadside to park. "This one wey army come here today. I hope we are safe o?"

"My brother..." replied his colleague; a short stout young man whom the 'green shirt black trousers' of a uniform fit tightly. "...am surprised as you. You have to tell the CSO directly. This is the army we are talking about here."

"Guess that's what I would do then."

They both walked into the gate's security office and he picked up the phone handle and punched some numbers. It rang once and the CSO's secretary picked. "Hello, Chief Security Officer's office. How may I help you?"

"Yeah, this is Abuchi, gate two security post. Patch me through to the CSO."

"Am sorry, the CSO is in a meeting. Let me take a message."

Abuchi wanted to shout on the girl to get her lazy ass up, go into the meeting and call the CSO; but he thought well about it. "Okay, tell him there is an army van at the gate saying they came to beef up security."

"Alright. I certainly will inform the CSO when he is done with the meeting."

Abuchi dropped the call and turned to his colleague. "CSO is in a meeting. They just have to wait."

His colleague just shrugged and Abuchi went back to the army van. "Oga, the CSO is currently in a meeting. You will have to wait a little."

The army OC nodded. "Okay. We dey." Then the soldiers dismounted from the van and stood; making some of the few students loitering around the gate to become uncomfortable. The army doesn't just show up normally on campus. So 'uncomfortable' students slowly strolled away from the gate.

At that same moment, three young men came out of the Faculty of Law; all on white shirt and black suit. Chukwudi, Eze and Obinna. Eze and Obinna were laughing over a joke that Chukwudi cracked as they walked toward a brown salon car parked in front of the Faculty. Chukwudi unlocked the driver's door, automatically unlocking all doors and they entered shutting back the doors. He was still chuckling softly as he inserted his key and switched on the engine. Then all hell broke loose!

The loud screech of tires made them suddenly turn back in alarm just as the dark blue van slammed into the back of their car, reversed then moved forward again and blocked them in the front. The doors opened and Emeka jumped down followed by Tunde and Dare, their now masked faces looking devilish as they fired off shots in the air and passersby that had been attracted by the crash all scampered away like the devil himself was after them. Emeka shot the still dazed Obinna and Eze sqarely in the chest killing them instantly, then struck Chukwudi in the face with the base of his riffle while Dare opened the door and draged him out roughly. Chukwudi, almost blinded by the blood now gushing out of the ugly gash above his left eye tried struggling but Dare kicked him in the groin; he bent in the excruciating pain and was clobbered from the right by Tunde's meaty fist. Chukwudi was totally dazed as they dragged him into the minibus, tied his wrists and put a bag over his head just as Emeka jumped in and Jide zoomed off with a crash of gears!

At the University senate building, the Senate was in session. A group of 42 men and women comprising all the faculty dean's and heads of departments including the Vice Chancellor and 2 Deputy Vice Chancellors plus the Chief Security Officer.

The Vice Chancellor, professor Osuji, was not finding the meeting funny. Earlier in the morning, he had called a number in his office. "Hello senator"

"Hello professor, I trust you are calling with good news?"

"Good news is not something I have the luxury of right now... I mean, more than half of the Senate is against me on this."

There was a pause on the line. "Professor Osuji, I do not know why you keep making me feel that you are an incompetent fool that can't get anything done."

The Vice Chancellor had then tried hard with considerable success not to get angry. "Senator, I am not a fool. You yourself have been in this particular position and you would agree with me that what you are asking for is not easy."

There was an even longer pause this time and when the professor spoke his voice sounded like thin ice. "Oh professor, you sure know how to push it. You are the reason why I am not in that position right now. So do not even go there. Handle the Senate professor and get this deal going or I promise you they will be the least of your concern."

The Vice Chancellor frowned in exasperation. "How do you expect me to..." But the line was already dead. He had then sat down and heaved a sigh looking dejected. He was in a fix and frankly he was running out of options. How the hell was he going to convince 27 staunch senate members -much more than a quorum required for a decision- to support his new project; or should he say the senators pet project which he was now pushing because the damn senator had him by the balls in an iron grip... Damn!

A knock on the door. "Yes?"

His secretary, a middle aged woman with her hair tied into a tight bun making her look like a stern school mistress, entered. "Sir, members of the Senate are seated."

"Okay, I will be there in a minute."

She left. He had then taken a deep breath, stood and left for the meeting.

No wonder his face was now full of irritation...deep into the meeting. These 27 men didn't look like they would bulge. His mind was running on full auto, making him perspire in spite of the air conditioner chilling the room. He didn't notice when the CSO's aide entered briskly and handed a note to the CSO, who immediately excused himself and left the room with his aide, alarmed.

"When did this happen?" he asked, frowning deeply.

"Just 5 minutes ago sir. They came in a bus packing heavy firepower. The Faculty of Law security just called it in."

The CSO, always with a stern look, started towards the staircase leading to his office downstairs, his aide on his heels. "What is the status now?"

"Two vans have already been dispatched in pursuit."

They entered his office reception and his secretary looked up. "Excuse me sir, you have a message."

The CSO collected the piece of paper in her outstretched hand and read it. immediately his face became furious. "Why was I not interrupted and given this message?"

The secretary seemed to shrink from the CSO's glare. "Sir I... I thought you did not like being disturbed when in a meeting."

"You foolish woman with shit for brains!" The CSO bellowed. He turned to his aide. "Radio gate 2 now! Let them allow the army van to proceed and lock up the gate! Full alert... Let them know that these boys have AKs!"

"Right away sir." the aide said , unhooked his radio from his belt and radioed the gate.

Abuchi could not believe his ears. He rushed out of the gate 2 security office and shouted at the three security men sitting and chatting on a wooden bench near the gate. "Lock the gate! Lock the damn gate!!"

He rushed to the army OC standing behind their van. "Oga you guys are cleared to proceed! There is a kidnapping in progress as we speak and they are headed for this gate!"

The OC barked an order and the soldiers mounted the van quickly and it sped off; the soldiers cocking their riffles and swearing heavily as the van bounced up and down on the road filled with portholes the size of water melons. The OC wondered what the Vice Chancellor was doing with all the funds that the Academic Staff Union of Universities had been going on strike for; which was recently disbursed by the federal government. It was all over TV...

"Sir car in sight!" The driver shouted, snapping him out of his thoughts to see a dark blue minibus speed out of the far corner.

Inside, Emeka was shocked when he spotted the army van. "Damn!" He cursed. "The fucking army? Jesus Christ! Guys, we are shooting our way out of this one."

They all cocked their riffles, looking demonic in their masked faces. Chukwudi was almost unconscious. He froze when Emeka ordered his men to open fire on the army. "Blow them straight to hell!"

Dare pushed the roof of the bus to open a concealed door, pocked out his head and riffle, then sprayed the army van with a rain of deadly projectiles; just as Jide stepped hard on the break, swerving the bus and bringing it to an abrupt halt sideways; amidst rising dust and smoke from riffles already being fired at the army.

The army driver was instantly killed by a bullet to his head and the van swerved dangerously. But the OC struggled and held the steering wheel; straining to step on the break. The van stopped. Soldiers where already jumping down and taking cover. Then a shootout ensued!

Emeka swore heavily. Bullets where raining down on them like hail. These soldiers meant business. Red blood sprayed his masked face as a bullet tore through the guy on his left and he mentally prayed for the guy's soul as his lifeless body fell on the ground. He returned fire, shooting a soldier on the leg. The guy on his right screamed in agony as a bullet hit him on the shoulder. He took cover and rolled up his mask swearing heavily. Ahmed. His shoulder was on fire; pieces of glass raining down on him as bullets smashed the windshield of the bus. Inside the bus, Chukwudi managed to crawl under one of the wooden seats. He could feel bullets whiz pass him as it pierced the steel body of the bus.

Ahmed swore again and Emeka shouted at him to shut up and shoot; except he wants the next bullet in his brain. Ahmed in response growled in pain as he changed the magazine in his rifle and let loose on the army. The guy beside him jerked spasmodically and fell down dead; his head split open by a bullet!

Emeka kept on shooting widely, and then suddenly he froze! Sirens were wailing in the distance behind them. He turned and saw two security vans tearing round the corner. The fact that it was both filled to the brim with security men clutching pump action riffles was not lost on him. For the first time since that morning, Emeka became afraid. Army in front, security men at the back; almost on them.

Emeka looked towards his left, beside the road. It was all thick bush with a shallow stream crawling lazily through it. He made his decision. He checked his rifle; he only had a bullet in the magazine. So he threw it down, drew his pistol and opened fire on the first security van; making it stop with a screech of tires! Then just as the security men were jumping down to take cover, he ran into the thick bush trailed by bullets.

Ahmed tried to follow but the security men where already out and firing. The air echoed with the roar of pump action riffles and Ahmed was flung backwards from the force of the impact. He died before he hit the ground.

The remaining masked guy had no chance at all. He was hammered from front and back until his pulverized body dropped lifeless!

At the CSO's office tension was high. He was just off the phone with the Vice Chancellor and the pressure was already mounting. His phone rang and he snatched it from the hook. It was Abuchi. "Sir, the bandits have been neutralized. One escaped into the nearby bushes; but our men and the soldiers are combing the bushes as we speak. We will have him in no time.

The CSO heaved a sigh of relief. "That's very good. Casualties?"

"Four of their men dead; Five soldiers wounded and... one soldier dead."

"What? Lord have mercy! How could a soldier die? Damn! This school has been officially plunged into military mess!"

Abuchi was familiar with the CSO's legendary barking and didn't want it to add to his frayed nerves. So he quickly interjected. "But... Sir, I think we might have a lead on this case already."

"What's the Lead?"

"One of these men is a close associate of Dike Ochiagha a rumored drug Lord and Campus Cult kingpin."

"Are you serious? Dike? Give me a minute." The CSO placed his palm on the phone's mouth piece and looked at his aide. "I want Dike and all his known associates that we have under surveillance picked up immediately."

"Yes sir." The aide rushed out.

"Hello, Abuchi, just keep the gate locked and give me an update every 30 minutes."

"Yes sir."

At that same time, far away from the school. The Vice Chancellor was just driving into his premises. Security had been doubled since the Kidnapping. Chukwudi had really been lucky that soldiers where around at that moment. He was recuperating at the Campus Medical Clinic. One of the security men patrolling the premises clutching an automatic pump action riffle greeted the Vice Chancellor and he acknowledged with a nod, then entered the house straight up to his bedroom. God! He needed a cold shower to calm his head. He made a mental note to call the clinic's head doctor first thing tomorrow morning and check on the poor boy; just as he entered his bedroom. Then he froze! An icy chill running down his spine. Seated on his bed calmly was Dike Ochiagha!

"Good evening professor. I have been waiting for you."

The Vice Chancellor found his voice." "What the hell are you doing in my room?"

"Professor shhhh... Keep your voice down. You don't want me to be caught now. Do you?" Dike replied smiling evily.

The Vice Chancellor looked at him with disdain. "What do you want?"

"Just the name."

The Vice Chancellor was confused. "What name?"

"The name of the security informant that gave my men away."

"I don't understand what you are saying."

Dike was getting annoyed, but he kept his cool. "The army van that showed up in school today was not there by coincidence. Someone tipped campus security off. That means I have a saboteur, a leaking hole which I need to plug quickly. I need the name or frankly your next visitor won't be this polite in asking."

The Vice Chancellor knew the look on Dike's face. Calm but piercing. From the much he knew about Dike, he never made empty threats. However the Vice Chancellor decided to push it a little. "How am I supposed to know the name? The CSO is the one you should be visiting."

Dike's eyes became hard. "Please professor, stop trying my patience. You and I know that the name is in the report the CSO dropped on your desk this morning. The name please."

The Vice Chancellor was a tough man. But he knew when he was beaten. He sat down on the only chair in the room, opened his briefcase and removed a document. He looked at it, heaved a sad sigh and handed it over to Dike.

Dike took it, scanned through it and handed it back to the Vice Chancellor. "Thank you professor. I would take my leave now; if you don't mind." he said standing up and heading for the door. "Don't worry, I would show myself out."

He reached the door way and turned, smiling bloodlessly. "And professor..." The Vice Chancellor looked up. "Call off your security dogs out hunting for me. There is no direct proof am involved." With that he left and quietly shut the door behind him."

Much later, deep inside the thick bushes, Emeka was walking slowly; apparently exhausted from running. It was now evening. He checked his watch. "Damn!" It was smashed and obviously not working. He checked his pockets for his phone; that too was gone! He couldn't tell what the time was now. The skies was already getting dark, so he guessed it could be around 7 or 8pm. He sat down on the root of a nearby Melina tree to rest; thought about it and climbed the tree. Before long, He was fast asleep.

Suddenly he woke up with a start! Something had woken him up but he couldn't place his finger on it. He listened. Torches were shinning in the distance. Soldiers and mobile police men armed to the teeth where searching and coming towards his direction. He quietly climbed down and removed his shoes then his heart missed a beat as he heard a growl behind him. He slowly turned to see police a German shepherd eying him agresively. It barked and rushed at him, but he quickly whipped out his pistol and shot the dog dead. Soldiers and police men immediately opened fire and started running towards him, shouting. He ran like mad. Suddenly a bullet hit him in the back and he fell down, struggled up and continued running; leaving his fallen gun behind. Bullets were flying all around him and dogs dispatched were barking furiously headed straight to him. But he kept on running! Then he heard the loud horn of a trailer in the distance and with a renewed surge of determination, increased his speed; just as a five and half feet fence came into view. His shirt, drenched with blood, stuck to his body and the dogs were nearly on him as bullets ricocheted off the fence. Then he reached the fence and with a mighty effort, pulled himself over onto the tared highway.

He heard a deafening horn and pulled back just as the head of the trailer missed him by inches. He took a quick peep backwards. One of the soldiers was already climbing the fence after him. He turned and jumped onto the back of the trailer, the driver and his mate oblivious of the fact that someone just jumped on his trailer.

Emeka looked back at the receding faces of the soldiers filled with frustration. One of them put his radio to his mouth and relayed the license plate number of the trailer to the situation room at the CSO's office. Where an alert was sent out to the entire police stations in Awka City the capital of Anambra State, Nigeria. But before B division of the police could mobilize and reach Aroma junction, the trailer was has already crossed.

At the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) office at Awkuzu, two vans filled with dare devil operatives were dispatched with sirens blaring; straight to Awkuzu junction where they set up a road block. But unknown to them the trailer had passed five minutes earlier.

However two army vans had been dispatched from Onitsha to intercept the truck.

On the trailer, Emeka held on tightly, in spite of being hit with waves of nausea. He was almost freezing from the cold air blowing on him. He needed to get off the trailer before he caught pneumonia; but the trailer was going too fast. Then all of a sudden the trailer slowed down just before Odumodu junction. Emeka became agitated. He was still trying to know why the trailer slowed down when muddy water splashed on him as the trailer's tire entered a pothole. Then he sighed in relief. The road was bad and the trailer had to slow down so it won't fall on the slippery pothole filled road begging for repair.

Emeka seized the opportunity and jumped off the truck; stooping as he ran across the wide express way, then into the bushes beyond the road.

The Fulani driver, still oblivious of the fact that someone just jumped off the truck reached Odumodu junction, where the road was much better and sped off straight to Onitsha. He sped on till he saw two Army vans with sirens blaring, speeding towards him. He honked his horn to get the vans to shift but to his surprise, the vans stopped way in front of him blocking the expressway and soldiers jumped down; making him apply the brakes immediately. When he slowly neared the roadblock, the soldiers saw his license plate and immediately cocked their riffles; pointing it straight at both he and his mate.

"Hold it! Come down! I said Come down!!!" the squad leader barked at the driver.

The confused driver and his more confused mate came down and where roughly pushed to the ground while soldiers searched every inch of the trailer thoroughly. But Emeka was nowhere to be found!