Even when a brigadier general was kidnapped while moving with his convoy, do I think going on a solo trip is safe for me with no groups of army by my side? This is Nigeria.
Some time ago, I imagined doing a tour round my country, not a solo trip this time, just picking a small bag, getting a comfortable bus, and moving from one state to another just to taste their foods and see how things are being done there, getting familiar with their culture. No pressure, just a detailed, planned-out tour with some of my friends with some music of our choice, because music is life, while we happily tour around the states.
But then, reality hit me, and I snapped back to what is currently going on in my country. After I came across this prompt, I was like, really? Solo tour around my country, especially this time? No way
Is it possible for me to take a solo trip from one state to another in Nigeria at this moment? To be brutally honest, I cannot do such a thing. It is not that I do not wish to do that or I lack the courage, because the present situation here calls for everyone to be careful, watchful, and even fearful. The rate at which kidnappers now operate these days is now alarming. Unlike before, when they did it during the night, now they are everywhere, and they operate in broad daylight; some even go as far as entering people's houses. Unsanctioned checkpoints, terrorists, and bandits are now operating on the highway without fear of anyone. If I even say I want to travel and I inform any of my people, they keep calling every now and then until I get to my destination because they know that it is no longer safe to travel and it's only God that is keeping and watching over us because nowhere is safe.
I remember when I was going to serve this country, when my parents heard the state I was traveling to camp in, they were like, Maybe I should wait for the next batch, because stories around that state were that kidnappers operated easily there, and when I was going myself, I saw how tiny and lonely the road was, poor network. I was just using one mind to pray, and when I even got to the camp, I saw the countless military men patrolling and the stationed armored tank outside. I said to myself, So all this is true. What I saw alone was so exhausting that I had no choice but to relocate.
To be honest, we are so blessed in this country with a lot of natural things that I am sure the rest of the world craves, from the hills in the east to the dry lands in the north and the harmattan in other parts to the history in the west. There is a lot to be seen, a lot of delicious and succulent foods from other cultures, but at this moment, I cannot gamble my safety for any adventures.
Assuming there is stability and no security issues here, ehn ehn, I can travel around without any fear, as our forefathers usually did in the past. But right now, I prioritize my peace and safety.
At the moment, my solo trips remains in my imagination. I have some friends across the states that unusual get update from about what is going on where they are. But if God will it, I still have it in mind to do that tour around, even though it might not be all the states, but where my spirits leads.
Thank you for reading.
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