This land was such a beautiful land with beautiful and loving people. Love for one another is seen as a general trait and is always said to be rooted in our bloodline by neighboring communities!
Someone from Umuaku Kingdom can never walk away from any scenario where anyone from Umuaku is involved, without seeing to the end of the issue. Be it fight or whatsoever — Something others envied us for.
However, the whole narrative changed during the fight between Agudike (of Aku Kingdom) and Benson (of Umuaku). Okonkwo narrated to his grandchildren.
"Grandpa, what happened during the fight and why is that significant to all that's going on in the community today?" Ebuka asked
It all started after an evening gathering of the youths of the two kingdoms, during which an argument that resulted to a fight, erupted between the above-mentioned men.
According to those that were around, in an attempt to defend Benson, someone mistakenly hit Obodo with a plank, thinking it was Agudike. The effect was so strong that Obodo died instantly. Upon falling to the ground, orderliness was restored among all.
No one could boldly say that, this is the person that did it. However, there were only two young men from Umuaku that were present that night — Ugo and Nebe. Those were the prime suspects.
On hearing that her husband has been killed as a result of the unfortunate event, Ada reacted like any other woman that has been left all alone to cater and feed the young children left in this world by her husband. She was so pained, but she was more pained by the fact that she doesn't know who killed her husband.
Of course, the husband won't be brought back to life but she just wants to know the exact person responsible for his death.
While Ugo died two years after the incident, Nebe is still alive. The story behind what exactly happened that night is still not clear, as those that were around have all refused to speak out. Mr. Okonkwo continued his narration before Nonso interrupted him asking.
"Grandpa, what was Ugo able to say anything to anyone while alive as regards the issue?"
Yes my son, the only person he spoke with was his mother. And according to his mother, when she asked him whether he was the one, he said " am I man enough to be getting into a fight?".
While it's been more than 20 years since the unfortunate event happened, the inability to provide the person responsible for Obodo's death still haunts the people of Umuaku.
"But grandpa, didn't you and the other elders do anything at all?" Chisom asked his grandpa.
We the elders did all we could do to resolve this between us but all were to no avail. We have called Nebe many times —since Ugo is now late, and asked him what he knows but he has refused to talk. We also invited a seer but he said everything was blurred. That Nebe, should be asked what happened.
All efforts from the elders were all but a waste of time and resources. As a result, we all resolved to leave it to the day of Reckoning. On which the truth would finally be out and those responsible would finally be punished. And then this curse on our people would finally be lifted!
On turning towards the children, he realized that they had all slept off. He sighed and spoke out "What I know not shall never know me and my family!"