The month of November as people would say 'sweet november' was one I and my family looked forward to as it was one month away from Christmas. Who would have thought it would turn out brutal.
This is my story ...
It was a Friday, 14th November 2014 (14/11/2014) precisely.
The day kicked off on a good start and I remember vividly how I woke up with smiles and loaded energy for the day I had ahead, it was one of the those days you felt happy and excited for no just cause, it strucks me badly to realize that it was simply an ill-fated day and would last to bring hunting memories.
I was in my 200 level in the University and had quickly ate, got my things ready as I had a lecture scheduled by 2pm, a course handled by 'a no-nonsense lecturer'
Attended the lecture as normal, had time rolling smoothly(i believed).
During lectures, my phone vibrated, I managed to check the caller ID, it was mum!
I could not pick up as lectures was still on-going and Dr. Awodeyi was not the type of lecturer to be excused.
I sneaked the phone into the lower part of the desk and typed swiftly
"good afternoon mummy, will call you back"
Got her reply almost immediately
"are you in the hostel?
Can you start coming over to the shop and help me do something?"
Completely distracted from my lectures I had to reply her text message.
"Am in class now"
I typed in a haste as the dreaded lecturer was trailing just behind me, I didn't want his problems of his well known castigations-"Leave my class and do not attend for the rest of the semester". That was automatic failure.
After hitting the send button, I pressed unto the power button to put off the background light.
Lectures was still in progress but I could not concentrate any longer as I kept pondering on what mum wanted me to do, or was it one of those pleasant surprises she seldom came up with? I beamed with hidden excitement.
Finally lecture was over, I waited for Dr. Awodeyi to pick to his leather black bag and limp out of the class before wrestling for my phone.
"hello mummy" I spoke too eagerly.
"hello kitty"
I giggled, kitty was my childhood nickname, she called me Kitty whenever she wanted to amuse me.
"sorry I called when you were in class "
"no oo no problem, the class is over now, I'd be coming" I had said.
"don't worry it's late already, I wanted you to to a delivery"
"ehyaaa I sighed, but I'd still come and stay over for weekend, coming to shop first to meet you"
"don't come late" she emphasized, I said bye and hunged up
I got back to the hostel, took a refreshing bath and stuffed a few things into my bag, said bye to my room mates and I left.
I boarded a taxi to the main Plaza and another which dropped me off at the junction where I would trek to my mum's shop, by now it was around 7pm.
Got the shop(my mum owned a chemist),saw mum, hugs followed and we got talking about virtually everything when suddenly interrupted by a violent voice followed by wails. I frozed instantly, my mum stood and went outside in an attempt to find out what was wrong, I followed behind.
The streets was dark as I can recall, very dark, quiet, except for two figures in the dark running like they were insane In two opposite direction, things happened too fast, before we could grasp the evil, four men waked towards our shop, my mum held my hand but it was too late to take a step
"stop there"
Was all that sanked in my head, at that very moment, it seemed as though I had become lifeless, my blood had refused to flow I stood there. They ordered us back into the shop, just immediately one emerged from a nearby shop and joined the rest of the gang here, they were all masked with arms and cutlasses, about 3 were tall and hefty. They ordered us to go on our knees and face down, I knelt down murmuring rubbish_somehat like the Lord's prayer.... I don't know. My whole body shaking, I couldn't even look at my mum.
"bring money and phone "
one yelled with a voice that could crack walls.
"no money, I have not sold since morning, my mum uttered with shaky voice"
My goodness! give them some money mum let them leaveeee, I wanted to say, but I just tried to lift my hand gently to tap my mum who was by my side but my hands felt so light, like it was suspended from the ceiling, during this time they were already ransacking and scattering things around, opening drawers,opening containers, snatched my handbag from the chair, poured out the content, took my phone, opened my wallet,I had some few change in there, they pocketed it,held my ATM card and asked who owned it, i just nodded. When they found some money under a carton on the shelf, they beat my mum with the cutlass on her back, I dont know whose cry sounded louder hers or mine. They threatened to kill her if she doesn't coperate by bringing more money, my mum struggled Up in unbearable pain, in a confused state started looking for where she kept money, she gathered all she could, they kept telling her to be fast, she gave the money to them.
That was not enough they took her phone too, asked me for my ATM pin I told them immediately stammering the figures, they said I was lying and I was going to follow them to the ATM stand to withdraw the money,i assured them that it was correct, they ordered me up, one of them held my hand that I going with them, I couldn't control my tears, I was begging, my mum was begging but they kept shouting
"shut up"
They dragged me out of the shop told me to cooperate if I loved myself, I had no choice, I followed them, my mum said to come with me, they just shut her out.
We walked out and in my heart and I thought if that was my end. The car was parked at a corner behind the last shop they robbed before invading ours. Just when they held my head to push me inside the car, my intervention came. The police siren sounded from a distance and they just pushed me out and took off.
I can't imagine what would have happened, even though they stole from us, though I was able to reach customer care on time and got my card blocked.
I am forever grateful for that timely intervention.
Many thanks to you 