Years ago, my grandfather told me a true life story about how his friend died while they were growing up.
This is not a fictional story nor an imagined story, its a true life story
There is this bird (iku) that was highly forbidden for anyone in the village and its environs to eat it. Everyother bird can be eaten but iku, even the king was forbidden from this bird.
The bird is usually very big and fleshy, and it's always the talk of the town.
Legend has it that the last person that ate it died instantly, the person came to do his NYSC service at the only boys secondary school in that village at that time. Though they were warned not to eat the bird, but this particular boy refused and said they always eat it where he came from.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/weird-bird-poem-by-shel-silverstein/amp/?source=images
All parents always ensure their children/ward stay away from this bird, whenever any specie of the bird lands anywhere in the village, parents will run from wherever they are to their home to make sure their children are not anywhere around this evil bird.
A woman was running home when she heard the bird landed on her roof, but out of anxiety she collapsed because she was running more than her power could carry, a legend also said.
Then came Tajudeen, the last son of Morufu the carpenter, whose grandfather is a known hunter in the community, who just came from the city, refused to hear his people's counsel on the bird, at first when he killed the bird, his mother was so furious with him that she threw everything (including the knife he used in slaughtering the bird, the bowl, and everything the bird came in contact with) away into the Lagoon, and didn't allow Tajudeen to come out for seven days because he needed to be cleansed. After the cleansing, he was allowed to come out and meet up with his friends. Then one day, he and his friend Gbenga, secretly killed the bird and ate it. First, second, third... Nineth day past and nothing happened to them, then Tajudeen told his parents about what he did and how long he has done it and nothing happened to him, his parents were so angry with him that his father almost disowned him.
Tajudeen and Gbenga started telling everyone in the village what they have done, and how long they have done it, that nothing has happened to them as they have seen, they were both going around the village with drum singing, shouting and rejoicing that nothing has happened to them days after eating the forbidden bird. They said it was a scam by the village heads not to allow people eat the delicious bird and they jokingly employed every youth in the village to eat iku that nothing will happen to them.
Then the village witch heard their victory songs, she was so angry then decided to punish and eventually killed them both.
That night, they both started having heavy running stomach, it got to the extent that they couldn't bear it anymore, they had to come outside crying for help, before they knew it their stomachs started swelling and swelling
https://www.healthtap.com/topics/hard-swollen-abdomen-causes
and this happened for three days, until the pains got so terribly unbearable, then they both died a painful and miserable death.
moral of the story
Always listen and abide by instructions:
Wherever one finds him/herself it's very good one obeys whatever instruction(s) one is given, either favorable or not. This is the case of the NYSC student posted to serve in that state.Whatever one goes against the law, one shouldn't be boastful about it, This was the mistake Tajudeen and Gbenga made and they terribly paid for it with their lives in a painful and miserable way. If one has gone against the law of the land, one should come out with tears and be ready for repentance, not being boastful.
Witches and wizards are real, and even if they are not, it's better one doesn't look for their troubles. its best to 'Let a sleeping dog lie'.
Be careful, we don't know who and what is watching us. Either in a good way or in evil ways.
Good morning and thanks for your time.
And finally, cheetah has left me alone.