Well, on that particular day, I was just going for a program outside of campus. I never knew I would be experiencing my own police drama.
It all started as a normal sunday morning would. Got prepared for service, just that today I was attending church outside school. We were much and we had already chattered a bus, but then the bus didn't contain us all, so the rest of us decided to find our way down. I waited till everyone had gone, cause I was the drama coordinator. So, I made my way down too. I had just my bag with me. So, I hurried so I could meet/catch up too.
Well, I got a taxi on time and dropped at the junction where I was to take a bike to the church. I looked left and right and crossed the road. I didn't know a police van was already noticing me and waiting to see where I was headed. Immediately I crossed, they (the police van) made a very fast and sharp U-turn, coming in my direction. They turned in a very reckless way that they almost hit a nother and child who had crossed. Even I shouted, unknown to me, I was even their target.
As I looked away from the mother and child and made my way into the street, they pulled up beside me and jumped down. You would think I was an armed robber with the way they jumped off and quickly stopped me. And of a truth, my heart skipped, not that I was guilty of anything, but the way they came around. But then, I tried to be calm as one of them barked, "Stop right there."
People were making their way to church so it was a little bit busy road that day, and there they were making such a scene as if they had caught a criminal. Well, I stopped. About four of them moved closer to me, they even had their gun strapped on their shoulder. What came to my mind was, better carry this thing to sambisa to people wey need am, abi what's my own. One of them circled round me as if scanning if I was carrying contraband.
"So, where you dey go?" one of them asked me.
"To church sir," I esponded even though I was confused.
"Dressed like this...?" Another replied.
Ah, I don't get, must I dress shabily, can't I look good, well I was just thinking that, I didn't voice that out. I was still lost in thought when the one who seems to be the boss amongst them shouted, "Search him!"
These people can do and undo, and before I could ask them to wait and that I would bring my pockets out for myself, they had already snatched my bag. Thy dropped my bag first and searched my pockets. All they found there was a some cash, barely a thousand naira, my school ID card and one small button phone. They looked at themselves and I can see disappointment in their face. Did they think I was the best person to come for.
Immediately, two of them went straight to my bag, they ransacked through it. My heart was beating fast o, I won't lie and it's not because I was guilty of anything, but because I didn't even know what all of these was about and aside that, these people are unpredictable, they can just delay you for no reason or find something not tangible to charge you with. And they would go ahead to waste your time. Well, they emptied my bag and all they could find in it were costumes and some things meant for the stage drama I was going for.
The way they dropped my bag enh, it was funny. What exactly were they expecting to find. They looked at each other with disappointment written all over their faces, I almost burst into laughter, but then, I had to restrain myself from doing that. Their boss looked at me and asked, "What's all this?"
"Costume sir," I replied, almost laughing.
Disappointment was written all over their faces. They were expecting to see some flashy, big and costly phone, laptop and some Yahoo boy evidence, but they couldn't find any. We just stood there looking at each other. Maybe they were embarrassed too. They just stood there like someone who's bread was snatched away. It felt like a waste of time to them. One after the other, they entered back into their van and went their way, they didn't even say anything. I guess they were going in search of a new catch, one they would contend with, since I wasn't profitable for them.
As I was making my way down to the church we had program, I couldn't help but shake my head. Here in Nigeria, being well dressed alone can make you suspect, of you were now carrying bag, just be sure to be seen as a suspect. I can't help but think of how things would have turned out to be if they had hit that child or if something of value had been in my bag.
Well, they got disappointed and I on the other hand got a story to tell.
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