An Unforgettable Night:

Pascal Okafor
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read

I've had a series of unforgettable days(nights), I'm even beginning to forget. Every one trumps the other.

Last night, I got a call that my little brother hasn't returned home from the bank. It was unlike him to stay out for long at night without watching vampire diaries or one of those werewolves stuff. A lot of things bolted through my mind to my legs.

I spotted him beside the gate of UBA, I walked briskly, like the coal tar was hot. I wanted to grab him and tease him that he sneaked to see a girl or something. But He ran quickly, as soon as he saw me closing in. I lost him at a Y-junction.

From what i gathered, he was nabbed by robbers from the ATM, first it was a missing person's issue, a robbery incident and a kidnapping incident. I couldn't call anybody. Didn't know what to think. I had to stay sane. My mother would technically loose it if I called her immediately. She's faced a lot this year.

Called home, told my sister what’s up. Told her to relay it to my mum in the most subtle way. That’s if there was a subtle way to tell someone her child was forced into a vehicle by guys with guns. Didn’t know how to relay it to my dad, the king of whatsapp broadcast messages. He would have forwarded something about the lagos ritualistic tunnels that has been making the news lately. This would only make him panicky, frustrated and leave him with a HBP.

I started checking around, packed cars, lonely streets that were like veins on a dicotyledonous leaf. Called my cousin, the one I know can handle things like this with a clear head.
Within 30 minutes, my dad, mum, aunts, my siblings were littered everywhere.

Approximately 15 minutes later cousin went to the police station with me to file a report for a missing person. I met my mum and my sister talking with a female police officer who didnt seem to understand english. I didn't expect much from them. I've never expected much from them. This time was different. It was my brothers life. I hoped they could radio and put up roadblocks or something.I lost hope when I suggested that and the woman said her 'walking-talking' (walkie-talkie) wasn't good.

After my sister's countless narration of what happened. She flared up and walked out. While I tried talking to the person I felt was 'in charge'. Apparently, he was in charge of talking more nonsense.

One was asking my mum if she was with money.
'Call your pastors and tell them to pray.'
'Come back after 24 hours'
'He might have taken the money to play bet naija'

Those were the nonsense these people opened their mouth to spew.

When people think the sobriquet for the Nigerian Police force is just 20 naira collecting inefficient lot, you would be forced to change it to grossly flagitious and incompetent individuals when you find yourself with them.

I wouldn't have gone there. I shouldn't have gone there.

Over 3 hours later, money was transferred, my mum called that she has seen him. My cousin and I headed to them.
He was just there in tears. I felt a unique blend of anger, frustration and relief at once. Only thing I could mutter as I saw him was "why did you run?" Then he said, "they were with guns, they'll have shot both of us. They warned me to withdraw and come alone".

)

Pascal Okafor

Written by

Economist, writer, python and C programmer, pencil artist, bibliophile and audiophile, critic, Tesla and Linux lover.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade