“Hello!” Buchi exclaimed, standing at a bus stop situated in one of the
notorious localities in Lagos State, Oshodi to be precise. The dark coloured
young man was clad in blue jeans, a green T-Shirt, and a pair of black shoes.
“Who am I seeing?” Ikem shouted at the top of his voice on sighting
Buchi. He was about entering a commercial bus that was headed for Festac town. The
fair in complexion man was putting on a pair of black three-quarter jeans,
multiple coloured polo, and a pair of brown leather slippers coupled with a
brownish face cap.
Ikem ignored the bus. “Buchi na you be this?” He said in pidgin. Walked
closer to Buchi.
They hugged each other passionately.
Ikem and Buchi were old time friends. They attended the same Secondary School
in Enugu State many years back, and they happened to hail from same state. Both
buddies were in their early thirties.
“So you are in this state?” Buchi said.
“Yes,” Ikem responded. “Since I
finished my degree course.”
Both of them lost contact after their secondary education days due to
lack of mobile communication system as at then.
“Are you serious?” Buchi amazingly said. “Which university did you
attend?”
“UNN,” Ikem replied. “But I did my youth service in Niger State.”
“Interesting.” Buchi said, nodding.
“And you?”
“Well, I studied in UniPort.”
“University of Port-Harcourt?” Ikem verified.
“Yes,” Buchi answered. “But I served in Ekiti State”
“So, how long have you been in Lagos?”
Ikem hurriedly asked.
“About three years now.”
“Waow!” Ikem exclaimed. Amazed. “Same here.”
“You mean, you have been here for three years too?” Buchi asked.
Surprised.
“Of course.’
“Where do you stay?” Buchi enquired.
“Festac town,” Ikem responded. “With one of my uncles who works in a
bank.”
“Waow, what a coincidence” Buchi said excitedly. “I reside at Maza-Maza”
“That makes it more interesting.” Ikem said, smiling.
“Yes ooh! You can say that again”
Maza-Maza is situated in the same district with Festac.
“Who are you residing with?”
“My married sister.” Buchi said.
“Any job yet?” Ikem asked anxiously.
“For where?” Buchi replied in vernacular. “Where did you see job in
Nigeria?”
“Na waow!” Ikem exclaimed disappointedly. “Only God would save us in
this country.” He added.
They paused for a few seconds.
“So which bank does your uncle work with?”
“Platonic Bank.”
“That’s a nice bank.” Buchi applauded.
“So you haven’t gotten a job too?”
“Hmm,” Ikem sighed. “My brother, leave matter ooh.”
“So what’s your plan now?” Buchi curiously inquired.
“Well, there’s a friend of mine who asked me to see him tomorrow at
Ikeja.” Ikem replied. “He’s into business.”
“What kind of business?”
“I don’t know yet, but he often travel abroad.” Ikem said. “And he is
densely loaded.”
“Ok.” Buchi dished out in a low tone. “Please, I would like to go with
you oh. Man don suffer.” He urged submissively.
“No wahala,” Ikem agreed. “What are friends for?”
“Thanks a lot buddy.” Buchi appreciated.
After some minutes, they boarded
a bus that was headed for their respective destinations. They exchanged
contacts while in the vehicle.
* * * * * *
Buchi and Ikem agreed on a meeting point on phone. The following day,
they met at the agreed venue and took off from there to their anticipated
destination.
Ikem had already informed his proposed host on phone that he would be
coming with his friend, and the man in question approved the request.
When they got to the place, surprisingly the man who invited them was an
armed robber. The young man who was seated with his partners in crime didn’t
hesitate to disclose everything to them. They needed not a prophet to interpret
the scene to them because every kind of ammunition was displayed right before
the gangsters.
After the necessary introduction, Ikem and
Buchi who were gripped by fathomless panic were left with no other choice than
to join the deadly chorus.
The gang had earlier planned to rob a bank the following day being 24th
February 1999, and the affected firm was Moonlight Bank; one of the most
respected banks in the country. Buchi and Ikem were meant to be part of the
adventurous outing.
On the D-day, they successfully arrived at the bank, and were about to
commence operation as usual until something tragic transpired.
Unfortunately Ikem’s uncle – Mr Cyprian Okoro, the one he lived with,
happened to be present at the said bank. He was meant to meet with the Bank
Manager on that fateful day for a proposed business transaction.
Ikem sighted his uncle the moment he walked into the Manager’s office as
he was instructed.
Mr Okoro stood up immediately on sighting Ikem. Profoundly shocked. He
couldn’t believe his eyes. “Could this be Ikem Okoro?” He thought. Stood still.
Both relatives were steadily and confusedly looking at each other, which
led the Bank Manager into a more confused state.
Ikem
who was well armed, quickly and nervously gushed out tears as he was left with
no options than to pull his virgin trigger on a man he had always seen as not
just a father but a source of his inspiration. It was indeed a horrific and
bloody encounter for the first-time robber. He felt like the world had finally
come to an end as he thought over the poignant state of dilemma.
Immediately, Mr Cyprian was shot dead alongside his senior colleague by
Ikem.
The tiled floor was instantly covered with pool of blood.
It was no doubt the most dreaded experience in Ikem’s life.
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