By Fred Nwaozor
Opining that cultism is a
dreaded and deadly confraternity, which remains a posteriori reasoning to any
sane being, was unarguably a laughable assertion to each member of the
‘Scorpion tattoo’ whose actions or decisions remained a nightmare across the
lengths and breadth of Ajala University of Technology situated in one of the
states in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
The overall members of Scorpion tattoo, which was the most terrifying
secret society on the campus, could not hold their breaths until ‘justice’ was
tendered with cruelty to anyone whom they felt deserved it. Their unequalled
weird and irrational prowess proceeded unabated that most prospective students
of the university were repeatedly deterred from enrolling for the institution during
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
“Butcher them all!” the Capone
would always exclaim each time he sent his men to the battle field.
On their part, his subjects
comprising 23 able-bodied dudes wouldn’t hesitate to gladly and emphatically
respond “their heads remain our meat” whenever the aforementioned instruction
came up.
Any rational creature who
happened to be close-by each time they chant in such uncanny and bilious manner
may wonder if one’s head could actually serve as meat, though something that
was invariably chanted in a bush – if not thick forest – might not be possibly
heard by a second party or passerby.
Scorpion tattoo was the order of
the day not just within the said zone but across the country as well as a
nightmare to any genuine and dedicated security personnel resident in the area.
Unravelling the brain behind the seeming unstoppable nefarious syndicate
causing wanton destruction of lives and property was indeed a case study to any
meaningful stakeholder both within and beyond.
It’s worth noting that the
federal government declared a one-week state of emergency in the affected state
when the incidence became colossally unbearable. This gesture was necessitated
by two identical female twins who happened to be students of the university
that were murdered on the campus in broad daylight by stray bullets during a
duel between the Scorpion tattoo and its closest rival – the ‘Red legend’. The
parents of the deceased persons who were influential personalities in the society
had compelled the federal government to delve into the unfortunate matter with
a view to ensuring that justice prevailed.
“I want you to ascertain
whosoever that is behind this mess.” The Inspector General of Police (IGP)
instructed the Commissioner of Police (CP) of the affected state on a telephone
conversation during the era of the state of emergency.
“Sir,” the CP voiced out. “I promise you that
I will leave no stone unturned towards capturing the bloody fool within five
days.”
“Did I hear you say five days?”
“Sorry sir,” the CP said
apologetically. “I meant three days.” He assured sceptically.
“Sorry for yourself,” the IGP
roared. “I want the culprit in my office within 72 hours.” He added
frantically.
“Yes sir!”
“Did I make myself clear?”
“Yes sir!” the CP reiterated.
Definitely, the die had been
cast. No doubt, the clique was in deep trouble. It was only an imbecile that
would not comprehend that going by the IGP’s order, his person was boiling
immensely and the CP needed not to be told that 72 hours actually meant three
days, and nothing more.
How would the police loosen this vertex of
poignancy? Where and whom were they meant to go to? The paramount consignment
was to discover the idiot fueling the movement of the scorpion tattoo.
Since it was obvious that ‘no smoke without fire’, every security expert
understood that for a clique to operate fiercely and fearlessly, there must be
a ghost in their midst. And undoubtedly, the case of Scorpion tattoo wasn’t
exceptional.
Thereafter, having charged and challenged
his men to step up their actions, the state CP, Mr. Sule Ibrahim came up with a
more viable strategy. A tight round-the-clock surveillance was set in the
entire state and its environs.
The most worrisome and
intriguing point was that students weren’t mainly the prey of the syndicate. Lecturers
were not left out; and most importantly, they were the prime target.
It wasn’t that the police
hadn’t been trying, or proactive, towards capturing the vandals but each time
they came up with a unique strategy, the university’s Vice-Chancellor (VC),
Prof P.O. Akpan would calm the team down by convincing them that the school
management had concluded a different internal mechanism through which the cult
would be subdued, all to no avail.
To be continued, please.
Nwaozor, novelist, poet & playwright,
could be reached via frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056, Twitter: @mediambassador
No comments:
Post a Comment