As i alighted from my car that fateful Sunday evening, very tired and hungry from a long journey. A team of policemen instantly confronted me.
“we have information to believe that you kidnapped one Chief Manuel. We are here to search your house and take you to our station for questioning” an elderly police inspector said to me, taking me by surprise with his words.
“Chief Manuel kidnapped?” i asked with shock.
“stop wasting our time and open up your apartment” he barked seriously, while his colleagues held their guns dangerously. I drew back and nodded at Jenifer.
“my dear, open up the house for them” i said to her, without bothering to ask the annoying policeman to produce the search warrant needed to search my house. Seriously that’s a question you dare not ask a policeman in Nigeria especially when outnumbered unless you are a powerful politician or someone with connections to the top.
Five policemen followed Jenifer to my apartment while two others searched my car. The police inspector cautiously stood with me, watching out for any funny move from me.
“seriously i don’t understand what is going on” i complained to him.
“Chief Manuel was abducted from his house this morning and some of his brothers reported to us that you threatened to deal with him” he answered coldly.
“chai!” i exclaimed,
“it was just a family gathering and we quarrelled. I didn’t fight with him alone, we all exchanged hurtful words which is very typical of family meetings. He threatened to deal with me and i threatened back. C’mon the fight was all about the lady who just went into my apartment with your men. We argued because they were against me marrying her. How can i kidnap my uncle because of that?” i desperately explained to him, but all he did was shrug.
“i have my orders and it is to search and bring you up to the station and that’s what i’m here for” he answered coldly. I bit my lips angrily.
I was very hungry and tired after a very long journey from Jenifer’s village. In fact i was boiling inside and out.
“God” i breathed and glanced at my watch which displayed 6:45pm.
_______
Jenifer and the five officers who went in to search my apartment soon came out with nothing, sweating and breathing hard.
“we found nothing sir” they said to the inspector who shrugged and faced me.
“we are going to our station. You will meet the detective handling the case there. I’m merely carrying out orders. We are from the state police headquarters, so it will be in your best interest to obey and go with us. You can speak your grammar to the detective. He will enjoy your company because he is also a lawyer who likes grammar a lot. All these book people, i’m tired of them” he said humorously, while his men laughed out hard.
I shook my head, sighed and entered my car. One of the policemen quickly joined me, while Jenifer climbed into the back seat.
“baby, please go to the house and wait for me” i begged.
“no this is our fight. I’m fighting this battle with you remember” she answered strongly.
“hey move this car now” the policeman with us ordered coldly, forcing me to start the engine and drive to the state police headquarters with my Jenifer on the back seat.
To be continued
