The phone rang frantically, interrupting his much needed rest after a marathon week of thankless hard labour for humanity. “Sir, I don’t know where they are taking me. They said something about shooting me and taking a picture with a gun by my side” the voice shrieked.
It’s 3am in the morning where are you? What did you do? Who are the people tormenting you? If you still have your phone can you let me speak with them? He said suggested trying hard to find soothing words to calm the situation in readiness for possible intervention.
“Yesss, who you be?” Said the husky voice at the other end of the phone. “Na wetin him talk say we do am?” He queried. Before he could find words to respond another call came in. But he had to leave it on the call wait. “Officer, good morning, I appreciate all that you do...
...can you kindly walk me through the issue with this gentleman? I know your great sacrifice for our country, staying up late to keep us all safe. If there is anyway we can make this easier, please work with us on this. “Okay...Senior man, he said in a more amiable manner”
“The thing here be say, the boy was rude. Him no wan calm down. We are doing our job here doing stop & search according to our instruction from CP, nobody fit teach us our job.” now he is more convinced that the officer was inebriated. But still in there somewhat.
“Thank you officer, My name is Segun Awosanya, the Convener of the #EndSARS movement. May I know your name & the station you are attached? From the GPS I can see U are currently in Opebi.”
“Senior Man, we no fit hear your voice make we no respect am. We know U. We go leave am.”
“Senior Man, we no fit hear your voice make we no respect am. We know U. We go leave am.”
The line went dead afterwards. He tried to call back. But another call interrupted. “Good morning sir. Apologies for disturbing you. I’m your follower on Twitter. I have a problem I have been trying to speak to U about & I don’t know if you could help?” Distinguished it’s 3:30am!
Then the call he put on hold earlier called in again cutting off the current one. “Hello... can you hear me? I have been trying to call your number you weren’t picking. Please we are at the station and they are demanding that we pay N100K for bail, they said we are prostitutes.”
Minutes later after most of the communication gaps and attempts at extortion were quelled via intervention of credible officers in the Police system, who rarely sleep once the traffic gets this heavy. “Now I can rest” he thought. Looking at the time it was 6am!
Precious hours go by like minutes, one case after the other and sleep is murdered. Before you know what is going on, you have lost track of time, days and weeks. The only thing reward you get is the testimony of a few out of many, who return to share their encounter publicly.
This is just a few hours in my shoes per day Distinguished. Kindly note before you get upset about not responding to your DM on time or grant your request for school fees or house rent. No one person’s life is perfect. We are all ensuring & hope that one day all will be well.
Someone once told me not to bite off more than I could chew. But for me I’m deeply convinced that I’d rather choke on greatness & excellence in the cause of humanity than nibble on mediocrity in self aggrandizement. The world only exists in your eyes. Make of it what you will.
