Whatever your reaction, as far as Nigeria is concerned, o dikwa risky. Lemme give you small gist.
I know a guy, we’ll call him Caesar, whose friend came from out of town and crashed at his place. The morning after he arrived, Caesar went out for his usual morning jog.
I know a guy, we’ll call him Caesar, whose friend came from out of town and crashed at his place. The morning after he arrived, Caesar went out for his usual morning jog.
When he got back, the friend was still sleeping, or so he thought. Caesar went to wake him so he could prepare for the meeting he’d come for.
Caesar shook the guy but he didn’t wake. He checked his pulse and got nothing. He realised the guy was dead.
Caesar shook the guy but he didn’t wake. He checked his pulse and got nothing. He realised the guy was dead.
After several agonising minutes of arguing with himself over what to do, he decided to do the right thing as a law-abiding citizen. He knew it was a tricky situation because…Nigeria. Still, he went ahead and informed the police.
First off, Caesar was arrested.
First off, Caesar was arrested.
Secondly, he was charged for murder—no investigation, no forensics, nothing. Third, the police did an autopsy and the autopsy report said the deceased man was strangled. Knowing their son and Caesar and smelling foul play, the guy’s family requested another autopsy.
Their M.E. arrived at a different conclusion—he'd died from complications arising from a congenital heart condition everyone knee he had.
There was a lot of back and forth; Caesar spent many months in jail before he was acquitted due to lack of evidence and diligent prosecution.
There was a lot of back and forth; Caesar spent many months in jail before he was acquitted due to lack of evidence and diligent prosecution.
During his case we learned that prisoner swap is a real thing in our police stations and prisons. Murders of suspects by police and prison officials isn’t new and there are M.E.s who collude with the police to falsify details in autopsy reports.
If you ever find yourself or someone you know in this situation, don’t let the police do the autopsy. If you can, pay for it yourself. Else, you or your loved one may likely languish in jail for a crime they didn’t commit.
Anyway the quoted tweet triggered a memory.
Anyway the quoted tweet triggered a memory.
I was still in Uni and shared an off-campus apartment with Nma, my flatmate. I was cooking and gisting with Ima, my cousin's fiancée who'd come to visit, when my flatmate arrived with a girl from church, where they’d gone for midweek service.
We’ll call the girl Emily.
We’ll call the girl Emily.
“We work in the same unit in church," said Nma. "Her period came early, so she’s stained. She just needs to wash up and then go home.”
I noticed the huge shawl around Emily’s waist, and the pinched expression on her face. No stranger to menstrual cramps, I knew that look.
I noticed the huge shawl around Emily’s waist, and the pinched expression on her face. No stranger to menstrual cramps, I knew that look.
“There’s no problem. I’m already making dinner; I’ll add more so you can eat before you go.”
This was like 7:30 p.m. Nma gave her a pad and she went into the toilet. We could hear her groaning as she cleaned up. I brought out ibuprofen and a glass of water.
This was like 7:30 p.m. Nma gave her a pad and she went into the toilet. We could hear her groaning as she cleaned up. I brought out ibuprofen and a glass of water.
She eventually came out and flopped on the floor, belly down. Nma gave her the ibuprofen. She took them and lay back, her cries accompanied by our chorus of sorry.
Barely ten minutes later, she rolled over and there was a blood stain on the white, tiled floor. I pointed it out
Barely ten minutes later, she rolled over and there was a blood stain on the white, tiled floor. I pointed it out
“I’m so sorry,” she gasped between moans of agony. “I have a heavy flow. Please can you give me another pad?”
Now, I had these thick Comfit pads. You know, those ones used by women who’ve just given birth. I can’t even remember why I preferred that brand. Anyway, I thought, if
Now, I had these thick Comfit pads. You know, those ones used by women who’ve just given birth. I can’t even remember why I preferred that brand. Anyway, I thought, if
that’s how heavy her flow was, it’d be better for her to use the Comfit pad.
So I brought out one for her. She dragged herself back into the bathroom and changed. This time, when she came out, it was full blown crying and rolling on the ground. We all consoled her, told her the
So I brought out one for her. She dragged herself back into the bathroom and changed. This time, when she came out, it was full blown crying and rolling on the ground. We all consoled her, told her the
painkillers would soon kick in.
“You can’t go home in this condition,” I said. “You can sleep here and go tomorrow.”
By 8:30 or so, food was ready. We were joined by one of my neighbours and all sat down to eat. Emily could barely put food in her mouth. She alternated between
“You can’t go home in this condition,” I said. “You can sleep here and go tomorrow.”
By 8:30 or so, food was ready. We were joined by one of my neighbours and all sat down to eat. Emily could barely put food in her mouth. She alternated between
Ima asked if she wasn’t better off taking an injection, since the ibuprofen didn’t seem to be working.
“I’ll be fine,” Emily said. She gave up trying to eat and just lay on the floor.
A few minutes past 9, there was a sizeable pool of crimson where her bum had been.
“I’ll be fine,” Emily said. She gave up trying to eat and just lay on the floor.
A few minutes past 9, there was a sizeable pool of crimson where her bum had been.
My eyebrows went all the way up to my hairline. What? She’d soaked through a Comfit pad in less than an hour? I gave her another one.
By 10:30, Emily had gone through another pad. This time, as soon as she went in the bathroom, Ima got up without a word and left the room.
By 10:30, Emily had gone through another pad. This time, as soon as she went in the bathroom, Ima got up without a word and left the room.
Seconds later, she yelled my name. bring your phone, I need the torch. I thought I could go down without light.”
I lived on the 4th floor; all the bulbs on the stairway weren’t dead. Ima knew this, so why did think she could go down without light? And where was she even going?
I lived on the 4th floor; all the bulbs on the stairway weren’t dead. Ima knew this, so why did think she could go down without light? And where was she even going?
I went out and found her on the 2nd floor landing. Before I could say a word, she grabbed my arm.
“Eme,” she said in a fierce whisper, “That girl isn’t having her period! She’s bleeding to death. Take her to the hospital or in the morning you’ll have a police case.”
“Eme,” she said in a fierce whisper, “That girl isn’t having her period! She’s bleeding to death. Take her to the hospital or in the morning you’ll have a police case.”
I was like, "Huh?"
“Do you have a taxi guy? Call him, let’s take her to the hospital. I think she had a botched abortion. If I’m wrong, no problem. At least they’ll give her Novalgin injection and she won’t be in pain. If I’m right, you’d have removed trouble from your life.”
“Do you have a taxi guy? Call him, let’s take her to the hospital. I think she had a botched abortion. If I’m wrong, no problem. At least they’ll give her Novalgin injection and she won’t be in pain. If I’m right, you’d have removed trouble from your life.”
I trudged back up the stairs, confused. Inside, I found the others gathered around Emily. She’d gotten worse. That scene made up my mind.
“I’m calling a taxi,” I said. “We’re going to the hospital.”
“Nooooo,” she wailed. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you’ll be fine. But I can’t...
“I’m calling a taxi,” I said. “We’re going to the hospital.”
“Nooooo,” she wailed. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know you’ll be fine. But I can’t...
...take any chances. We’re going."
Everyone agreed with me and Emily swallowed her protest. I called the cabbie whose services I often used. Luckily he was available and came over. By then Emily couldn’t walk; I had to carry her on my back down like eight flight of the stairs.
Everyone agreed with me and Emily swallowed her protest. I called the cabbie whose services I often used. Luckily he was available and came over. By then Emily couldn’t walk; I had to carry her on my back down like eight flight of the stairs.
When we got to the hospital, she was whisked into a room.
A doctor and two nurses went in and out for a while, while we pooled money together for her treatment. After what seemed like hours, the doctor came to the waiting area. Nma asked him what was wrong, if she was okay.
A doctor and two nurses went in and out for a while, while we pooled money together for her treatment. After what seemed like hours, the doctor came to the waiting area. Nma asked him what was wrong, if she was okay.
“Are you her sister?” he asked.
“No, friend. We’re her friends.”
“Then I can’t tell you more…doctor-patient confidentiality. But I can tell you that we’ve been able to stop the bleeding. We’ll keep her for at least two days for observation. It's a good thing you brought her
“No, friend. We’re her friends.”
“Then I can’t tell you more…doctor-patient confidentiality. But I can tell you that we’ve been able to stop the bleeding. We’ll keep her for at least two days for observation. It's a good thing you brought her
early. You should call her family."
Because I had to be sure, I asked, “How do you stop a period?”
“What period?” he asked. Then I think it clicked in his head because he shook his head and said, “She said she was on her period? Hmmm…okay.”
Then he walked away.
Because I had to be sure, I asked, “How do you stop a period?”
“What period?” he asked. Then I think it clicked in his head because he shook his head and said, “She said she was on her period? Hmmm…okay.”
Then he walked away.
The next day, Nma went back and made Emily tell her the truth. She’d had a D&C.
I shuddered at the thought of what would’ve happened if I hadn’t listened to Ima and we’d not taken her to the hospital. Where would I have begun and ended that story?
I shuddered at the thought of what would’ve happened if I hadn’t listened to Ima and we’d not taken her to the hospital. Where would I have begun and ended that story?
Sorry for all the typos. 🙈
