CAMARADERIE TROUBLES

Amanda got the shocker news of her entire life.

Her cousin Seye had just been murdered by an irrate mob.

"He was set ablaze and murdered cold-bloodedly in broad daylight," Tolu had told her in a phonecall.

Alhaji Bayero cleared his throat before he started his address. He pulled his large expensive agbada across his shoulders for more convenience. He sat at the high table. Before him were the landlords and landladies, community chairman, the Baale and a curious crowd that consisted majorly of the men and women of the Ayetoro community. He was given the honour to speak - even before the Baale did, nothing more but because of his big afluence. Every community member bestowed so much honour and regard to him because of his wealth and of course, he had helped almost everyone in one area or the other financially.

The community had called for an urgent meeting to address the menances in the community and resolve to ways to curb them.

"My good people of Ayetoro," Alhaji Bayero began. He slightly pulled the tip of his tangaran cap downwards, making it to touch his forehead in a bid to cover his receding hairline. He knew all eyes were on him.

"You have no need that I begin to make an endless list of the recent happenings of social unrest in our dear community. The major problem we need to address is the issue of theft and armed-robbery. This is increasing in an alarming rate.

Last week, the Baale's palace was bugled into while he was away on political duties and his staff of authority was whisked away. All those morons called guards and all palace staffs are presently in the police custody for failing in their respective duties. Likewise, Mr Ademilua reported to the council that his newly bought motorcycle was stolen the very night he brought it to his house. Iya Ibeji the thrift collector is presently in a heavy debt because some hoodlums bugled into her house last week's Sunday while she had gone to church and stole the hard-earned monthly contributed money of some traders which was in her possession. As if that was not enough, they carted away the plasma TVs, HiFi systems and gadgets that belonged to her son in the university. This is pathetic. This is disgraceful and we are never going to be tolerating these any longer. What happened to the Baale was a big punch to the ego bag of this community and this nonsense must stop!

The council elders just returned from the Sango shrine and it has been declared that the culprits that committed this arson has seven days to return the staff of authority back to the palace or else, he or she should be ready to dance to the music. You all know Sango. Sango Olukoso has no patience. Oko Oya's anger and vengance is always a terrible one. In the next seven days, the god of thunder will aa-act," He took his sit.

"Thank you Alhaji Bayero," the community chaiman said.

"In addition to what Alhaji said, we need to find measures to curb these crimes, majorly stealing. There should be a penalty. What should we do to any offender caught so as to serve as a scape goat for other thieves? Should he be maimed? Should we amputate his right arm like other communities do? Should we banish his family from the village? Should? Should.. we"

"Heeeey! Chair! Stop dragging this matter," Alhaji Bayero cut in.

"There is no cause for deliberating this matter any further. Why should we pity the culprits? Do they deserve to live? The wages of sin is death abeg. Let's take law into our hands! Or my people, what do you say?"

"Yess!!" chorused loudly from the crowd. So many 'yeses' and 'nos' in the background. The crowd soon rose to a crescendo.

man rose his hand in the

"Okay.. what have you?"

Taking law into our hands is termed jungle justice, and this is against the Constitution of the country. I suggest we get the police

him. The man was

crimes has always blossomed in a fertile ground in this country. We are leaving everything to the police. Which stupid Police!? These men in black are more or less criminals too. They receive bribes at road blocks and also lend their arms to criminals for money. You say 'BAIL IS FREE' right? Maybe that's in

do you suggest Alhaji?" The chairman

was grave silence. Everyone was mute, staring, expecting what would be said. It wasn't even a deliberation in the first place. Alhaji Bayero had the final say - not even the Baale. That

for the wicked! No apology will be heeded to. No matter who the hell his relatives are, even if it is the Baale. There is no pity. Let the field mouse take heed and inform the household's. Any thief caught will be killed. Do you

supported the motion but the few that opposed gave a violent demonstration. They aired out and wanted to be acknowledged by force. Votes got casted, and the majority which turned out to be the supporters of Alhaji Bayero's motion led. The new law was

weeks after, Seye Alhaji Bayero's eldest child and only son

in his mouth, he never desisted from

#10 or #50 he finds in his mates pocket. Many times he had been threatened a sanction of expulsion but his father would find a way to settle matters with money. He had done several unimaginable things that almost dragged Bayero's

and didn't consider to check the refrigerator or go to the kitchen to get food. He ran out of the mansion and went to the poor Pa Joe's hut, chased his only fowl, strangled it and roasted it for food.

the people that opposed his father's motion, then stripped unclad. The news soon got to his father who was working with some foreign investors at his company. He abandoned the project and rushed down to the spot. He begged the people of Ayetoro to pardon his only son but they refused. Afterall, he

to be someone else's son, you would happily agree

Bayero tried everything in his capacity to beg the people to spare his son. He offered money to everyone present in which they refused bluntly. He

some thugs that came to cause pandemonium at the scene, and via the process evacuate his son and enable him escape.

the thugs. The van zoomed haphazardly into a random direction

definitely intriguing. The Ifa priest uttered some chants and and a long verse of incantations. He commanded that the escapees should drive back and return against their own will. He

pulled out and

She didn't know if to weep or do otherwise upon hearing about the incident. In no time,

* *

room of Bayero's mansion to mourn with him as he and his numerous wives bereaved deceased Seye. Alhaji cried grieviously. The knife he sharpened had cut him. The law he proposed had worked against him and cost him his only male child. Everyone sympathized with him. His wife and children were

at the Bayeros' place, Selena decided to leave. She knew she had a week left to sort

was, about to exit after bidding Alhaji