10 years
ago I witnessed a murder; actually 2, as Rajman later died in 2008 –the
Nigerian Police brazenly shot at our school bus (1414). I was in another bus
(the NSTA bus) travelling directly behind the 1414, so I saw the shooting –the
idiot (incidentally, all Nigerian policemen are idiots) was trying to shoot at
the 1414’s tyres but somehow bungled it and shot into the bus, hitting two
students. They were both rushed to a hospital, the incident happened in front
of the IBB Specialist Hospital, where the doctors refused to treat them for
some absurd reason. The police also shot out the tyre of the NSTA bus, and
inadvertently shot the guy sitting beside me (in front of the NSTA) in the leg
–luckily, the bullet brushed past his calves. I jumped into another vehicle,
which Fredox was driving, and we sped back to campus; and the rest is history...
I know
that I, along with a few others incited a riot that led to the closure of the
school for the better part of a year, and I also know I was rather fortunate to
have my actions that day escape the attentions of the Panel set up by the
school. Everyone else (a few of my good friends) faced a panel but me; and
while I appreciate the good fortune, I never felt lucky. Funmi (the girl who
was killed) was my neighbour as a child; I know her mum, her brother, and her
grandma; her mum was good friends with my mum and my aunt. Those of us that
knew her well know what a gem of a lady she –exactly like her noble mum– no one
deserves to die like, especially not Funmi and Ms. Amina did not deserve to
lose her only daughter like that.
Rajman,
who was also shot that morning, later died in 2008. He was a funny bubbly man,
full of life and always nice to be around. When we went on an excursion
together in 2000, he was the life of the bus –the same 1414 in which he got
shot.
If I had
to, I would do it all over again –incite a riot and maybe more, I have no
regrets about my actions that day. Yes, it cost us a lot in FUT Minna, but
Funmi & Rajman paid a price we could never quantify.
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