Tales By The Brothel

Episode 23

We were returning from a patrol function one fateful saturday night when we came face to face with armed robbers.

The robbers had broken into a bank and was carting away their loot with maximum agility when our patrol vehicle accosted them.

The way they brandished their guns and fired shots into the air informed us that they weren’t military or paramilitary.

At first sight, my adrenaline level rose. My heart started beating fast and my breathing doubled though I didn’t show it.

In the military, fear doesn’t exit. A man is either dead or alive and when dead never dies again.

So we opened fire.

Two of the robbers fell. The remaining ones returned fire.

Nobody was hit amongst us and we fired again.

There were over 30 of them; composed mainly of young boys of university age, either cult members or something of the like.

Another two fell and the remainder returned fire. This time the bullet caught my right shoulder and I fell backwards and bled profusely.

The other soldiers in our patrol team continued the exchange of bullets with the robbers while one came to my side to nurse my wound and call for backup.

It was when our backup team arrived that the robbers saw hell.

The backup soldiers opened fire as soon as they arrived and three robbers fell. Some of the robbers turned and ran out of fear making themselves easy prey for our soldiers who fell them from behind.

Gradually but carefully, our soldiers advanced towards the bank to flush out the robbers hiding inside.

Meanwhile, I was rushed to a nearby teaching hospital for urgent medical attention and as soon as we arrived, I was hurried into the theatre where the bullet was removed.

Luckily for me, none of my nerves was hit so the functions of my right shoulder and arm remained intact.

After the bullet was removed from my right shoulder, I was wheeled out of the theater and to the ward for full recovery.

I stayed in the hospital for 3weeks after which I was discharged as my wound did well afterwards and I was fit to go.

The incident had a very huge impact on me and I started contemplating acquiring the amulet called “Odeshi” that prevents bullets from penetrating into someone’s body when fired upon.

A friend of mine called Waziri while in the military school had informed me that he knew of one very strong herbalist in Benin that specialized in procuring such amulets.

I didn’t waste time in calling Waziri to find out the processes and procedures involved in procuring the amulet.

Waziri spoke with me at length and at the end promised to accompany me to the herbalist whenever I was ready.

I thanked him profusely and ended the call…