The Tragedy

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 21

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At about 7:30 pm I became very nervy. I heard a sound.

Everyone gathered Presido was on the ground gnashing her teeth in malady, she kept crying, “My head! My stomach!” I rushed to her for everyone seemed confused,

Me: “Sorry! Did you hit anywhere?” she was so much in pain that she couldn’t say a word but groaned instead, “Raise alarm!” I screamed at the inmates, they acted more confused. It was Pepper, who was in tears that raised an alarm. Presido seemed to be dying. Endurance knelt by us praying. We heard sound of whistles Fatima and co rushed in with a trolling bed. I didn’t know where I got the strength to lift her alone on it. She held my hands not wanting to let go.

They rushed her to the clinic. Tears stood in my eyes, as I turned to go find a corner to rest my back. Inmates were all in standing ovation clapping and chanting, “Presido! Presido!! Presido!!! Presido!”
I didn’t know what to say or do. Pepper led me to the throne and I sat.
……

Miebaka and the twins had moved into Pastor’s house after they were discharged. They were doing great,

Doctor: “Just come for monthly check up!” the doctor had said.
For a month Miebaka and Pastor had tried all they could so they would visit me in cell but it was a mission impossible. Alhaji who was influential had made the authorities prevented them. Miebaka became depressed,

Pastor: “Bro Miebaka being depressed isn’t going to help the situation. We all need to be up and fervent in prayers you know?”

Most nights he sobbed all through. He missed me but I missed more. Well I missed as lovely husband who had gone to the other world.
……

The news went round that an influential female politician Hajiya Badmus had died while having sex with a young boy. It was said that she had hypnotized the boy and made him sleep with her and her new girls. The stories were on all the national dailies, most had it on the cover page.

Rifkatu died three weeks after my sentence. She was said to have died during child birth.

The pregnancy lasted for close to sixteen months. I later discovered that she had been trying to get across to me. The day I learnt of the news I felt bad.
……

I had spent six months in prison,

Me: “my babies were going to be eighth months today, “I said to Pepper and Endurance in tears.

Endurance: “You don’t have to cry. God knows the best!”
Presido was discharged and she accepted me as the new Presido. We became quite close. During my reign I had stopped lesbianism and anyone who was caught I made sure Fatima who became a friend too made them work tirelessly but I found it difficult to stop a few of them from masturbation. I introduced a lot of things; we were not just inmates but family. We played lots of games and I created a forum where everyone spoke about their experiences and what brought them to jail. The day I told them mine they were all crying.

One night we had voices, it was a male,Effiong, one of the warders,

Effiong: “Presido show!” I leaned on the rod and he whispered to me and I shook my head, “Who are you to flout my orders!” I hissed and went back to my seat.

Everyone looked nervous. Effiong and others came made it a duty to come and constantly rape the girls.

I had been trying to stop but all my efforts seemed fruitless but that night I was ready for them.

Earlier in the day, I had addressed them on that, some were unfortunate to have being infected with HIV from those blood sucking warders and mapped out a plan.
Effiong and others opened the door and like buzzing bees I gave out an order as we pounced on them. We lashed out on them with the anger we had.

It was the intervention of Police and soldiers that saved their lives. I and some others were taken into dark, lonely and smelling rooms for two weeks. I saw hell there. There was neither food nor water. How Ii survived I cannot explain. Rats had chopped off my toes. The cell was rat and cockroaches infested. After a week of intense hunger, I started feeding on the cockroaches. They tasted awful but satisfying. I couldn’t starve myself to death. I drank my own urine.
….

Alhaji walked into his office and met Zubairu, his trusted boy waiting for him,

Alhaji: “Zuby ya ne? I waited por you at him ban gan ka ba aii, “he added in English, “you didn’t show up!”

Zubairu looked troubled,

The secretary opened the door as they both entered, as the secretary turned to go back,

Alhaji: “Meet by pour o’clock in our that place ko?” he licked his lips, she nodded and swaggered out with her skimpy skirt that made her butt look very firm, “Kai, sit down!”
Zubairu with hands akimbo shook his head,

Zubairu: “I cannot!” he started sweating.

Alhaji: “Laifya? Why are you sweating with AC on. Ko you’re supeering prom dissentry?” he smiled Zubairu couldn’t.

Zubairu: “Alhaji! Alhaji! I can’t sleep! The woman who we killed her twins and husband by burning down her house. Keeps appearing in my dreams! She said if I don’t go and report she’d kill me!”

Alhaji laughed,

Alhaji: “Zubairu, this issue is dead and gone aii! We didn’t give her what she didn’t deserve! Look at my lips? You and I know I spent millions of dollars when I had surgery in New Delhi! Who chopped them off in the first place! That nonsense girl! She must rot in jail aii! I will burn that house and burn it again if I’ll have to!” Alhaji stood up and went to where Zubairu was, “my boy! When was the last time you got some juicy fura dei nunu!” he said referring to sex.
Zubairu moved away,

Zubairu: “Alhaji, I’m in no mood for such talks. I brought two proposals. One follow me to the station and confess or,” Alhaji was shocked and it showed in his gaze, “settle me with ten million naira!”

Alhaji: “God funish you! Zubairu you’re mad! You dare come here to threaten me? Ku ji fa, this boy op yesternight?”

Zubairu walked out. Alhaji paced about the office fuming, he removed the Baban Riga he wore,

Alhaji: “That boy has just stepped on a Cobra and he will depinitely peel my venom!” he dialed a number, “scorpion, I have a duty for you!”
……

Godfrey on his way out of Ghana he was nabbed at the aiport; he was charged for taking girls abroad for prostitution.

The claim was made by an NGO started by one of his ladies who had gone to Italy and made to sleep with dogs. On her return she started the NGO and they were out for Godfrey and his likes.
….

I had spent a year in the prison. Alhaji was arrested and some others for embezzling money. Alhaji especially had so many counts against him, murder, rape and embezzlement. Zubairu left his office that day knowing what Alhaji could do went straight to DSS office and gave them the conversation he had recorded. Zubairu also served prison but was sentenced for a few years. Alhaji was sentenced to death by hanging.

I found out about Alhaji’s sentence on the papers, Fatima usually brought for me. I felt sorry for him but he totally deserved it.

On a very fateful Monday then I had spent a year and six months. Fatima came in,

Fatima: “Presido show!” I went to her,

Me: “My pesin,owfa?”

Fatima: “I dey jare! See ehm, some people come see you!”

Me: “Me?” That sounded strange for since I was sentenced no one had come to look for me. Who would come in the first place? The only people I had were dead. Pastor and his wife couldn’t visit for I was told that an order was given from above that no one could see me.
She opened the door and I followed her. On our way, I kept quizzing but she kept saying the same thing,

Fatima: “Dem reach four sha!”
My eyes were bleary, it was definitely a dream. I pinched myself to wake up. The pain couldn’t help,

Me: “Pastor! Mama!” I called out to Pastor and wife,

“Don’t allow them get down” a man said to a lady who was with two set of identical babies.
I couldn’t believe I was standing in front of my own Miebaka and my babies who had grown into beautiful babies. Instead of hugging them I broke down in tears,

Me: “No. you all are dead! You can’t be alive! My babies!”
Miebaka was in tears too, my babies were playing each other, Pastor’s wife and our maid were sobbing too. Fatima and other warders who were familiar with my story joined in the sobs. I couldn’t look at my handsome Miebaka for long.

I sat on the ground crying.
It was later when all was calm that Miebaka explained to me that they were rescued by a neigbour when the fire had started and where in the hospital when I arrived the scene.

Me: “I killed those innocent kids thinking you and my babies were burnt!” I said as I sobbed again.

Miebaka: “I will fight for your release!”

My family kept visiting me for another six months, my babies recognized me as their mother again. I felt happy even though I was in jail. Life was smiling on me for real. I couldn’t commit the same blunder of the past by not recognizing God. In cell I organized Bible study and prayer sessions.

The day Alhaji was killed I cried but I couldn’t explain why I did. I just had to cry.

It is three years now, Miebaka had made it possible for me to be running my foundation from prison.

My babies started kindergarten last month. Guess what? A new government had being elected and it has decided to pardon all prisoners. In a few days time, I would be joining my family.

It is hard to believe I would be inhaling the breath of freedom again. Miracles still happen, my friend! And I have plans of starting an outreach ministry alongside my foundation.

I cannot wait to hold my babies again and live in our new mansion. Don’t tell anyone, Miebaka has made secret arrangement for us to travel. I hope you have learnt a lot from my story.

Always remember that prophecy without acknowledging God and working hard towards it, it is like a car without an Engine!

THE END!!!