Thorns In My Boot

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 10

I applied for a week’s pass to enable me travel

home and bring mama to Enugu, three days was

approved by the A.O so I decided to travel on

Saturday so that the three days starts to count

from Monday, and fortunately I was not on

weekend duty.

I set out for the journey at exactly 5.30am on a

Saturday in mid July 1991 in company of my

colleague and mate Saka, Saka is an indigene of

Abeokuta in Ogun State. He knows the route to

the west from Enugu having travelled severally

along the road with his Boss the A.O, he also

drives very well so he could take over the

steering when I am tired, but the most important

part of the journey was that I would be the

Person to drive the Car into my Village. We were

dressed in our Uniform, the Camouflage, I did not

wear my Boot but kept it aside because I was to

drive over a long distance.

At 8.00am we were already at Agbor when a

Police Hilux Van over took us and waved at us

to park our Car. I swerved the Car off the road

cursing under my breath, how dare they? We sat

in the Car and waited. The Police van reversed

and almost hit the fender of my Car with its rear

thereby blocking us from moving forward, I was

furious, what impetus? We opened the doors of

my car and stormed out challenging: What is the

meaning of this nonsense? I asked:

Can’t you People see that we are military men?

Saka barked as four Police men jumped down

from the back of the Van brandishing AK47

Riffles

Hands up! One of them barked

You say what? I asked

Are you deaf? Armed robbers! I say raise your

hands up and go down on your knees before I

scatter you now! The same man roared obviously

drunk, or so I had thought.

I knew better than argue with a man carrying a

gun so we raised our hand and knelt down.

Passersby where beginning to gather, I felt so

embarrassed. Imagine common Police men

disgracing combatant Nigerian Soldiers in Public

simply because they have Guns, I wished for

some Soldiers to appear from anywhere, I was

bursting inside with self-control.

Can I see the Particulars of this Car? An

inspector who was sitting inside the Van by the

driver came down and asked, he has a Pistol in

its pouch.

The Particulars are in the Glove compartment! I

told him

Can I see your I.D badges? He asked

It’s in my breast pocket! I said

Mine is in my wallet in my back Pocket, Saka

offered

Bring them out! He said as one of his Boys went

to the glove compartment and came out with a

brown envelope which he handed to the

Inspector; he opened the envelope and brought

out the receipt of purchase Chike had issue me.

This is the receipt of purchase! Where are the

registration documents? Inspector asked and

who amongst you is Ojo?

I am Ojo, I said, I have not done the registration

yet, I just bought the Car! And please why all

these embarrassment? I am on my way to my

Village in Osun state and I have a very long

distance to cover! I said.

How did you come about this car you are driving?

Inspector asked

I bought from a car and Spare parts dealer in

Enugu as evident on the receipt with you, the

name and address of the seller is on the receipt!

I said.

The Inspector looked cursorily at the receipt

again; the address on this receipt is in Ikotun in

Lagos State!

Oh! I did not read it, I said; maybe he has a

branch in Lagos! But he gave me that receipt! I

said.

Open the Bonnet! He directed one of his Boys,

he stretched his hands and collected our ID

badges; put down your hands! he said.

By this time, a crowd had gathered around us,

mostly street hawkers and beggars along the

road, I wished for the earth to open her mouth

and swallow me, I contemplated standing up and

putting up a bravado show, but I was far from

Enugu and no Soldier was at sight, where are

these Soldiers when you need them?.

The Bonnet was opened, inspector looked at the

engine and chassis number, he went to their Van

and brought out a Jotter, he came back to my

Car and compared something in his Jotter with

the Chassis and engine numbers of my car, then

he shook his head sadly, I thought he had made

a mistake, I waited patiently for him to apologize

so I could give him a piece of my mind.

My Friend, are you Boys real Soldiers? Inspector

asked

What sort of silly question is that inspector?

Saka charged; are you mad?

The Inspector gave a short sarcastic laugh and

shook his head sadly with a wry smile.

My Friend, if you know the type of soup you have

just entered now ehn? You will shut up your

mouth! The inspector said. Oya let us go the

Station! The two of you, go into that Van, my

Boys will drive the Car after us.

Drive my Car? I asked; for what? Because of

common Car documents? I am a regular

combatant Soldier of the Nigerian Army! How

can you be so uncooperative? Are we not all

uniform men? What happened to “spirit de

corps”? I swear I will go to Onitsha Barracks and

mobilize my men once this is over! Is it because

you are wielding Guns? You are threatening me

with common AK 47! Kai! I don suffer! I kept

ranting as Saka and I were cuffed and bundled

into the Van to the excitement of the Crowd