TeNth oF jUly

We had just finished our regular class Jacking, myself and Martha [As we were called then]. We decided to turn in early for the night as the physics test was scheduled for 7 am the next day.

I did not feel satisfied with my level of preparation as I had not really read as much as I planned to. Today was my birthday and my big sis came from her school yesterday to spend part of the day with me; she also brought this very big cake. She left early this morning and I was still nostalgic cos I wasn’t expecting anything spectacular to happen but she surprised me very pleasantly.

Usually, Martha and I could read till early the next morning and even go straight to the venue of the test from class. We were book worms to that extent. On this very day, we decided to turn in early as the book had stopped entering so we packed up and began the stroll from White House to Mozambique Hall.

We decided to take the shortcut through Awo Café as the 'Aro' boys would have gone to bed already…We completely forgot that those keggites were still having their ceremony!! We passed through all the same and watched with amusement as they kept chanting some funny sounding words. One of them even followed us and after receiving mute responses to all his greetings, he turned back.

I went to bed that morning [it was almost 1 am] and slept like a bird. You see; I have a talent for sleeping. In fact if there was a sleeping sport in the Olympics, I would represent Nigeria over and over again. I woke up at around 6:30 when I realized that the whole school was upside down. Cultist had come into the school and went on a shooting spree.

Africa was dead. He was hacked up with a machete before a bullet was put in his head. Eviano was still alive when they found him on the corridor and rushed him to the health center but he had lost so much blood due to a bullet wound in his thigh. He gave up the ghost a few hours later. Two more students were also killed but their names elude me now.

Grapevine had it that more than four people were killed but only four were identified as ife students. When I heard this, my mind went back to my funny sounds chanting keggite friends. How many of them made it out of ife that day? How many of them were not so lucky? How many parents never saw their children again? I also heard that the shootings started at around 1 am. Martha and I passed through Awo Hall Café at a few minutes before 1 a.m.…..My heart missed a beat.

My roommates dressed up to go check out the scenes of the various shootings but I held back cos I wondered what purpose that would serve me. Besides I hadn’t faced my mortality then[Though i did later]. I dunno why I penned this, but one thing I know is that the blood of the innocent would not go unavenged.

This is one memory I will never forget……