For Blood And Country

March 6, 2014 - FOLAKEMI

My apartment in Jos, owned by the media house, was as convenient as I could have hoped for. I was allowed to stay there till I was done with my assignment which meant my assignment had a time limit but I had it in mind to get quick results, anyway. I had been reading up a lot and following any news on the insurgence. My notes were filled even before I got to Jos. It was an opportunity to follow up on my theories and check them against real life witness reports, not the distorted reports the media gave. I had theories about the pattern of the sect's attacks and how they chose their locations, especially those outside of Borno and the intervals between major and minor attacks. It was what called my attention to the Baga incident because it was a deviation from what I had figured out was their MO.

The apartment had not been occupied for a while and it was scantily furnished but I had no plans to redecorate in anyway. It was just not my thing and I had work to do. When I was about five or thereabout my mother bought me new dolls and other things girls my age liked but I wasn't interested in them anymore. Whenever she picked me up from school, she would see me playing police-and-thief or hide-and-seek with boys from my class. It got to a point she became so worried she would lay her hands on my head in the morning before school and at night before bed and prayed that God should touch and fix me. Even my father would scold me at times for playing dangerously; they didn't have me figured out then and now. It was why I was closer to uncle Tade because he seemed to understand how I was wired and why a young girl who was supposed to be girly and tender would behave so differently.

I called my mom on phone in the evening of the day I got my transfer letter. She cried when I told her - I expected it. I told her I had to resume immediately and there was no way I could come home or any point in her coming to see me that it would only make it more uncomfortable and she prayed that God would protect me and that my father sent his regards which I knew wasn’t true. I got to Jos the next Sunday and reported for work the next day. I was going to be in a group with three other investigative journalists. One of them was a guy named Matt who offered to show me around town when I was free. I said I'd like that even though I knew I wasn't going to have time for that.

I got to work immediately and planned to start with a village called N'iise in the outskirt of Jos. N'iise was attacked early in January by four men according to the police report. The four men had come on bikes, while the two that rode stayed on the bikes, the other two stormed a church in the middle of an evening service. They opened fire on the congregation and killed ten people. The media reported ten which meant the death toll should be anything from twenty – that was the kind of thing I wanted to put an end to. The attackers got away before the Police arrived and were still at large. All indications showed that it was the handiwork of the Islamic militants even though they didn’t claim responsibility for the attack and being sure of that would further ground my theories.

I didn't stay long at the office and went to a restaurant not far from work to grab a bite and then, be on my way. As I sat eating rice with a bottle of coke in the restaurant, I was going through the day's news on my phone. If I didn't do that then, I would not have time till late in the night which I might be too tired to do by then. Then someone passed by my table and tripped. The bottle of coke on my table fell and splashed its content on my shirt and skirt.

"Excuse me." I said irritated.

"My God, I'm so sorry Ms. I wasn't watching where I was going," The person said. I looked up and saw a young man standing there beside me with an embarrassed look on his face. I was going to say, "No, you weren't!" but instead I said, "It's alright." If it was his looks or his courtesy that made me say that, I couldn't say, but I felt the annoyance dissolve in me.

"No, it's not." He insisted.

"Really, it is." I said feeling self-conscious as heads had tuned in the restaurant and were staring at us. "Excuse me." I said, getting up and went into the restroom. I tried to wipe off the stain with paper towels but it was futile so I went back to finish my meal. As I sat down back, the young man got up from across the room and headed my way.

"I'm deeply sorry, once again." He said.

"And once again, it's alright." I said.

"Are you sure, Ms…?"

"Oladunmo. And yes, I'm sure, but thanks."

"Well then, it is only fair I buy you another drink. And I insist" He said as I was about to protest. He told a waitress to bring another coke for me and bowed slightly as he walked back to his table.

Looks like chivalry is not dead after all, I thought. I looked down at my clothes again, it was too stained and I knew I had to go back home to change into something clean before going to N'iise. As I finished my food I looked up and saw the young man walking so I hurried to pay for my meal and headed out, after him.

"Excuse me?" I called out as I tried to catch up with him. He turned around and when he saw me, he stopped. "I'm sorry, what's your name?" I asked.

"Khalid, I'm Khalid."

"Mr Khalid, thanks for the drink. You really didn't have to."

"I'm sorry for ruining your dress, Ms. Oladunmo." He said with a grimace as he looked at the spot on my shirt. "And it's just Khalid, the mister makes me feel old." I couldn't help smiling.

"In that case, call me Folakemi."

"Cool." He said with a wry smile.

I didn't know what else to say so we both walked on in silence. I was grateful when I got to where I parked. "This is me." I said. "I guess I'll see you around?" In retrospect I guess I was coming on too strong. Khalid didn't notice, though. Instead he asked with a puzzled look, "Is this your car?"

"Technically, its company's car, but yes. Why?"

"Nothing, I think I saw a similar car with a logo just like this drive into Millionaires' Quarters yesterday." He said dismissively.

"Really? That was me. Do you live in the estate too?" I asked.

"Me? No, no. I was- well this is embarrassing. I just got back to the country and I wanted to visit where my family used to live then. I just had this nostalgia for those days, you know. But I wasn't allowed in. The guard said I needed to know someone there before I could enter."

"It's something to do with security. Various places like that have been attacked in past months and everyone is just being careful now." I said.

"Well, that's understandable." He replied.

"Lucky you that you spilled my drinks then." I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Now, you know someone in the estate, so you can get in."

He smiled, "Oh, that's nice of you, but I have to leave Jos very early tomorrow, unfortunately."

"Then why not go now – I mean, if you are not in a hurry to be somewhere."

"No, I'm not but I couldn't ask you to-"

"Oh, it's no bother. I have to go change anyways." I was definitely coming on too strong.

"Thank you so much, Folakemi." He said.

"Don't mention." I felt my face flush.