For Blood And Country

March 12, 2014 - KHALID

We arrived at the venue of the meeting, an uncompleted structure of a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos around eleven-thirty. Bello, Major and I – all dressed in English wears and Bello carrying a briefcase – were picked up from the airport by some driver and brought to the uncompleted building. The driver told us Mr Udoh would arrive soon, so we waited.

I walked over to Bello, where he stood and asked, "Have you ever been to Lagos?" But he didn't answer. "Look, I'm trying to be nice, even though I have no idea what you have against me. We are fighting the same war, you know." I said

"Kadaina! Just stop that." He spat. And even though Bello was boiling with rage, I still noticed he didn't have a strong Hausa accent like the Major. He looked over to where Major was sitting across the room, focused on his phone, then lowered his voice and continued, "you think I don't know why you're here? You are basically American and there is no way you will join us. You're a spy and you're very good for you to slip by Major like that but you won't get by me – I'll expose you."

I smiled. "So because you feel threatened by my presence you decided to call me a spy. That's low, Bello," I said. "No one will believe you because it's not true. Yes, I lived in the States but I'm a Nigerian." Bello scoffed and shook his head. "You know, you're right about one thing, though." I continued, "I might not have joined for the same reasons as you, because your parents were not killed in this country because of corrupt governance and infidels but mine were and I'm going to avenge them because they were good Muslims." I said angrily and stormed off. I went to the farthest room from where the rest were and dialled Evans number, Bello would not bother me for a few minutes while he thought about what I said. Evans' number rang but he didn't answer. I tried again and someone picked up but it wasn't Evans.

"Who is this?" I asked.

"This is Detective Moses. Who are you?" I hung up immediately and wondered what Evans' phone was doing with a detective.

Few minutes later Mr Udoh's car arrived and so did two other cars. Mr Udoh came down from his car and two other men also got down from the other cars along with two security guards each. The guards stayed outside while Mr Udoh and the other two men came in to join us. Mr Udoh did the introduction, the taller of the two men was Mallam Dago, a farmer from Plateau state but Mallam Dago didn't look like a farmer nor did he dress as one. In his early thirties, Mallam Dago looked like a northern politician, the kind I knew when I was a kid. The other man, light in complexion and balding was introduced simply as Senator.

"Shall we begin?" Senator asked.

"Yes." Jagaba said collecting the briefcase from Bello and bringing out similar papers as the ones I had seen in his office the other day. "I've explained everything to Mr Udoh and I don't see a reason for this meeting." He said.

"If the bosses think there is a reason to go through the plan with you, then that's enough reason. This time, we can't afford any mistakes." Senator said.

The jagaba moved closer to where should be the receptionist's desk and put the papers on it. Mallam Dago, Senator and Mr Udoh went closer and as I began to move too but Bello held me back with a stern look.

"Like you were told, what is needed is maximum number of casualties and the target should be the likes of government buildings. I shouldn’t be teaching you your job, Major but what Mr Udoh relayed to us doesn't meet the requirement."

"We need a backup plan in case anything happens. What you're asking for though, is going to be very difficult and-"

"Isn't that the point of the camp you held?" Senator cut in.

"Yes. I'm not saying it's impossible to do but we'll need all the help we can get." Major said.

Senator turned to Mallam Dago and asked, "what do you think about that, mallam?"

"Por that type of mission Senator, walahi I will need time to make ebrytin ready. Some op the materials are ready but we are still expecting the last load to arrive."

I must have been paying attention too closely because Bello nudged me and pointed outside. I followed him and we went outside.

We were outside for fifteen minutes if not more till the four men hurried out and got into their cars. Bello and I entered the car with the jagaba and all the cars moved out.

"What's happening?" I asked the jagaba.

"There was a security issue." To the driver he said, "Mr Udoh said you should take us to the hotel in Bariga. You know the place?" The driver nodded.

"Why are we going to a hotel and what kind of security issue?

"We need to lay low. Mr Udoh got a call from one of his people in the police and was told they captured an American in one of our sponsor's offices. If the US is on to us and are that close, it is not safe to travel back now."