Desperate Moves

13

The group that was sent to get the other three people who were there after the incident soon arrived. They returned with just two of the persons, Anastasia and Solomon. Anaele was nowhere to be found and his number was not connecting. He was a teacher who paid more attention to his farm than his teaching job. Whenever he was asked why, he always said that he needed to concentrate more on the one he was sure will never fail him. He was the occupant of the first room in the compound and served as the caretaker, since the owner of the house did not live there.

Solomon was an indigene of the state. He owned a shop in the market and was there Mondays to Saturdays. His level of education was very low and so he had issues expressing himself. One had to be very patient with him to get what he was saying.

Anastasia, on the other hand, was a stripper at a local club situated two streets away from our street. She stayed at home most part of the day and went out in the evenings, only to return later in the night or in the morning, between 12 midnight and 1am.

Officer John again brought out the big book and wrote inside and then started questioning them.

“What do you know about the incident that happened six days ago in your lodge?”

Anastasia and Solomon gave each other puzzled looks, before Solomon answered.

“I ... I... I come out of ...”

“Please can you speak coherently and I need everything. Don’t leave out any detail, even if it is very small. Continue.”

Solomon braced himself and then started again.

“I sleep in the night, I hear gun kpa kpa(making the sound of a gunshot with his mouth and demonstrating at the same time). Sleep go, I wait, I hear small small shout, I look window, I no see anything. Small time, I hear machine start, voom, voom voom(imitating the sound of a bike). I wait, I hear Anaele talk, I comot go outside, I waka enter her room (pointing his index finger at me), I see Anaele, I see Tosin, I see her, she lie down, we carry her and put for my machine and go to hostipal.” He paused.

Mr. John stopped writing, then enquired,

“So you were not the first person to arrive the scene of the incident?”

He searched the man’s face, looking lost, obviously not understanding the question. When the officer noticed that, he rephrased the question, trying to make it as simple as possible for him.

“You said you met Anaele and Tosin inside her room, when you arrived.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes.” He said, nodding his head.

Officer John asked him to step aside and called Anastasia to give her statement.

“State your name again, for the record.” He said, not lifting his eyes from the book he was writing on.

“My name is Anastasia Nwankwo.”

“A native of...? He said, raising his eyebrow.

“Oyigbo.” She supplied.

“Occupation?”

“I work at This Day club.” She responded looking flushed.

“Ok. What do you know about the r**e incident that happened in your compound few days ago?”

“I was preparing to sleep around 2am when I heard the sound of a bike and soon after, I heard gunshots. I was scared so I just curled myself in one corner of my room. Then I heard the bike sound again. It was when I heard people’s voices outside that I went out and saw them putting Edidiong on a bike. I asked Anaele and he told me what had happened.”

“What exactly did he tell you?”

“He told me that Edidiong was raped.” Her forehead was furrowed.

The policeman turned to Cynthia.

“Where were you in all these commotion?”

She was surprised at the sudden turn of events. She must have been taken unawares because it took her a few seconds to compose herself before responding.

“I was in my room.” Her voice quaked a little before steadying.

“Didn’t you hear all the commotion?”

She hesitated a little before responding. “I heard it. I was too afraid to come outside. It was when I heard Anale and Ana discussing outside that I went out. it was them that told me what had happened.

“Mr. Tosin.” Officer John called turning to look at Tosin.

“Yes.” He tore his eyes from the ground and looked at the officer.

“At what point did you come out of your room?”

“When I heard Anaele’s voice. I had been standing close to the door with a kitchen knife, ready to defend myself in case they came into my room. I was actually thinking they will enter my room next after Edidiong’s own since my room is right next to her’s. I heard when the sound of their bike and was just waiting for a few more minutes to pass before going out. Then I heard Anaele’s voice and went out.”

“What exactly was he saying?” Mr. John enquired.

“I think he was saying something like “Who dey this compound? Make una come out o.” I ran out still holding the knife in my hand since I was not very sure of what had happened. He was already standing close to Edidiong’s door when I ran out to meet him. The door was wide open and as I went close, he stepped aside so I went in and...” he hesitated.

“And what?” the officer urged him on.

“Her clothe was torn from top to bottom and she was bleeding. I first threw her wrapper that was on the bed over her, then I and Anaele, who came in behind me rushed her to the hospital on Anaele’s bike.”