Road To Hegemony

PROLOGUE:- CH5: WILL TO PROTECT

"Who could it be at this hour of the day?" said Senior Detective Balogun.

Kola Balogun stood up and went to the door. "Who is it?!" he asked in a raised voice.

“It’s Emeka” replied the guest.

Kola opened the door to find Detective Emeka Uzo at the doorway. "Come in." Kola said as he moved to make way for him.

“I heard your JAMB exams took place today. How was it?” Detective Uzo asked Kola as he walked in.

“It was Ok. I’m just waiting for the result” replied Kola

"Well, I trust you won't disappoint." said Detective Uzo while playfully throwing a punch to kola’s chest.

He then walked towards Senior Detective Balogun and said, “Good evening Boss. I came to check up on you. How is your wife? Hope she is OK?”

“Thanks, everything is fine for now. We found out she is pregnant. She is not home now though. The doctor wanted to keep her at the hospital for observation and rest.” replied Senior Detective Balogun.

“Congratulations!” Said Detective Emeka Uzo

Senior Detective Balogun just smiled. He pointed to the one-sitter opposite him indicating that Detective Uzo should sit.

After he sat, Detective Uzo said to Kola, “Can you excuse us? I have to discuss something with your father.” Kola nodded and went to his room.

“Boss, about the raid...” said Detective Uzo but then he went silent like he had something difficult to say. This caused Senior Detective Balogun to raise an eyebrow, "Out with it. You didn't screw up the raid, right?"

“No, we didn’t but something happened that I felt you should know.” Detective Uzo replied instantly. Rubbing between his eyes to the bridge of his nose, he continued, “The raid was a success. We were able to arrest all the ringleaders including the leader, Don. During the clean up though, someone walked up and shot Officer Tayo in the leg.” Detective Uzo paused a bit. He released a breath and continued, "It was your informant, Bamidele Ogundayo aka schoolboy.” Senior Detective Balogun was stunned.

Detective Uzo went silent for a while. He then continued, “The top brass were furious. They want to make an example of your informant. They decided that he would be charged alongside the other gang members. Even though it was just a flesh wound, he still assaulted a police officer during the raid. Since we suspect that someone in upper management is on the gang’s payroll, I couldn’t tell anyone the boy is your informant.”

“I went to meet with ‘schoolboy’ to figure out why he decided to shoot at a police officer, even after the raid was over. It made no sense. Surprisingly, He begged me to charge him with the others. He said that If he were the only one that wasn’t charged, the gang would put two and two together, figuring that he was the informant. His sister would be in danger from surviving members of the gang.” Detective Uzo paused. He gritted his teeth and continued, “He also said that when he didn’t see you when we met before the raid, he took it as a sign that his plan is the best course of action. “

Senior Detective Balogun was shocked, then grew furious. First, at bamidele for his stupid decisions. Second, at the top brass for deciding to ruin the boy’s life even after he helped facilitate the biggest raid on organized crime in the state in recent time. And finally, at himself for not being there when the boy needed him the most.

Sensing his growing anger, Senior Detective Balogun took deep breaths to calm down. Rationality took over and he thought over the matter, 'Actually, I can't exactly blame anyone. I can't fault Bamidele for caring about his sister even if his actions were stupid. I can’t fault the higher-ups for deciding to stand with one of their own. If punishment was not handed down on someone who shot a police officer, other Criminals will take it as a free pass to start shooting at the police. Besides, they don’t know he is the informant that facilitated the raid. I also can’t be blamed, can I? I couldn’t just leave my wife and go to work like nothing happened. It was just a series of bad coincidences that led to this situation.’

Detective Uzo looked at his superior and saw the changing emotions on his face. When he saw that he had finally calmed down and digested what he said, he continued, "Some of the brass want to take disciplinary action against you. They are wondering why the lead detective decided to miss such an important high risk, high profile raid. Especially since we didn’t first get approval. What if things didn’t go as planned. “ Senior Detective Balogun snorted in response.

"Boss." said Detective Uzo as looked Senior Detective Balogun in the eye, “rumors are already being spread that you have decided to join the D.S.S, that is why some of the brass are angry and want to use this chance to discredit you a bit. “

Senior Detective Balogun said in annoyance, “Those idiots actually want to go against me at a time like this. They can’t even see that one of them is a mole. Damned idiots. I don’t have time for office politics right now “

Senior Detective Balogun stood up and walked to the window. He looked towards the sky and recalled when he first met Bamidele.

‘The first time I met him was on a rainy day. He picked my pocket and made me chase him to a secluded area, after which he surrendered. He faced me. Rather than ask not to be arrested, he said, “Do you want to take down the Bahd gang? I can help you.“

Intrigued I asked “How can you help? Why should I believe you? What is it you want in exchange?”

As a reply, he threw a book to me. It contained a list of businesses, while not exactly illegal but also not quite legal, owned by the gang and their previous outright illegal trades. He then said, "I have been investigating the gang in secret. I can get you current information on their operation; drugs, guns, etc. As for why you should believe me, I have nothing to say. If you want to take down the Bahd gang, you will just have to take the risk. As for what I want. I want to protect my sister. That’s the most important thing. Then my freedom. “

I stared at the boy just a few years older than my son and wondered what he had been through. Eventually, I agreed and shook his hand.”

In only three months, with the information he gave, we were able to crush them. This raid was just the final nail in the coffin.'.

Gripping his hand so tightly until his nails were stabbing at his palm, Senior Detective Balogun said, "I have to help him. I must."