The Mile 3 Murder Mystery

The Newspaper Vendor

The newspaper kiosk is located at a corner of the street.The vendor was looking at the man in a white T-shirt lingering by the headlines. He saw a man step into a taxi. He saw another figure slide into a car parked nearby, tailing the man .

Nwito abandoned his spot by the kiosk, he crossed the street and moved closer to Evelyn's shop.With measured steps, he approached her car, with his bag. No one questioned his presence. Kneeling beside the vehicle, he slid the bomb underneath, attaching it to the chassis with magnetic precision and set the timer.

Evelyn's world was about to change, though she will not see it coming. Nwito had been patient. He left the car and stood just across the street, leaning against a brick wall, his arms crossed as though waiting for a taxi. In his pocket, nestled against the cold fabric, was the small detonator expertly constructed to fit the specifications required for the task. This job must be a clean one, something that would leave no trace. A single press of the button, a simple countdown, and Evelyn Kalada will cease to be.

Moments later, Evelyn exited her shop ; her smile radiating confidence. Her presence was magnetic.Never once did she seem to notice the world around her was shifting. Her life was about to end. She reached her car, and the door opened for her. One of her assistants stepped forward to help her inside, offering the smiles as she climbed into the backseat. Her driver was also standing near the driver's door. As she settled into her seat, Nwito's finger moved, pressing down on the button.The bomb under the car’s chassis detonated, the shockwave rushing through the streets.

Isioma the newspaper vendor from his newspaper stand saw the car erupt into flames, debris flying in every direction. He was not surprised as he had witnessed the man who came to his kiosk earlier moved to the car and fixed something under the car. He watched as panic swept through the crowd.

He dodged behind his stall as glass shards and rubble rained down. When he looked up, the scene was unrecognizable: flames roared, and people screamed for help.

When the police arrived, the place was a nightmare. The remains of the car, a Range Rover was now a heap of twisted metal. Shattered glass and debris were scattered across the street, and the cries of injured bystanders filled the air. Emergency responders were already on the scene, tending to the wounded and cordoning off the area.

Car bombings were rare in Port Harcourt city, but this is the second car bomb in less than forty eight hours.

The police began canvassing the area, speaking to witnesses. Isioma the newspaper vendor claimed he’d seen a man loitering near the car earlier but decided to withhold the clear description of the man.The bomb squad arrived, securing the area and searched for additional explosives.

The explosion had destroyed almost everything, leaving only fragments of the vehicle and its tragic occupant. The victim was identified as Evelyn Kalada, wife of Bob Kalada.

Nwito sat near a man roasting suya. The man has his radio on and a radio announcer came on air announcing the story of the car bomb explosion that has killed Evelyn the wife of a former council chairman Kalada and injured five bystanders. Nwito smiled, he will get them all. The lady who threatened Vera is gone.

Inside the home of Abiye, a group of young men, the members of Joymen gang, sat around a table, their eyes glued to the screen of a television. They were also drinking and smoking cigarettes. They whispered in low tones, their voices barely audible over the news anchor on the TV.

" A car explosion has occurred earlier this afternoon in Ka street of Port Harcourt killing Evelyn Kalada, wife of prominent politician and philanthropist Bob Kalada."

The room froze. Bob Kalada wasn’t just a benefactor to their gang; he was their lifeline, their patron. His wealth and connections shielded them from the security men and rival factions. His wife getting killed in a car explosion was unthinkable.

Abiye lit his cigarette, his hands trembling. " Guys this is trouble. We have had peace for some years. Who has done this to us? We’ve kept our end of the peace deal. We’ve been loyal to our boss Bob. We have had no issues with Demboys gang"

" Police are investigating the cause of the explosion, which is suspected to be a a car bomb" the announcement went on.

Abiye quickly muted the TV, leaving the group in silence.

Abiye: it's Bob's wife that was killed. You know how much she meant to him. The other day, George,the leader of Demboys was killed in a car explosion. Now our patron's wife has died in a car explosion.

Umanna hesitated before speaking. "I’m just saying, maybe someone wants to send a message to our boss or to us.

Abiye: It means Demboys feel we are responsible for the death of George and are sending us a message.Think about it. What better way to strike at us by hitting our boss . Killing the boss wife is hitting him where it hurts the most. His wife was his world. Without her, he’s vulnerable and when he's vulnerable, we are vulnerable too.

Bob Kalada sat on his dinning table, his phone trembling in his hand. His wife, Evelyn, had been killed in a car explosion just hours earlier.The grief burned through him, but so did the need for vengeance.

He dialed a number. "My leader ” answerd Abiye, the gang leader of Joymen whose operations Bob had been funding.

My wife has just been killed. I hope you have heard? !” Bob spoke in anger. “ I want you to find out who did this and fix it. You have to fix this.”

The line went quiet for a moment before Abiye replied.

" Consider this done my Leader"

Joymen and Demboys rule over Port Harcourt City gang world. They are the city's most feared gangs. For years, Joymen has flourished under the silent patronage of their benefactor, Bob Kalada a man whose polished image in politics concealed the blood and deals that kept him standing.

Joymen were quick to assign blame over the death of Evelyn. Only one group can have the guts to strike his group: Demboys their bitter rivals.

" Demboys are the one's who did this!” Abiye said, his face twisted with anger “They’ve been trying to take us down for years. Now, they’ve crossed the line.”