CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

However with all things planned by humans on earth which always encounters one or two obstacles along the way something unexpected happened the next day as the chase to apprehend the notorious Free-Hands continued. The unexpected event shattered all plans by Ken Solomon and Colour, and equally suspended the next move by the EFCC and slowed down the plans of Skinny and Lizzy. In addition, it shook the Nigeria foundation and sent a wave of shock across the country.
The citizens of Nigeria and other non-citizens alike living in the most populous black nation in the world woke up on June 16th to the horrible event of the first suicide bomber in the country’s history. The man who carried out that terror and took the fight with the Islamic sect, Boko Haram to another level was a fairly well-to-do 35 years old businessman named Mohammed Manga. According to newspaper reports Manga who was married with five children, had drove from Maiduguri to Abuja just to carried out his sect deadly morning attack that left about five people dead, including a police officer. He was said to have left N4 million naira in his will for his five children, two boys and three girls, before embarking on his now historical terror mission to the nation’s capital; now referred to as the 2011 Abuja Police Headquarters Bombing.
The attack by Mohammed Manga occurred when he drove a car bomb onto the premises of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, known as the Louis Edet House, the headquarter of the nation’s police establishment. His target was said to be Hafiz Ringim, the then Inspector General of Police, whose convoy he boldly followed into the compound, but was diligently stopped by security agents few inches into the compound where he committed his deadly act.

The Operation Water team was making preparation on their next move against the Free-Hands when the shocking news got to them through news alert on their mobile phones. They immediately suspended their mission and waited patiently for the next directives from headquarters. Skinny and the other members of the Free-Hands heard the news from the big plasma TVs inside their exquisite rooms at the Blue Water Hotel while they enjoyed their lives with the luxuries around them. Ken Solomon and Colour on the other hand got the news through the social media. In fact, it was the news addicted Colour who broke the news with a shocked stare at KS as they took their breakfast from the balcony of KS room and were strategizing on their trip to Lagos.

‘’ Unbelievable! A suicide bomber in Nigeria’’ He had shouted aloud as he browsed his phone, half suspending his teacup in mid-air.

‘’ Suicide bomber - where? ’’ KS asked and paused from reading one of the day’s newspapers in his hand.

Colour then showed him the news and everything in their plan was suspended, but they had kept monitoring the story and waited for the right time to continue their adventure. The news shocked KS and frightened him from embarking further to Lagos. The roads might be too dangerous to travel at this moment. He must be calm and allow himself some thinking. His quest to catch these fraudsters should not push him to fall cheap into the hands of some fanatic kidnappers or probably to a cheap death. He cautioned his mind quietly and finally told Colour that they needed to cool down their haste in their quest to catch the Free-Hands.

‘’ You know something. I think I want to hold on to that wise Turkish saying: ‘ The Devil takes a hand in what is done in a hurry’.’’ He told him with a smile.

‘’ Yes, I am with you. I hate haste. There is this popular African saying “Haste and hurry can only bear children with many regrets’’ Colour added smiling back at him.

‘’ Nice one, I like it. Yes, haste is reckless.’’ KS said thoughtfully with a smile.

For that reason, they both agreed to suspend their trip, relax and cool down their souls inside their safe hotel environment and see how things unfold in the next couple of days. But not for Chambers who heard the news of the suicide bombing from the flat screen TV inside the bar where he was nursing an early morning bottle of beer. He rushed out and hurried to tell Colour and KS. They told him they have heard the news and informed him about their decision to suspend their journey to Lagos, pending when the situation improves. However, Chambers was not disposed to their decision. He was too shocked about the news of the first suicide bombing in the country and just wanted to get far away from Kaduna which he estimated was too close to Abuja for comfort. Anything could happen. The state might be the next target of this deadly sect given its proximity to the nation’s capital. He had quickly reasoned and voiced out his fears to Colour and KS.

‘’ Look, I no go lie to una, my spirit no dey for this place again. He better make we relocate go Lagos immediately. Kaduna no too far from Abuja, anything fit happen. Me, I still like my life, I no go allow make one illiterate suicide bomber come bomb my life away just like that.’’ He announced and sniffed his snuff with shaky fingers.

Colour stared at him thoughtfully, smiled and then explained what he said to Ken Solomon who also thought about it and then smiled at Chambers.

‘’ But we are all saying the same thing here, safety. Don’t you think traveling to Lagos at this moment could as well be dangerous? You know death locks everywhere.’’ KS told him with a serious look.

‘’ Yes, to travel go Lagos right now too dey dangerous for us, anything fit happen for road and na everywhere death dey.’’ Colour explained to him.

Chamber finally succumbed to their decision after a thoughtful reflection, but was not too happy deep inside him. He had wanted to get out of the city and cool down his fears in Lagos; probably in Sheraton hotel or in one of the groovy first class hotels in Lagos Island, close to the bar beach. Where he could feed his eyes to the seductive bikini clad women around the beach while he gulp free bottle of beers away in a relax mood. He imagined with a mental visualization of the setting.

‘’Well, since una say make we stay, no wahala. But, I no go commot one-step outside this hotel premises. If I step outside na Lagos get me.’’ He told them and went back to the bar to order more bottles of beer into his room. He then excused himself from Colour and KS, went into his room, locked up himself, and nursed his fears with one bottle of chilled beer after the other throughout the day.