STRIKER and his cohorts were charged with conspiracy, armed robbery and the kidnap of one Chief Ferdinand Chukwu, a renowned business mogul. The incident took place along Mandillas Junction, Awka Road, Onitsha, at the dusk of the 7th day of November, 2016.

That day would remain a nightmare to all who witnessed it. Though no casualty was recorded, the dreadful looks of the kidnap kingpins and their imposing command and the rent of gunshots in the air were enough to infect the effeminate with spontaneous paranoia.

Chief Ferdinand Chukwu’s navy-blue Lexus jeep was cruising along the road when, suddenly, a gang of five armed swerved their red Toyota Camry, the car tyres screeching, and overtook the Lexus jeep. Car doors flying open, four of the men, except their driver, jumped down from the car and started shooting sporadically in the air. People ran for their lives, and, soon, the whole road became empty except the kidnappers and their victim. Like a bat out of Hell, they whisked the business mogul away, in their own car, while one of them drove the Lexus jeep.

The news of the abduction of Chief Ferdinand Chukwu soon spread like wildfire during harmattan season. Newspaper headlines bore the frequent demand of the kidnappers for ransom and threat to kill the business mogul if their demand were not met. The Eagle’s Eye captured it this way:

‘‘CHIEF FERDINAND CHUKWU’S ABDUCTORS DEMAND N12 MILLION RANSOM. THREATEN TO KILL THE BUSINESS MOGUL IF THEIR DEMAND WERE NOT MET.’’

And The Crystal had this to say:

‘‘WE WILL KILL CHIEF IF WE DO NOT GET THE MONEY WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS,’’ CHIEF FERDINAND CHUKWU’S ABDUCTORS THREATEN.

Despite being warned not to involve the police in this unholy negotiation, Chief Ferdinand’s family secretly reported the incident to the police. Without wasting time, the intelligence unit of the police swung into action.

Chief Ferdinand’s family was to drop the bag of money at the periphery of Nkisi Forest, before 8pm and within twenty-four hours of his abduction.

8 PM. 8TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2016: STRIKER walked stealthily through the bush and the swaying undergrowth. He was sent to do this job because he was good at anything surreptitiously. But, this night, he did not know that vigilant eyes were peering through the thick bush and keeping watch. As he bent to pick the bag of money, he felt a cold object on his head. It was the muzzle of a gun!

The police!

Striker froze in his tracks.

‘‘Drop everything you have now and hands up,’’ the musky voice muttered, careful not to scare away other kidnappers that might be lurking nearby. ‘‘Now.’’

Striker was an effeminate man. His body was shaking , and the five police men, who had now encircled him, had equally seen his composure. They knew that this ‘one’ would make their work easier, unlike those diehard criminals who never discloses who their cohorts are or their whereabouts, as if it were their oath of eternal brotherhood.

‘‘Where are the others, and where is Chief?’’ the policeman, whose gun was positioned at Striker’s head, said.

‘‘They— They’re there.’’ Striker pointed at a silhouetted structure that had blended with the dark figures in this forest.

‘‘Where?’’ The policeman’s voice rose.

‘‘At that uncompleted building.’’

Clink. Clink. A handcuff quickly went round his wrist.

‘‘Any silly attitude from you will lead you to your grave straightaway.’’ The policeman looked at his colleagues. ‘‘Take positions’’

…To be continued…

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Nice book cover

Thank you, Sochey.