Chapter 9: Online Fire

Police check my shop CCTV.

Dem wire the CCTV sharp-sharp, check every angle, people dey peep monitor like say dem dey watch Big Brother.

The woman claim say between May 13 and May 18, as she busy, I lure her pikin enter backyard molest am.

She dey point finger for air, voice dey break. She dey shake like say she go collapse.

But for video, her pikin come my shop play with my own pikin small, then waka go. She no even near backyard.

Even police dey nod head. My shop no even get proper fence for backyard, na only bush dey that side.

After police watch finish, dem still check other CCTV for nearby shops. Dem work almost all night, confirm say I no be suspect, dem no gree open case.

The DPO self show face, dey ask question. Dem comb all the video, no see anything. My guy dey beside me, dey pray.

As police talk, “We no go open case,” the woman face change, she scream, “Na him do am! He delete the video! If una no open case, I go expose am, make everybody see say he be animal!”

She jump up, scatter chair. Some police begin bone, dem dey tire for her wahala.

Police warn her say, even if video delete, dem go call expert check am, and if she expose person online before result come out, e fit be defamation, na offense for law.

Dem try explain, "Madam, for this country, you no fit just spoil person name anyhow. If you spread lie, na big offense." She hiss, dey cry more.

As police stand gidigba, she know say she no fit do more, she waka comot from station.

She gather her wrapper, drag her pikin, push door go out. Everybody for station just dey look her, nobody talk.

Before she go, she still drop threat: “Just dey look. I no go leave you.”

She point at me, eyes full of anger. For her mind, the matter never finish. I stand for there, my leg dey weak. My guy just pat my back, "E go better."

That time, I think say na just vex she dey vex.

For Naija, people dey overreact sometimes, but e dey end for shouting. I no know say this one go reach another level.

I no know say wahala still dey come.

Na so I just dey reason my life, dey pray make this matter die for ground. I no sabi say trouble dey wait for me.

Two days later, early morning, as I wan open shop, na so I see funeral wreath for door.

My body cold. E be like say cold breeze blow pass my spine. For our place, to see funeral wreath for your door na heavy bad luck, na sign say person dey wish you death. Dem fit even say na juju, make you go do deliverance.

At first, I think say dem drop am by mistake after burial.

Maybe na Mama Kemi wey just die last week. I bend, dey look name, dey wonder if na wrong address.

But as I reach, my body dey shake with anger.

My hand dey tremble. This one no be mistake. My chest dey tight, e be like say person tie rope for there.

For the wreath, dem write: “Scumbag shop owner molest small girl—your whole family go soon die.”

Tears prick my eye. I kneel down, dey look the wreath, my mind dey shout, "God, why?"