Chapter 5: When Police and Power Hold Your Destiny

Next day, early morning, I tell grandma bye, manage my paining shoulder, head local government. I dey walk slow, but my mind dey strong. Grandma dey wave, dey pray for back. Rukayat behave somehow, her accusation no work. I dey reason say, this time God stand for my side.

I use another road enter town, bush quiet, only birds dey sing. I dey pray for safety. Near exam centre, I push worry aside, focus for exam. After afternoon paper, I follow bush path go house, no fit pay for guest house. My heart dey beat for ear. Night breeze and grandma prayer dey my side.

Early morning, I pack two akara, prepare go. As I wan open door, torch light shine enter. Lawal papa voice: "Officer, na here."

I freeze, breath hang. Torch dey shine my eye. Police? Fear grip my stomach. My leg dey shake. I dey look window to jump. My heart miss beat. Lawal family don call police. Their plan clear: make I no write last exam.

I rush kitchen, see grandma by fire. I whisper, "Grandma, police don come. Na Lawal wahala. No cry." She vex, "That wicked family—" She dey shake, grab walking stick, ready to fight.

Bang bang, dem dey knock. "Hello, na Musa house for Ayegbaju Village?" The knock hard, voice sharp. My body cold. I squeeze grandma hand, then go out. I dey pray, "God, abeg, na my last exam remain."

As I open door, two people rush in, hold me down, handcuff me sharp sharp. My face jam ground, mouth touch sand. My heart dey race.

"Police. No move. Musa, you commit crime, follow us." Their hand heavy, no send my struggle or grandma cry, just drag me outside.

Grandma dey shout, "Na lie o! Una wan kill my pikin!" Nobody hear am. Lawal family dey wait. As dem carry me, Rukayat rush slap me, her hand hot, cheek dey burn. She spit for ground, "Na you! Evil boy!"

She scream, "Na him! The day of university exam, na him try rape me, na him carry my exam paper! He dey jealous my result, make me miss exam, wan destroy me. Officer, abeg shoot am!" Her family dey cry, people dey gather, some dey record. I dey beg, but my voice low.

Everything just like last time—only say dem rush am this time. My heart dey bleed. I dey shout inside my mind, "Why, God, why?"

I shout, "Rukayat, you dey lie! Why you wan finish me? Officer, everybody for village know say na jealousy dey worry her, she no wan make I write exam. She don already accuse me yesterday, now she bring another one. No believe am! I still get last exam today. Whatever, at least let me finish exam first! Ah—"

Pain hit my shoulder, police twist my hand. Tears drop from my eye, world dey fade. "Keep quiet. Talk for station."

Dem drag me go, my dream dey die for their hand. For Naija, miracle na only for who get power.