Chapter 1: The WhatsApp Fire

I led the students of SS3, Class 3 to get the best results, but still, the parents inside our WhatsApp group started to complain about me—dem begin dey drop voice note anyhow, dey tag my name like say na market argument.

For this Lagos, you fit do pass yourself finish, dem go still yarn say e no reach. I dey see their chat for phone, how dem dey type all sorts, dem no even dey fear God.

"Other teachers only give students one day off a week. Why you go dey allow them sleep extra during Saturday class? You no dey worry about their future? You sef, you too wicked! You sure say you fit be teacher so? Abi na luck carry you reach here?"

E reach where dem dey abuse person papa and mama, even dey question my whole career as if na play I dey play. Some even type with voice note—voice dey tremble like person wey NEPA just take light for middle of Champions League.

"We want make the school change teacher for us! I no go gree make one teacher wey sabi talk but no get action spoil my pikin future. That Mr. Femi for the next class dey try—he dey keep students for class all seven days. Na that kind high-pressure education children need now!"

Dem even tag my name—multiple times—like say na social media influencer I be. I just bone face, let them talk as they like.

I know Mr. Femi well.

For this my school, his gist full everywhere like pure water seller for hold-up. That man dey suppress students anyhow, na only results he dey care about. Out of the fifty students for his class, more than half don dey get mental wahala.

Rumour go round reach staff room, say one girl faint last week for his class. No surprise, e no tay before depression and even suicide attempt begin show for that class.

Some teachers dey pray say make dem no post their own pikin enter Mr. Femi class. Everybody dey fear his wahala reach.