Chapter 5: Pieces That No Fit Join

We call Eziokwu police, collect Maryam file. 2005, July 1, Maryam drown for river wey dey one kilometre from her school. Scene and autopsy say na accident.

Old report dey yellow, but details still dey. The river matter na local tori—people dey fear the spot, say e get spirit.

“2005 investigation no reach as e be now. Maybe something dey off for that case.”

Back then, police just do surface work. Everybody believe say river dey chop person for that area every year.

Tunde shake head. “E don tey. That case close since, and for July 2005, Dr. Ifedike and Morayo dey abroad. Their family no get link with Garba family.”

We check passport record, travel history, everything. No overlap. E pain me. The connection still missing.

So, which reason make Musa kill?

We dey look wall, dey reason am. Sometimes, silence go full room, only the whirring of ceiling fan dey sound.

If na revenge, Musa papa and mama die for sickness for Kaduna, nothing link them to Okafor family.

No hidden grudge, no strange transfer, nothing. Na ordinary life, ordinary sickness.

After the murder, Musa pack money and valuables from Okafor house. But him papa and mama leave am inheritance—he no dey broke.

Tunde check his account balance, see say the boy get small land, some money. No reason to rob.

Woman matter no join. Morayo don pass forty, and Musa no be person wey dey suffer or ugly—he no go stress to get babe.

Na so we check dating apps, old text, nothing. No trace of secret love.

No be for money, no be for revenge, no be for woman, no be random killing.

This one na pure confusion. Police dey scratch head, Oga dey shout every morning for parade.

If he no save Halima and leave witness, this case for never point reach am. E for be perfect crime.

Sometimes, na one small mistake dey expose killer. Na Halima voice save us for this case.

Tunde reason one kain: “Maybe na to trend for news. Remember that case three years ago? The killer confess, but for court, him change mouth.”

I remember that case well. The boy do am for Twitter, dey post. Na craze.

I nod. “I remember. Oga finish us that time.”

Our oga no let us rest that year. He dey use us do example for morning lecture.

But Musa no be like that.

He no dey post, no dey look for attention. This one different.

Tunde spread hand. “E don finish. We go know for court.”

For police, when all road block, na court go decide. We dey ready file.

November 20, for first trial, Musa get death sentence. He no change mouth, no appeal.

As judge pronounce sentence, Musa just nod. For back, one old woman begin pray loud, “Holy Ghost fire!” while another dey fan herself with court paper. No shout, no cry. Some people for court dey pray, some dey clap, others just dey watch.

Case look like say e don end.

But for my mind, I know say this one never finish. Something still dey lost for the story.