Short story #1 : Jungle Justice
It was a very hot day. I was on my way back to my house from the new ultra modern market. 2pm and the sun's ray was really hurting my skin. I was at the market bus-stop waiting for a lift from a bus. '' this bus people are supposed to be here by now ehh, what is this?'' a woman with a baby tied to her back was getting furious already, the sun was really hot and nobody was happy at all, ''madam don't worry they will soon be here'' a man properly dressed in a black suit, white shit and tie said consoling her. He was in his early thirties. I guess he was also waiting for a bus too. Some minutes later the bus arrived and people started getting into the bus giving the bus conductor who was at the door to the bus the regular 50 naira before entering. I was still looking at the neatly dressed man still fascinated by his dressing and still considering the dirty environment it was with so much dirt, dust and the hoodlums (agboro) who were there collecting 200 naira from any bus that carried passengers from the park when All of a sudden a lady was shouting ''thief, thief ,make una catch am he steal from me'' she shouted in the native Nigerian pidgin English. ''see him here na him steal my money'' she said pointing at the neatly dressed man '' you want to run with bus abi'' she added still shouting. Just as she was shouting a thunderous slap out of nowhere landed on the mans face. '' what have i done?'' the man asked in surprise , ''you are a thief'' the lady shouted back. The hoodlums at the park picked up sticks of different sizes and started hitting them on the man not even minding his looks and appearance. I was almost crying at the sight of these dirty looking hoodlums hitting this man who was dressed this way. judging by his appearance, jack couldn't actually be a thief. ''yes we don catch you today, so na you dey thief all the things for this market ?'' one of the hoodlums barked as he was coming towards him with an iron Barton. His suit was being ripped and this inner white shit was now becoming really dirty with stains of dust, dirt and also from the blood which was now flowing from the wounds he has received from the continuous beating from the people. Before he could say anything else and also try to understand what was going on, he was lying nearly unconscious in the dirt. His trouser and shirt was being ripped patch by patch by the people beating him. '' Yes, make una beat am well well, you must provide my money today'' the lady was still shouting. ''Madam how much he steal from you'' one of the hoodlums asked the lady. '' na seven thousand naira He collect from me oo'' the lady replied. They dipped their hands into The man's half ripped trouser and found the same amount of money and some other naira notes. '' people make una see ooo, na my money be this, This man na real thief'' the lady shouted. ''please wait, wait let me explain'' .jack was pleading As the beating massively increased. ''please, please I'm not a thief'' jack was still shouting and his voice was gradually fading . The beating only increased as more people where hitting him with big stones iron batons and sticks. He was already naked now as his clothes were ripped . '' thats what he deserves, how can you be dressed like a banker and still steal money from people'' a woman watching from a distance was saying. ''bring that tire from that place, we go burn am fire today because if we leave am he go still do am again'' said one of the men. Tears were now rolling down my eyes as i watched jack lying naked in the ground almost half dead. The next thing i saw was a woman running to the scene with a gallon of fuel which they have contributed money to buy. The car tyre was placed on his neck and he was bathed with the fuel And just a little fire was going to end his life . ''someone please help me'' jack was pleading as he was trying to get up, but couldn't because of the amount of pain he was in. Out of nowhere a matchstick with fire was thrown on him. They stepped away from him and they watched him roast. jack died a slow painful death.
10:45pm that day at jacks house. His wife and 4months old baby girl where still up waiting for him. She has been calling him all day long but his phone was switched off. She picked up the phone again and made a call... ''Hello Mr Samuel, was jack really at your shop today?''.... ''Yes he was'' said Mr Samuel ''and I even gave him the seven thousand naira you asked for, has he not returned?''. ''I have not seen him yet, this is unlike him, he doesn't stay out late, he has not done this before...my God where is my husband, who knows if he went to see any of his friends'' jack's wife said carrying her child in her haand
FINAL WORDS
This is a fictional story about one of the things really going on in Nigeria today. please make sure you Resteem and help spread the word and awareness as to why ''jungle justice'' must be completely stopped.
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