Reminiscing: Bakassi Boys

I was young 

but  not  naive

as   heads  flew

and blood spilled

and   fear  grew;

Onitsha    was 

a terror zone

One day as 

we were riding 

back home from 

school,       mummy

driving, me on the back 

seat with my siblings, we were 

caught in traffic and we saw their 

vehicle. They were carrying weapons, 

knives, red scarves. I think one was lifting

a head over his head. Blood drained down his 

chest. We drove past and I gasped at something 

that looked like a doll's head lying lifeless on the 

black tarmac. It was human and it was already 

white. Some said they saw the arms and 

legs lying somewhere. It was terrible,

terrifying. They said they were 

cleaning out the streets

Robbers were in for it

Everyone that had ever 

stolen meat from a pot was 

sorry. Only saints plied the road

Guilty ones disappeared to  other 

states. Onitsha was now 'safer' than 

ever but terror was palpable. A few 

families bore the grief for loved 

ones beheaded in cold 

blood. One day we 

heard some good news:

Eddie n'Awgu was dead. Thanks 

to Bakassi. Eddie n'Awgu  had  held 

the town  in  much  terror  for  so  long

Like with Marfian bosses, everyone 

feared him. He called himself 

half human and half spirit

His Odeshi didn't work 

this time.I heard he 

had a  hotel where 

they fed on human 

parts.        Bakassi 

had      succeeded 

in cutting the head 

of the snake.There 

was   jubilation  on 

the streets of Osha

just like when Gen.

Sani   Abacha  died

They became  heroes 

We couldn't tolerate robbers

but we tolerated ruthless murderers

For it is written 'The wages of sin is death'

©Radiant~July 2015