anywhere in the world has done what I have done.

The1966 ‘Joromi’ gold disc award winner continued: I have conquered music, conquered arts and I have conquered tourism. I have conquered administration. I was a member of the State Executive Council (under ex-governor Lucky Igbinedion) and a Commissioner in Edo State. I have conquered academics. We are talking now in my office as a university don. I have conquered entertainment, in music. There is nobody like that. I am an inventor and founder. There is nobody like that anywhere in the world.

His career as a musician began at age 12 when he started to play the guitar as a school boy. This was more like a puzzle to his parents, the late Princess Idusogie (mother) and Wilfred Uwaifo (father) and, even, among his peers. But he was undeterred in his mission and vision. The desire of his parents that he pursue his education without distraction was never ruined by the zeal to make music his best in life. The multi-talented artiste, designer, painter, philosopher and poet, is also a sculptor of repute. While going to school, he told his parents not to worry as he hoped to keep the family flag flying irrespective of their fears.

“They (parents) were really late but at the early stage, they were skeptical. I was still in primary school when I started playing guitar. I promised my parents that I would fly the flag high and do them proud by reading my books. Knowledge, he says, is learnt from the mastery of the alphabets ABC…etc while achievement and perfection go with mastery and application of a sense of purpose — being yourself, standing for the truth, giving joy to a great many people, watering one’s mind to allow it bring out the innate joy and radiate without holding one’s potential.

Victor Uwaifo never let his parents down even unto their death and kept his track towards the realization of his dream education career. I did well, I never let them down. I even have to eulogize them in their grave. Even in their grave today, they will be so happy that their son had done well and had done more than they expected. So much, so much, they were not actually aggrieved at my going into music.”

Born on March 1st, 1941 in Benin City in the Old Western Nigeria, which metamorphosed into Mid-West state, Bendel State and now Edo State, Uwaifo attended the Western Boys High School and Saint Gregory’s College (1957-1961). He has a National Art Diploma (Distinction) from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, (1961-1963). Desirous to give meaning to the career he cherished so much, Uwaifo proceeded to the University of Benin where he bagged his First Class in Fine and Applied Arts (1993-1995) and later got his Masters in Fine Arts (MFA), (1996-1997) respectively. He is married with children

Sir Uwaifo came to fame with his numerous hit tracks that kept the world aflame. Among these are the Joromi, a Bini mythology that was developed from the folklore of the ancient Benin kingdom. This track was given a new rendition and made danceable with hot rhythm, well-articulated style, melody and musical accomplishment, or what ordinarily is flesh and blood. It sold over 100, 000 copies within weeks of hitting the public stand. These qualities brought the release to international limelight and it sold endlessly. Also, the sizzling Guitar Boy, saw the man behind the mask as a mystery and a fearless actor of the time. Guitar Boy, he said, was about an esoteric encounter with a mermaid. The track came when it should. Africa is full of history and folk tales. The wonder boy’s musical encounter with the mermaid followed the midnight visit to the dreaded river where it was strongly believed then that power, wealth and others came from. Sir Uwaifo could not allow himself to be defeated only by what he heard but wanted to have a personal experience. He did and what he saw became his musical narration. However, he never returned the same without a fruitful bargain with his hostess in an exchange of melodious rendition to the water goddess. The story is full of simulation of sight and sounds of the mermaid encounter.

“As for the Guitar Boy, the story is there. It is about my encounter with the mermaid. It was esoteric in the sense that it was a privileged knowledge and it is all told and I tried to illustrate that encounter in cultural form, he says.

The Oredo local government area star in Edo State said the centre, which to a first visitor, elicits the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, is for the world, Africa and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

The edifice harbours a great deal of choices of what tourists can lay hands on for relish and relaxation, as some of them raise pertinent questions and provide on-the-spot answers. Lined up in the man’s hall of fame are the aesthetic flight Boeing 0891, multiples of awards, the dual-purpose single guitar with piano, the double guitar, pictures of greater leaders and men of history, war and nobility and the historic slave circle. Also on display are the Eyon mask, the seven-headed spirit of charm and death, pigeon hole of human sacrifice and dreaded ancestral shrine, the deadly city of blood, souvenir shop and the play-it-yourself studio and a whole lot of unseen forest-like birds.

He spoke about the motivational spirit behind his successes and supposed regrets. I never missed anything. Every action I took in my life had been from my soul. Every initiative was originated from me and I planned my life and I followed the plans conclusively,he said. This, according to him, was in line with the firm belief in the philosophical saying: a work planned is better than no plan at all.

Even if you plan, if it is not good, it is better than you didn’t plan, he said.

The Ambassador of Culture maintained, with emphasis, that he has no place for any form of regrets as he is in charge for all his actions. I have no regrets in my life at all. I have taken possession. I have been in control of my life decisions. Time runs after me, I don’t run after time. They say time is against us; I am against time. I have a lot of things to occupy time. So I take decisions and any decision I take is a springboard to another level, he said.

The gifted Ekassa, titibitti, Akwete Mutaba, Sasa Kosa-musician has used all his skills to expose the culture of Binis to the outside world. However, he could not hide his feelings about the violation of music forms and structure by the present crop of Nigerian and African musicians. The artistes, he said, are scratching the surface of what could be called real music, due largely to what he described as foreign influence. “They are just scratching the back and surface. It came before all these foreign influence. They come with soul music, pop, swing and they have come with reggae and they are all foreign, he said, insisting that all these would fizzle out after a time. To Uwaifo, home-groomed music can stand the test of time and the artistes are people who are well-grounded in music and can make a living out of it from cradle to grave. But the younger ones in the industry, music is like fashion to them.

The missing link, he noted, is that they are not groomed in real music, most of them have not been to any school of music adding: computer has ruined them. Again, he lamented that poorly co-ordinated music had caused more havoc than the enjoyment. Music malpractice is just like examination malpractice, he said.

Uwaifo added: The problem is that when they want to play music, computer will arrange it for them. They are not the ones who actually played the music, and that is mediocrity.

The legend provided the way out of the mess in the entertainment and music industry, saying: Nigerians should be original. They should not encourage mediocrity and forget about cut and paste. They should learn to play musical instruments; and then have role models.

He added that budding artistes should work assiduously. They should have a sense of purpose and not run after money. If they really love the art, they should develop the art in them and then money will compensate them.

His achievements notwithstanding, music has not stopped running in Sir Uwaifo’s blood. He still has the charisma and the strenghth to give his best with the flute, piano and saxophone.

SOURCE –   EDOWORLD

A new dawn in history unfolded, as chapter members form  The Nigerians in The Diaspora Organization Europe  (NIDO) met in the City of Dortmund for a memorable Nido Europe Summit on Friday the 26^th of May and Saturday the 27^th of May at The LENSING – CAREE CONFERENCE CENTRE, Silberstrasse 21  44137   Dortmund, Germany

Distinguished Key Speakers, Entrepreneurs , Politicians, Community Leaders and NIDO Chapter members travelled from far and wide to experience and participate in an inspirational thought provoking event  packed with presentations, workshops, new partnerships, networking, media interviews and the urgent need to  plan and implement sort term and long term initiatives for the social and economical development of business, trade and an enabling environment in Nigeria

The Chairman of NIDOE, Hon Kenneth Gbandi  placed emphasis on the importance of planning, implementation of practical initiatives and ideas leading to national development

The two day event was inspired by a line up of incredible speakers of Mr Martin Grabler – CEO of Golden Power Energy,  Mr Boer of Mundus Fluid AG, The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Germany, Her Excellency MS Ruth M Chikwira.    Dr Jones Edobor  based inb Austria – CEO of Global Consulting,  Hon Collins Nweke basd in Belgium – EX. BOT, Chair and Councillor – Ostend City Council , Pastor Ibrahim Abarshi, Mr Stephen from Kenya, Honorable Rita Orji (Chairman for House Committee on Diaspora Affairs), Prof. M. Al-Amin (Managing Director /Chief Executive Federal Housing Authoritym His Excellency, Mr. Ogah Usman Ari (The Charge d’Affaires a.i, Embassy of Nigeria, Athens) and many others

For the very first time in The History of Dortmund, Distinguished Community leaders, ambassadors and role models visited from The UK, Austria, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Nigeria and many other places came together for The NIDO Europe which also organized and hosted by The African Tide  based in Dortmund

The Chairman of NIDOE, Hon Kenneth Gbandi also expressed his appreciation after the summit to  Honorable Rita Orji (Chairman for House Committee on Diaspora Affairs), NASS Abuja, Hon. Dr. Henry Achibong and Hon. Soba, members House Committee on Diaspora Affairs) NASS Abuja), His Excellency, Mr. Ogah Usman Ari (The Charge d’Affaires a.i, Embassy of Nigeria, Athens) , Prof. M. Al-Amin (Managing Director /Chief Executive Federal Housing Authority), Members of ABM Europe, distinguished project presenters, guests and friends,

My name is Toni Tuklan, Famous T of the Tuklan family. I am the CEO of Tuklan Sports UG, Cleantone Records GmbH, Promotion Director of Royal Lion VIP GmbH, Kreiß TW Trainer DFB Stützpunkt Unna-Hamm , Migration and Integration Commissioner Designate of Werne currently based in Germany.

I am also Producer, Song writer, performing artist (Afro-Reggae-Dancehall /Rap/Pop/Dance) with top international hit tracks with Kontor Records and Warner Music Germany, featuring great artists like Sean Paul, Rico Bernasconi Ex-Master Blaster; Tito Jackson, Doc B. Edu Casanova, Ras Kimono, Beenie Man, Ce’cile, Anthony B, A-Class, DJ Bo to mention just a few

Members of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) will gather in the western German city of Dortmund on 26-27 May to deliberate on how to contribute to solving the socio-economic problems bedevilling their home country.

The NIDOE Project Summit 2017 will discuss the role of the Diaspora in the development of Africa. The focus is, of course, Nigeria, with participants expected to examine projects that Nigerians abroad can undertake to give a helping hand to their compatriots at home.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NIDOE, Kenneth Gbandi, participants are expected to actively contribute to the development of a “body of Diaspora viewpoint” on how the situation in Nigeria can be changed for the better.

A NIDOE-initiated Nigerian Youth Empowerment Project will be launched at the Summit. The scheme aims to provide youths in Africa’s most populous country with skills that can help them stand on their own. Areas of skills acquisition being considered are solar technology, agriculture and handwork.

NIDOE Project Summit 2017

Day 1: Friday, 26 May 2017

Time: 10 am – 5 pm

Venue: Lensing-Carrée Conference Center: Medienhaus Lensing, Silberstraße 21, 44137 Dortmund

Day 2: Saturday, 27 May 2017

Time: 10 am – 5 pm

Venue: Lensing-Carrée Conference Center: Medienhaus Lensing, Silberstraße 21, 44137 Dortmund

Contact: Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, Tel.: +491709878495

More information on the Summit at: http://www.nidoeurope.org/

Dr Jones  Edobor will be one of the Key Speakers at The NIDO EUROPE PROJECT SUMMIT taking place in Dortmund, Germany next week

Dr. Jones Edobor Oformiyon

With many years of Consulting experience in multi sector industries that includes Oil and Gas, Energy, Healthcare, Banking and Tranportation. Dr. Edobor is The CEO of Global Consulting

ABOUT GLOBAL CONSULTING

Established in 1993 for facilitating management know-how-transfer and financial investments opportunities in developing countries. We provide services in a wide area that includes providing technological solutions to challenges facing developing countries as well as assisting individual enterprises with gathering and evaluating information on the business environment of investment target countries, partner search and assessment, business planning support, financial engineering and search of funds. Global Consulting provides management services, through the provision of personnel, infrastructure and required networks to execute our assignments.

Monir Arimoku is of Nigerian and Egyptian parentage.  He is a business partner at Harleys Food ltd and has many years experience working in several business industries.

He was previously the head of business development at R Holding  (The UK and The middle east) and also has knowledge and experience in business development, project planning, real estate and various other areas
He studied civil engineering at The University College London
Monir is well traveled and has a huge passion for Life, people and places

Hon  Collins Nweke   will be one of the Key Speakers at The NIDO EUROPE PROJECT SUMMIT taking place in Dortmund, Germany next week

ABOUT HON. NWEKE 

He is Ex . BOT and Chair and Councillor , Ostend City Council, Belgium

Collins Nweke was born in Nigeria on 14 July 1965. He migrated to Belgium in 1993 and currently has dual Nigerian-Belgian citizenship.

Nweke has a good command of English, Dutch and some German. He lives with his wife, Tonia and two sons, Tonna Jessy (Teejay) Nweke (born 11 March 1994) and Chidi Rae Nweke (born 15 October 1996) in Ostend, Belgium. He is a frequent traveller to Nigeria, his country of origin, where virtually all members of the large Nweke family clan reside. His father, Obi (Eze) Adigwe Nweke, is a traditional ruler and member of Ndi Nze Traditional Ruling Council of his Igbuzo hometown. His mother, Loveth Nweke, died on 5 September 2014. In his speech accepting the Leadership Service Award in Berlin on 7 September 2014, Nweke dedicated the Award to his mother

Education

He trained in Mass Communications, International Business Management (BCom) and Management Social Economy (MSE) partly in Nigeria but mainly in Europe. He also holds a Belgian ‘Graduaat’ in Corporate Policy and a Doctor of Governance (Honoris Causa) awarded in 2014

Employment and Professional activities

Before migrating, Nweke taught English Literature at Omu Boys’ Secondary School, Ibusa. He then worked for five years at the United Bank for Africa plc.

In Belgium, he worked in a team providing the European Commission Justice & Home Affairs Directorate with comparative research and analyses of ethnic minority participation in European business and politics. He later led a team of students on internship from the University College of West-Flanders in the development of a resource center with employment services tailored towards the labour market needs of ethnic minority groups in 2004, culminating in a highly successful national conference of private–public partners. From 2001 to 2004 he was employed by the Ostend civil service department of Social Welfare^[3] where he established a digital Legal Research Centre for social and policy matters. He was co-Founder and first Chairman of the Jakoeboe Refugee Welfare Association in Ostend.

Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe

Nweke served as Chief Executive of the Board of Trustees of Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe (NIDO Europe) from 2004 – 2006 and as General Secretary from 2007 – 2009, and was elected Chairman in 2011. Collaborating with Global Diaspora in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Nweke was responsible for a structure with chapters in 18 European countries representing a Nigerian emigrant community (the “Diaspora”) of around 6 million, its objective to support the national development of Nigeria. Nweke played a leading role^[4] in researching and managing the Nigerian Diaspora input in the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) in Nigeria. He carried out research on the concept of “Out-of-Country Voting” and submitted a briefing to the Nigerian Senate on the subject, culminating in a vote in favor of writing the concept into law.

As Chairman, Nweke focused on Trade & Investment and the engendering of sustainable strategic management processes.^[5] He led a Trade Mission involving 45 Diaspora and 13 investment projects to the State of Osun, Nigeria in August 2012. However, Nweke’s efforts to reform the Memorandum and Articles of Association of NIDO Europe at a Summit in Zurich, Switzerland, were thwarted. At the conclusion of his two-year term of office in November 2013, he disbanded the seven-man Board of Trustees ^[6] and declined to remain in office.

I AM HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THE PEACE AMBASSADOR AWARD BY THE UNIVERSAL PEACE FEDERATION
ALL GLORY GOES TO GOD FOR BLESSING MY JOURNEY WITH PASSION, PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE

Dear Family and Friends ,

My name is Nuhu Lawal: The World Boxing Association, the undefeated Inter-Continent Middleweight Boxing Champion (WBA) and I am glad to be a Goodwill Ambassador to the Diaspora for Nigerian Youths Empowerment Initiative. I am supporting the Youths Empowerment Initiative – Donation/Fundraising for Solar Energy Installer’s Basic Training, ICT Capacity Building & Knowledge Transfer because I think it is time Nigerian professionals and business people both in the Diaspora and in Nigeria take the welfare of Youths in Nigeria very serious by giving back to them what they have lost by action and inaction of most of us. I am very concerned about the increased youth unemployment in Nigeria, radicalism and the pull to European countries for better perspectives. This is resulting in thousands of deaths in the sea and in the desert and any well-meaning Nigeria cannot stand aside and look

I am calling all Nigerian professionals, celebrities and businesspeople to join hands as part of our collective civil social and corporate responsibilities to support Nigerians Youths. I have studied this program which is set to provide: (Solar Energy Installer’s Basic Training), (Advance ICT Capacity Training and start up), (Green House Agriculture individual/ cooperatives), (Professional Hair cut & Provision of Smart Solar Energy Business Suit) and Tailoring Refreshers Trainings and Starts up etc, and I am convinced that this program will go a long way in empowering the youths and bring about economic emancipation for a large population of our youths.
Contact me on facebook @ Nuhu Lawal if you want a personalized donation to this initiative or contact
African-German Information Centre gemeinnützige UG, (One Stop Information Centre for Africans in Germany) Süderstr. 153, 20537, youthsempowerment@agic-hamburg.de or NIDO Europe Secretariat: Nigeria House 9, Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX United kingdom, information@nidoeurope.org. An interactive link will follow soon.

Her name is Amina.

She sat for a long while staring at the big round clock which hung off-centre above the thatched opening to the zaure, or entrance-hut. The clock was really old. Its cracked, cloudy face spoke volumes of its age, wear and character. Tacitly though, these defects staked a claim to some form of resilience over the harsh Harmattan conditions which had constantly barraged the mud hut every year. If she looked hard enough, Amina could just about make out the seconds hand ticking away jerkily. Just barely.

Thank goodness, the clock was still working. At least the ticking sound suggested a pulse.     

The time was 6.45am. Amina was getting ready to go to school and write an exam at 8.30 am – the Health Science ‘Alternative-to-Practicals’ exam. She also had two other papers to tackle in the afternoon. As a final year science student at the Community Secondary School, Amina should have been relieved- this being the last day of her gruelling WAEC examinations. So far, she had sat for eight papers over the course of one month. On a good day, after today’s papers, she would celebrate with her friends over a successful completion. Mama would spoil her with fura de nunu, her favourite drink, and a divine supper of tuwon shikafa da miyan kuka. Baba would buy her a present from the Friday market to reward her for her efforts. As his only child out of eight with a formal education, it was worthy of his painting the whole town red.

Ah, but today was not a good day, was it? The chance of such things ever happening today was quickly fading with the morning news, was it not? Everywhere was dead silent. Not even a morning cockerel could be heard. There was tension in the air. It was almost palpable. Disturbing news had trickled in from neighbouring villages of the terrorist attacks by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad, also known as ‘Boko Haram’, on Gamboru and Ngala towns the night before. Hundreds were feared dead. The grotesque nature of this massacre had left a lot of villagers appalled and petrified. It was said to have started from Gamboru’s night market where gun-men had opened fire on the fleeing crowd. Amina could not understand it at all. Why was this happening? Baba, who was the most intelligent man she knew, did not have a ready answer as usual. Of recent, his answers had become more unconvincing and fatigued. He had also been silent over the Chibok abduction, where over two hundred female students, like her, had been kidnapped. This happened about a month ago while the girls prepared for their WAEC exams. He had also been dumbfounded at the news of twenty-nine schoolboys who were killed in cold-blood at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, a few weeks prior to that. Why were students and pupils being killed? What did they do to deserve death? These terrorists believed Western education was an abomination- well, couldn’t we just agree to disagree? The recent news brought her study for today’s papers to an abrupt end and so begun fervent prayers to Allah for her family’s protection.

Amina had barely slept a wink the night before and had sprung up at the crack of dawn to get ready for school. What else was there to do? She had little choice in the matter. WAEC was a multi-national educational body and the exams were done on the same dates across West Africa. A fat chance these papers would be postponed at her district’s request! Her breakfast of kosai (bean-cake) and akamu (pap) was left untouched on the floor mat. Hunger was an alien feeling to her at the moment. Anxiety left little room for any other sensation. After a brisk bath, she had dressed up in her checked purple-and-white uniform, draped in purple hijab, and stood there gazing at the clock until it became a blur and her eyes watered.

A tiny hand clutched hers gently and an even tinier voice broke the silence. “Don’t go, iyan uwa na. Don’t go! It’s too risky!”

Her younger sister’s voice was unmistakable. Amina turned and stared down at Hadiza’s round, terrified eyes for a moment then drew her close. “Don’t worry, little sister. I will be fine.” She was surprised at how shaky her own voice was. “We are all in Allah’s hands.”

Baba’s concerned head appeared at the inner door of the zaure- the room leading into the family compound. The fifty-year old man had aged overnight and his eyes were swollen from nights of forfeited sleep.

“My daughter, are you ready to go?”

Amina nodded. She was nervous. “Yes, Baba.”

Baba had been left in a quandary all night. Should he let his favourite daughter go to school on a day like this when ‘Boko Haram’ could storm the village? Ngala had fallen and it was just a few kilometres away. But what could he do? His daughter has gone through a lot to get to this stage of her education. She had endured criticisms and mockery from both friends and family. Initially, he too had been unsupportive of her interest to be literate. But the zeal of his eight-year old daughter, at the time, to read and write against all odds became a source of inspiration to him. Now she helps him take inventory of goods in his shop. He could not find it in him to deny her the opportunity to fulfil her dreams based on the fear of an attack. What if nothing happened? Would she ever forgive him?

He limped towards the entrance with Mama’s assistance. The wound he had sustained from a motorcycle accident had not yet healed but it would not deter him from seeing his daughter off.

“Take the major road and get to Bilkisu’s house as we discussed,” he said. “Together you both can set out for school. It is much safer.”

“Yes, Baba.”

“We are all proud of you,” her mother said, trying to be strong. Her voice wavered slightly but her eyes were resolute. Amina tapped from her mother’s strength and managed a weak smile. “Allah ya ke mu.”

“Ameen, Mama. Ameen. I will be back in the afternoon after our final paper, insha Allah. Greetings to all when they wake up.”

Amina walked out the door and down the deserted road nervously. She didn’t look back so that they wouldn’t see the fear in her eyes and beg her to stay home. She had to do this. Her future and her family’s depended on it. She looked around for support but there was none. So far, she had only seen two goats and a dog. There was not a single soul outside. Not even signs of life like pots and cooking fires. No voices. As she walked past the third house, Amina began to doubt whether leaving home had been a good idea. It now looked more obvious to her that the exams would not hold today. Who would come out at this time? Her schoolmates would laugh at her when they heard her story. That is if she could make it back alive. Should she turn back and go home? At least, she had made an effort.

Amina kept on going. She could not explain why.

Hundred yards from her house, she finally met someone. It was Mallam Yinusa on his way home- which was a few houses away. Amina had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life!

“Ina kwana! Good morning, Mallam!”

He whirled round to see Amina walking right behind him. His mouth fell open.

“Amina! Kai, kai, kai! Where are you going this morning? Don’t you know what is going on? Boko Haram attacked Ngala last night! We may be next!”

Amina squirmed, “I know, Mallam. But I need to be in school this morning for my exams.”

Mallam Yinusa frowned. “You children and this reading madness! The village is not safe. Stay indoors! Go home! School can wait!”  Seeing that he was not having any luck dissuading her, he added with a sigh, “If you still insist on going, I wouldn’t advise that you follow this road. It is a major road and you are far too exposed. Anything can happen. I advise you to follow the dusty footpath through Mallam Yakubu’s farm. You would be shielded from sight until you get close to the school.”

Amina thanked him for his advice and watched him disappear behind the mud houses. She contemplated using the foothpath for a while but opted to stick to her dad’s advice to use the main un-tarred road. Anything could happen along the path. It was far from everything else.

She trudged on warily down the long, straight road. Her school was only thirty minutes away now. Thirty minutes looked like an eternity right now. From what she had heard, it only took a second for something to happen. A stray arrow or bullet… Amina shuddered. The road was silent and windy. She held on to her hijab tightly.

Allah protect me.

Suddenly, she made out two figures ahead of her. Her heart lurched. They were about sixty metres away and heading in her direction. As they approached, she realized that they were wielding machetes menacingly. One man was shorter and stockier than the other. She heard their angry voices despite the distance between her and them. Sound travelled better and faster due to the graveyard ambience. When they realized that they were not alone the two stopped talking but maintained their pace albeit more cautiously.

Amina’s heart pounded loudly. There was no detour possible. She could not turn and run. That would be foolhardy as it would raise suspicion and they would catch her easily. She would have to pray that they were not ‘Boko Haram’ fighters and would just walk on by. The alternative was almost certain death. Her school uniform would most likely draw ire. She thought of the Chibok girls for a minute and almost passed out from fear.

The two looked more menacing as they approached. One carried a dane gun and the other a bow and a quiver of arrows strapped around his chest. Both wore charms and amulets on their arms and around their waists. Both had on dirty, brown clothes with sprinkles of dark red. As they drew closer, she realized that they were both glaring at her with deep-set eyes.

Her throat went dry, lips parched. Her mind went blank and her heart thumped maddeningly against her rib cage. Amina clutched her writing materials tightly till her palms turned red. Death was just a few metres away. Was it too late to run? Without a doubt. Her legs were almost giving way but she found them still ambling on. They were now just a few metres away from her now. Their eyes were more discernible now and they were blood-shot. Amina was certain that someone had died by their hands much earlier that morning. Perhaps, it was her turn to suffer the same fate?

They scowled at her.

Written by Claude Opara