IKORODU AND THE FEAR OF BADOO
To paraphrase the Holy Scripture, there’s darkness in Ikorodu and gross darkness upon the people of Odogunyan, Odonla, Rofo and Agbede which is the northern part of the city. I woke up on Wednesday, June 28 and walked outside my gate and saw my neighbours discussing something. No one was smiling so I knew it was serious issue. I walked up to them. An entire generation has been wiped out by Badoo! What a feat! Even Hitler couldn’t achieve that with the holocaust. My phone was on fire, caller? Daddy! “Where are you? Have you heard?” Yes I said. “Please be careful and don’t go walking about like a jobless man that you are.” True I am jobless. Even an advanced degree in international relations after studying mass communication has not helped. “Close all doors and windows and stay at home,” he advised.
Still thinking about the call and his words, my Whatsapp message icon beckoned. It was a picture from the Badoo holocaust at Rofo. I couldn’t look more than a second. I have seen pictures of their abomination before and I pray for protection for all and heaven for the victims but not this time. I was affected because Rofo is minutes away from my house. It was horror unleashed upon a quiet and industrial town.
All day long I couldn’t help but think of what the night holds, how do I sleep? I tried my best to enjoy the day but who sets fire on his roof and snores away? I tried some more to laugh away the fear but this calamity won’t be reduced to a joke. I resolved to run far away to the Island should it persist.
Fast forward to night. I was home alone with all doors closed as instructed by my Dad; all windows shut for the fear of their magical powder that reminds one of sleeping beauty. Every movement around was suspicious. To make matters worse, men with ladder thought it best to take away the electrical supply. It was all dark, dripping with evil and blood. My heart was pacing, I could hear the echo of me breathing.
In time my Dad drove in and we spoke about the whole Badoo thing and what he has heard about it all. He went to his room to sleep, but he couldn’t sleep. His mind was wide awake; he got up, came to the living room to ask for the third time if I had locked all doors and windows. I answered and he was like don’t sleep with your eyes closed. He went to his room for the final time and I went into mine drinking from a bottled water, not knowing what might happen next. The wordings of the song “Crazy World” by Luky Dube came to me saying ‘common now little boy say your prayers before you sleep, little boy went down on his knees and he said oh Lord now I lay me down to sleep I pray that lord my soul to keep and if I die before I wake I pray that lord my soul to take.’ I added forgiveness of sin to my little boy’s prayers .
At around 11pm I heard the sound of a whistle far away. It was one I am familiar with but something unusual about tonight. It was a call and response signal, the vigilantes were around and were signaling to each other. This brought a little relief to my soul yet sleep continues to elude even as I close my eyes. Many thoughts ran through my mind when the whistle got quiet. To make matters worse we have an uncompleted building at the back of our house. What if they are hiding there? Adedapo Ayooluwa, Kingzion4ever@yahoo.com