Whose house am I gonna sleep in tonight? – By Israel Ojoko
I tried to close my eyes on my bed, but the thoughts in my head and pressure from my window, gave me a sleepless night.
I knocked on my friend’s door, but he is out there struggling to buy fuel even at 11pm.
I packed my bag, heading for my father’s house, but kidnappers have taken over the roads, and train services have been halted for fear of attack.
Who’s child am I gonna be tonight?
If I am a government child, I may end up becoming a yahoo boy because I have spent many idle months out of school due to my lecturers’ strike.
If I was no man’s child, I could be harassed, raped, kidnapped, maimed or killed without even making it to the evening news.
Yes, I am my father’s child, but he lost his job, we could barely afford two-square meal, going to school has become a luxury, and the business he tried his hands on, was hit by bad economy, terrible government policy, inflation, insecurity, high cost of living and the absence of basic amenities.
Who’s part am I gonna claim tonight?
I could have been from Benue, but armed herdsmen have destroyed farmlands and killed farmers at will.
I could have been a Kaduna boy, but terrorists have finally settled down there and making that place their stronghold.
I love to hail from Osun, but I can’t go to church to worship my creator and pray with my two eyes closed.
I even look like someone from Owerri, but my brothers over there have turned against their own people, killing them in the most gruesome manner.
They say I will be better as a Lagosian, but I almost got drowned by flood the other day, while some of my neighbours could not make it out alive.
I rushed to Abuja, the center of unity, but gunshots from 300 Boko Haram members disorganized my Kuje community and we have never remained the same again.
Who among my friends am I gonna visit tonight?
David, in a desperate move to leave the country, has agreed to give out his kidney for the daughter of a big man.
Nuru, who we often hang out for a drink every weekend, has stopped taking my calls because we don’t have the same political interest for the next elections.
Who’s doctrine am I gonna practice tonight?
I was a Christian Catholic the other day, but my mother was shot dead right inside the church.
I switched to a Pentecostal church, but my aunt was kidnapped, ransom collected and still got killed by unknown gunmen.
I was angry and dropped Christianity for Islam, but my fellow worshippers take laws into their hands by lynching their fellow humans, and setting them ablaze.
I was disgusted and chose to be a traditionalist, but the military has destroyed all the shrines in my village and my leader has been shot dead, now I don’t have anyone to fellowship with.
Whose house am I gonna sleep in tonight?
I am now left roaming on the streets in the middle of the night, a much dangerous place to be, and the next morning uncertain.
I don’t know where and how the morning will meet me. I am just going and hoping and wishing and praying that it doesn’t get worse when tomorrow comes.
Israel Ojoko is a journalist, and can be reached via israelojoko14@gmail.com
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