THE CLASHED

After our departure from the village, the soldiers arrived. They ask for our way and followed us.

Not too far, we stop at a forest called "TSAKAYA" to rest. But before we know we where surrounded by the army, unable to escape as every corner was blocked. Seeing that, the insurgents threat that they will going to kill us if they didn't allowed them to go. But the army refuse to leave, in that case they shot one girl. Immediately she fall down and blood started to roll on the ground. So, now they have no choice but to retreat. As they turned, the rebels marched us to the dark side of the forest at the gun point.

Deep into the forest we come to a place with large holes, where they have argument. Whether to pass through the holes or turn back, but many argue to pass.

"It was a trap. If we pass, we are in danger". said the leader.

Before he finished his statement, there was a tone of the leaves. They all took a places ready to fight. Slowly the sound fade away. Then there was a gun shot from an unknown place. They send us inside the holes and started to fire back, trying to protect themselves.

"There is snippers somewhere around here, retreat". They leader shout.

There was also a chopper above us, dropping tear gas all over the forest. My stomach growled, i was happy before. But i am scared to lost my life. The fight has changed the direction, as the rebels started defeating the army. One of the rebels raised his R.G.P and shot the chopper that was dropping the gas.

"Run! Run!!" They leader said, pointing the other direction that we pass before.

As we are running, the army thinks we are the rebels trying to escape. So, they fired at us. Before we know half of us where shot to the ground. Many where dead and some got a serious injury. With all that they managed to escape with us from the army. But all the vehicles where burnt. And on our way i fainted.

I wake up to the sun shines on my face. I squeezed my eyes with my hand and travel my gaze to an old lady sitting beside me, on a grass bed.

"How was your body". The old woman said. From her looks, you can tell that she's at her early 60s.

I nodded in pain, trying to sit up. She quickly grabbed my arm and help me sit. Then a man holding a gun come.

"Is she awake?" He asked.

"Yes". The old woman answered.

"Iya (a name of old women in Hausa) we are going to leave. Because we are not safe here". He said, grabbing my arm harshly. I shrieked in pain, and manage to stand. But i lose my balance, trying to stand. He grabs me and lifted me again.

"If you can't walk, you will be dead here". He said in a bad tone.

I remember the time, they shot a girl back at the camp. And last night when we where surrounded by the army. I have to live, you can endure the pain. You have to see your mother again. I said to myself.

Tears roll down to my cheeks, because of pain. But i had to walk, if i really wanted to live. And this time there was no vehicles, so we have to walk. It was already damaged last night.

"We have to enter the"CHADI" boarder today at the night. because we are running out of weapons and food. But what do you think? referring to his colleagues, the rebels leader said.

There was a general sound of agreement from them. It seems they all agreed with his idea.

"And we should stay there until we receive orders from the high ups". He continued.

At this juncture they all started shouting and cheering they leader, with a song.Then there was a sudden silence, it was the time we start marching as they are singing a cool song.

We had a long walk until sunset, so we have to stop and wait for the army on the boarder to fall asleep. They warn us that if we shout, we do it at our own risk. So we keep silence, until the middle of the night we snuk from the back yard of the army quarters.

But one of the girl wasn't listing to everything that was being said. She begins to screamed, but before tha army heard her one of the rebels, hold her mouth with hand and twisted her neck. Before you know she was dead.

I panicked in fear trying to run but someone grabs my hand and knock my head in a tree. I immediately fainted, they started arguing whether to leave me there or to take me with them. But one of them insisted that they shouldn't leave me there, because they will leave a trace of them pass through the boarder. So, they agreed to go with me, but if pass the border without me waking up. They will through me at the forest.

He takes me at his back, and they successfully pass the boarder without knowledge of the army. But before we arrived at they camp i wake up, noticing that i am at someone back. Hearing me coughing, he drops me and force me to continue walking.

At that night we arrived at a big town, but scared one. Because all the peoples i saw there are holding deadly weapons.

You can't call it a village or camp, because it was a big town. We pass through a gate where peoples are buying and selling. There was a colourful banners everywhere, with Arabic sentence, some which i can understand.

You cannot also called it a night, they are doing all their activities like in a day time. Then we come to a big gate with many soldiers standing Infront of it. The leader of the rebels exchange greetings with the soldiers, then pass a small paper to them. I saw them nodding they heads in agreement. Then they allowed us to pass.