Chapter Four

KANO, 1965

The ride to Ayisha’s father’s house was uneventful. Alhaji Idris rode on his white horse while Ayisha and one of the servants rode on the other black one.

The previous night was the worst in Ayisha’s life. She kept having one nightmare after the other until daybreak. Alhaji had ordered breakfast of fura da nono for her to prepare her for the two hours journey ahead of them.

They entered Birnin Kudu and met Yakubu—Ayisha’s father, performing his ablution in preparation for prayers. He immediately suspended it to welcome Alhaji Idris, surprise written all over his face. “Welcome rankadede. You did not tell us you were coming,” he said extending his right hand for a handshake and returning the hand to tap his chest while bowing slightly.

“Something has happened. We must discuss immediately,” Alhaji responded following Yakubu as he led the way to his small hut—one of only three in his small compound surrounded by a wall made of wattle.

Ayisha, after kneeling to greet her father, ran straight into her mother’s hut clutching her in a tight embrace as soon as she set eyes on her. The tears flowed freely afterwards.

There was no time to waste, Alhaji reasoned.

“I have taken the four maximum number of wives Islam permits, else, I swear by Allah, I would have married Ayisha. Notwithstanding, I shall give you five cows and five pounds and she shall stay with you till she puts to bed.”

Yakubu’s jaw dropped. “But…but…but Alhaji,” he stammered weakly, “you…you…you did not tell us you were taking her for that purpose.”

“Okay then, I shall make it ten cows and ten pounds.”

Yakubu smiled broadly. “That is most charitable Alhaji. Only a king’s daughter attracts such a bride price these days and you are not even marrying her,” he remarked.

“See to it that no one spreads the story. I do not want my image smeared by this incident. Do you understand that Yakubu?” Alhaji asked. “Yes rankadede,” he responded bowing again.”

She will be well catered for here and the story will be kept a secret. I swear by Allah.”

Alhaji Idris left without even a word to Ayisha. He only just managed to wave to her mother while she knelt to greet him, a small frown on her face. The entire visit had lasted barely fifteen minutes but Yakubu did not mind. He was now ten cows and ten pounds richer overnight. This was enough to give him another wife with plenty of change left, if he wanted.

Ayisha’s mother did not find her daughter’s story funny. She did not understand most of it so she moved straight to her husband as soon as Alhaji Idris left.

“We are now ten cows and ten pounds richer. Allah be praised!” Yakubu blurted out raising both hands to the sky.

“Is that so?” Ayisha’s mother demanded smiling broadly and falling on her knees with both hands lifted to the heavens.

“Allah be praised indeed!” she screamed. The entire household was suddenly thrown into jubilation. Ayisha’s siblings, who had been moving around confused, suddenly became excited too.

Only Ayisha was left out. She remained in her mother’s hut, the tears still flowing freely from her eyes.

Seven months later, after excruciating pain, she gave birth to a baby boy in the hut of the local midwife. It was clear to the midwife that she would suffer from vesico vaginal fistula (VVF) due to the small size of her pelvis. It was not a new thing in the Northern Region, the midwife reasoned. Many women suffered from it and still managed to live fulfilled lives, she explained later to the family.

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MAIDUGURI, 2006

Alhaji Sanni Musdaper was another governor who knew that his people were not happy with his performance as governor of Bornu State due to his high rate of corruption, ineptitude and outright disregard for the rule of law in the dispensing of justice, law and order in the state. He also knew he would lose the forthcoming elections only a year away except he did something drastic. He made up his mind he would go the extra mile to ensure his victory since a free and fair election would be disastrous to him. Secret opinion polls conducted by his Chief of Staff and media men had revealed that much.

The Nigerian constitution allowed one only two tenures and he was determined to complete his at any cost.

When he appointed Alhaji Sanni Zuru also known as Zorro as his Chief of Staff in 2003 disregarding the warning of those who knew him more intimately, it was for times like this. Zorro knew the good, the bad and the ugly in the state and entire region and could contact them at short notice for any job in very strict confidence. He was, therefore, not surprised when his private phone number known to only three persons—his first wife, loveliest concubine, and the Chief of Staff rang and Zorro told him Abdul Shekau—the Boko Haram leader, had been contacted and he had accepted to do the job. Zorro, naturally, was the middleman between Governor Musdaper and Shekau. He doubled the amount demanded by the Boko Haram leader for his service. Zorro knew the governor had secret mansions in Dubai and other countries of the world and was not willing to allow such an opportunity to own his, pass him by. He had stayed long enough in politics to know sheer desperation will make Musdaper pay any amount he demanded. Shekau’s brief was simple. He was to eliminate the popular candidate everyone knew would win the election in 2007.

The money was released in cash well arranged in dollar denomination in several Ghana-must-go bags late one night. The story of Alhaji Shehu Ankali had quickly made the rounds so nobody was willing to owe Shekau for one day. Zorro loaded them inside two Jeeps and left the premises of the Government House.

As soon as they got to the junction near the major highway, he ordered the driver of the second jeep— his most trusted aide, to drive straight to his compound and await further instructions.

The police escort seated beside him in the Jeep, was admonished by Zorro to be vigilant all through the trip. His automatic rifle was brand new and he held it close to his chest, his index finger on the trigger.

The other Jeep headed in the direction of Sambisa Forest. Zorro chose to do the driving while his escort, also clutching an automatic rifle, sat beside him in the front seat.

Shekau was waiting personally when the Jeep arrived the designated spot at about 1 a.m. Zorro gave the agreed signal by flashing his headlight thrice. Two minutes later, Shekau, wielding his trade mark A.K 47 rifle, had taken possession of the Ghana-must-go bags containing millions of dollars. His men were stationed in strategic parts of the area and had seen the Jeep long before it arrived. In fact, two vehicles with their headlights off, had been trailing them for fifteen minutes before one of them put a call through to another number to announce the Jeep was alone, as instructed by Shekau. Disobedience would have meant instant death to the men.

Not a word escaped Shekau’s lips. He simply took the bags and disappeared into the forest along with his boys.

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