The Delinquent and the Law

Two days later, three forcemen located Ndukwo's house. Each of the men held a gun in his right hand. In Aba, the vigilante group, popularly referred to as 'Bekasi', is one security force that was close to people. They came with Ndukwo's class teacher, the principal, the proprietor of the school and two men whose T-shirts were written 'JUVENILE and DELINQUENCY', in that format. These two men were talking with each other in distinct voices, pointing out something really important concerning the environment of juveniles. They all walked into the compound of the house. 

There were many Okwo people in the compound. The Okwo people usually left their village to settle in many cities away from their village. It was not that the village was unsafe for them; no, it was not at all. They all left their village for cities to look for money in Aba, Lagos, Onitsha, Benin and Obigbo of Portharcourt. They have one particular culture - they hardly abandon a clansman in a difficult time. Rev. Ugwa, for that was the name Ndukwo's father was called, was obviously in trouble. A man whose son killed another man's son was seriously in big trouble. Because they heard what happened, they came in their number to discuss how to put issues across with the bereaved family whose son was resting in a mortuary.

Few other people who came around were members of Rev. Ugwa's church. All of them sat in front of the entrance to the house. By happenstance, they had received the news and had decided to come to be with their 'father in the Lord'. The expression on their faces was sad and weary, and it spoke volumes of the evil that happened. But when the force men and those who accompanied them came to sight, the church members began to make frantic movements.

"Don't move," one of the forcemen thundered. "If you move, I shall move you!" 

Everyone obeyed and remained calm as hot coal dipped into the water. They watched the forcemen with those that accompanied them approaching closer. When they finally arrived, they went and stood for a man who was sitting in front of the entrance. He was Iyabo's father. His daughter, Iyabo, was right beside him.

"Where is Ndukwo's father?" asked the leader of the forcemen. The question was directed to nobody in particular. So no one answered them a word. He repeated the question angrily, yet none of the people there answered. And out of hot anger, one of the force men cocked his gun and the leader asked for the last time: "Where is Ndukwo's father?" 

"Inside the house," a man answered. He was the oldest among the people seated out there. An elderly man must not be around while a she-goat died in its tether, the old man thought.

"Go and call him here," ordered the leader of the Bakasi men.

Iyabo's father with his daughter stood up and walked into the house. Soon they returned with Rev. Ugwa. He was greatly shocked seeing Ndukwo's teacher his principal and the proprietor of the school. His greatest surprise was the forcemen that accompanied them to his house. What was going on? Who were they looking for? Could it be that they had come for his son? These questions filled his already troubled heart, and confusion began to set in his head.

"Are you the father?" asked the leader of the forcemen.

Rev. Ugwa had wanted to answer that question until his clansmen joined the interrogation from inside the room, but he did not. "I hope there is no problem?" he managed to say, looking at the proprietor, the principal and the class teacher, Miss Ozioma. None of them talked to him.

"Where is Ndukwo?" the leader asked. 

"He is not here," said one of the clansmen.

"We have not seen him for three days now," another clansman added. Rev. Ugwa could not believe the replies of his clansmen. Why were they denying the whereabouts of Ndukwo who was in his room with his mother?

"Old liars," shouted the leader of the forcemen. "Tell me where that boy is. Where is he hiding? If you fail to bring out, I shall lock you all up in the police cell." 

Nobody talked again. They knew that a green snake was in the green grass. They began to look at one another and after a short while they bowed their heads in shame. 

"For last time, where is the boy?" said the leader.

"Inside his room," Rev. Ugwa told him. "You can't enter my house," he blocked two of the force men wanting to enter the house. "I shall bring him out myself," he added.

He turned and made a few steps towards the doorpost. But he stopped and stood there steadily with his head bowed, and then shaking repentantly. What could it be that a reverend pastor gave his only son away to arrest? How would his members see him? Since he had been spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, he had never seen a man offering his son to arrest. Such an act would give his members a very poor opinion of him. So he changed his mind.

"You can go in and take him," he said to those men from a Juvenile Court. 

The men passed him and walked into the house, and he followed them. The clansmen stayed outside looking at their unfriendly guests meaningfully. The courtmen were astonished at what they saw. The boy whom they had come to arrest had been unable to talk for three days. They marvelled at his young age and wondered what condition must have driven that boy into such a violent life. They remembered everything Miss Ozioma had told them concerning the manner of birth and the belief people held about it. They managed to stand him and supported him to walk out of the room. He was totally a helpless and lifeless young juvenile boy, one of the courtmen observed.

As soon as they came out of the house, the women suddenly raised sounds of cry. The whole world was filled with pity. The church members cried and their faces turned red. Miss Ozioma was seen quite unable to put herself together. Ndukwo's mother with her adopted daughters were something else - they cried helplessly to the point that their voices died out. The only one among them has just been take away. Would he still come back? The little girls cried. This morning, this event would forever remain in the minds of every man and woman. 

Since that moment in which Ndukwo disappeared after taking the life of a fellow student, Iyabo had not set her eyes on him. She had wanted to meet him or find out how he was faring. But now that she finally saw her best friend being supported in his two armpits to walk, she was utterly quietened by what she saw, the poor condition of her friend. She wept silently and bitterly too, and then gradually she began sobbing at very quick intervals. Her father was there with her - he continued soothing her on the back several times.

"You have to follow us, sir," one of the courtmen said, facing Rev. Ugwa.

"Are you talking to me?" He said in a crying tone.

"Yes, sir. You are the father of this boy. We need to see you in the police station."

Without further murmur, Rev. Ugwa obeyed and then followed. The clansmen looked at one another meaningfully and then joined the arrest, and they all left the compound in a whole crowd.