Chapter 9

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We were like people under siege in our terrified state, The Inspector ordered that if any one of us was stupid enough to talk any nonsense he was going to ensure that he disciplined such a person according to police law. The woman who caused us a delay had the guts to inform him that policemen were not omnipotent.

The Inspector considered this the highest sacrilege ever uttered, for he responded by giving the woman the dirtiest slap I had seen within living memory. The woman broke into tears, saying that she was going to ensure the Inspector paid for it. 'I am taking you to court' the woman said in a tone that convinced all of us she would make good her threat. The Inspector ignored the threat.

She continued to weep until we were halted in a police checkpoint in the outskirts of Kaduna. She came down from the car and went in tears to the police officer attached to the checkpoint. The officer was a superintendent in rank. The woman reported to him that an Inspector who was among

the passengers in the car in which she was travelling had slapped her for no just cause. The Superintendent came to our car and ordered all the passengers to come out. Where is the Inspector among them?" he asked the woman. The woman pointed to the Inspector. Did you slap her? To where are you attached?" the officer asked the Inspector. The Inspector was reluctant to answer. He has his identity card in the front pocket of his shirt' the woman told the officer. 'Let me have it' the officer said. The Inspector was still reluctant to do this. Then turning to the

constables under him, the officer ordered them to force the identity card out of the Inspector. Three police constables pounced on the Inspector and forced the identity card out of the front pocket of his shirt.

According to the truth that emerged before us there, Inspector Salihu had in fact never in his life been a policeman. He had been out of job for the past seven months and was carrying an identity

card of the Niger guards from where he had been sacked. He was on his way to Kaduna to meet his cousin who he said was going to find a job for him. According to Salihu, his cousin in Kaduna

was going to take him to one Mamman Abba who himself would take him to the house of another man called, Kadir. Kadir will then go together with Salihu to Birnin Gwari, a ward in Kaduna where recruitment of men into the job of Night watchmen was going on. It was to be in Birnin Gwari that Salihu would be introduced to one Alhaji Ibrahim who was a close friend of the

recruiting officer. Through Alhaji Ibrahim it was hoped that

salidu would secure a job.The superintendent on duty looked at Salihu from up to down and decided to order his boys to search him. In the process of the search it was discovered that Salihu's pocket was filled with leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. When Salihu was told to

explain how he came about the weeds he started to beg for forgiveness.

The undaunting superintendent took statements from us as well as our addresses, telling us that we might be needed sometime to testify against Salihu. Salihu was detained while the rest of us were to go. I heard the officer telling his boys to

take Salihu to Banawa police station and lock him up. ..

Our stop in Kaduna was brief. It was a peaceful journey now that Inspector Salihu was no longer around to instil terror into everybody. In two hours we were in Nassarawa Garage in Kano city which was the terminus for all the passengers except myself who was going to continue in another taxi to Maiduguri. I found a Maiduguri bound taxi and paid the fare. We took off at about

7 p.m.

"

All this time that I had been travelling, I had not smoked a cigarette even though I was a chain smoker. So when the driver lit a cigarette, I felt the need for one. I observed that the passengers

did not complain about the odour of the cigarette. Because of this, I also lit my own cigarette and started to smoke. No sooner had I lit my cigarette than the passengers began a simultaneous protest against me for smoking. Where were you

when the driver lit his own cigarette?' I asked. 'You are not a driver!' Throw it away!' I heard. 'Does the driver have any special right to smoke?" I asked. My friend, throw away your cigarette!

It's disturbing us!' I was told. Does the driver's cigarette not disturb you?" I asked. Don't compare yourself with the driver!' - somebody told me 'He is driving us to Maiduguri! That's a good job! You are not serving us any purpose!' I ignored them. I

guessed that if I didn't press the matter it would die a natural death. I was wrong, for one of them said 'look! Mr. Man! Don't think we are fools!

Cigarette is a very bad thing! You have to throw it away!' There was a pause, then I said I am going to smoke it. I bought it with money. I can't obey anybody who wants me to throw away my money! I held the cigarette before them and said This is money. One of them tried to force the

cigarette out of my hand, but he was held down by others.

If you want me to throw away this cigarette, I would rather suggest to you to tell the driver to pack the car so I can drop. I would rather not travel in this car' I did not mean this, but to my surprise, the men told the driver to pack the car. The driver packed the car and the men told me to get out. This was incredible to me. I am not getting out!' I yelled. The men told the driver to give them their money as there were not prepared to travel with me while I smoke.