On
July 6, 2011, eight months after my final year exam, I set off for NYSC
orientation camp in Umudi, Nkwerre local government area of Imo state. Batch B,
2011 orientation camp had opened on July 5.
I
got to the Cross Country park at Ojuelegba for my scheduled bus, which take off
time was 6:30am. Lagos to Imo is an eight hour drive so I was expected to get
to camp before evening parade, but due to unprecedented circumstances, we set
off 9:00am. Nine commuters (seven corps members and two other travellers) set
off from the park and other travellers joined us along the road as we traversed
on our journey and being a quiet person I sat with my arms folded across my
chest and listen to the chatting of my fellow commuters. Our bus was supposed
to be a direct route to the orientation camp due to high number of travellers
but because of bus shortage on the part of Cross Country we had to allow other
non corps members travellers; it was the harbinger to disaster. We could not
achieve the eight hour drive from Lagos to Imo due to many stops on the way. We
got to Onitsha by 7:00pm and by 8:00pm we were close to NYSC orientation camp
in Umudi, Nkwerre local govt area of Imo state.
We
had stop earlier at Onitsha to allow some travellers to alight, which left us
with eight commuters (seven corps members, one non corps member and the driver).
I was seated beside the door (when travelling never seat beside the door though
in case of emergency it may help but during robbery you are the first call).
Two
junctions to the camp, we were driving slowly because of the muddy road and a
slow-paced lorry (like those we had in Agbo goes to school and Ali and Simbi
that we read in primary school) in our front. Some unsuspected robbers had been
on our trail on bike because they guess we are corps members and new to the
locality. Their first attack was on the driver in order to get us to a halt and
after him, me. At first I thought to myself, what such of wild friends will be
struggling the control of a bus with their friend when they knew it dangerous
(I never knew they were robbers, it was my first experience) I was the second
in line because I sat beside the door, I had not fully comprehend the scenario
when the door beside me open and the phone in my hand was gone, my wallet drop
from my pocket to the robber’s hand with ease because of the gun he had to my
face, whether the gun was real or fake, whether it has bullets or not was not a
discourse; it never cross my mind. The passengers that set at the back were
able to remove their sim and some with two phones gave out only one, the other three
colleague of mine that were going to Imo state had two phones each and were
lucky to give up their ‘AA’ and preserve their ‘BB’. I received a slap for a
reason I decided to keep mute on. All the guys on board were ask to lie on the
bad muddy road. They stole our valuables and left us in the middle of the road,
they did evil and run away.
We
got to camp and information, like a wild wind that can’t be tamed got to all
and sundry in no time. I decided to stay mute on the experience throughout the
camp. The sanguine lady among us told everyone about the experience and was
always pointing friends at us at various time in camp to attest the
truthfulness of her story; partners in robbery attack, I guess she would say.
We received favour the night we got to camp because of the incident, I got
another favour because the camp commandant has the same surname with me and the
RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) was a fun to behold, I had a chat with him once
and I could tell he was a fun to be with.
I
decided to get a police report and court sworn affidavit of the stolen items
and was able to sweet-talk my other colleagues (I mean partner in robbery
attack). After much discourse the camp co-ordinator grant us exit from the camp
on July 11, to Nkwerre local government police station (only three of us went
because one of the ladies as relocated back to Lagos). We went to the court
first to sworn an affidavit (despite our condition we were still charge, in
fact we had to change court because of cost, am an economist you know) and then
proceeded to the police station. We met the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) at
the station who ordered the officer in charge to type the police extract while
we have a chat with him. The discourse was really nice but he made a statement
that begat many rhetorical questions in me. He said ‘NYSC should have informed
him about the orientation camp so that he would have ensure more safety measure
on the path to the camp by deploying his men towards that region (NYSC
orientation camp was located within Nkwerre local government area of Imo state
which was under his jurisdiction), and my questing spirit ask, do you keep your
home safe only when strangers announced their presence and home coming? The in-flock
of over one thousands corps members on Tuesday (July 5) and some on Monday
(July 4) into your locality was too minimal for you to smell a rat. He claimed
it was the phone call after the unleashed robbery attack on us by untamed
hoodlums in his society that informed him of the on-going orientation camp. What
a disappointment!
After
the dialogue the officer in charge of typing the police extract ask us for a fee
(bribe) but we pay him no dime; thanks to the police officer that came with us
from the orientation camp, he left angrily and I queried what his salary was
meant for? I pitied the police officer because there was neither power supply
nor computer in that station and he had to use a type writer; it would have
been faster and easier if it was on a computer because he would only have to
edit some information. The DPO sign and we left back for the camp.
Camp
came to an end on July 26, and I set out for Lagos after an exhilarating
experience in Umudi camp, Nkwerre local government area of Imo state. Three out
of the four robbed Imo state corps members relocated to Lagos and only one
corps member remained to serve her motherland in Imo while we decides to serve
in Lagos state. We spent twenty days at NYSC orientation camp in Umudi, Nkwerre
local government area of Imo state but it was a life experience.
Long
live Nkwerre local government,
Long
live Imo state,
Long
live National Youth Service Corps,
Long
live federal republic of Nigeria.