17th October, 2020
Lekki Bridge
8:00 am
Jóke
Bimbo woke me up with a shrug. It was morning and looked dark.
"These are fresh clothes." Bimbo said, giving them to me. "Go there and bathe."
I nodded and walked there immediately. My back was aching a lot. I quickly bathed and brushed my teeth. I came out and began to search for Bimbo.
"Police police!" Someone screamed as we heard sirens.
"Jóke!" Bimbo called and ran towards me, pulling me aside.
Suddenly the air was foggy.
"Tear gas!" Someone screamed.
Bimbo quickly put her hands in her pocket and gave me a face mask.
"Wear it." She said and covered her nose with another one. She dragged me towards a van and we hid behind it.
"They are shooting oh. They are shooting oh." A woman was saying.
She had wrapped her hands around her knee. She was scared.
Bimbo grabbed my hand and held me close.
"I'm scared Jóke. Are we going to die?" She asked.
"No. We won't die. We won't."
The gun shots lasted for a few minutes and then there was silence.
"Where is Emmanuel?" I asked Bimbo.
"I...I left him to come look for you." She said and we stood up and looked around.
People began to call out for others.
"Emmanuel." I called out and Bimbo was crying.
"Don't cry Bimbo. We'll find him. We'll find Emmanuel." I said.
I was scared. I was really scared.
"Emmanuel." I and Bimbo called out at the same time.
Bimbo gripped my hand and I turned to the direction she was looking at. They were bodies on the floor.
"Jesus!" I screamed and I was already shedding tears. Bimbo began to go closer to the bodies.
"What if Emma is dead?" She asked.
"No jor. Emmanuel is alive. He's waiting for us." I said and frowned. "He's not dead."
I shook my head. Emmanuel can't be dead. He's...he's my friend.
People were crying among us. I was shattered. Nigeria has turned to something else. Shooting in broad day light.
"Joké!" Bimbo screamed and I ran towards her. "I told you." She cried shaking.
I looked towards the body sprawled in front of her.
It...It was Emmanuel.
"No." I said and fell down. "It can't be."
"Jóke, Emmanuel is gone." Bimbi said and cried so loudly.
People gathered around us.
"Sorry oh."
"Chai, young man. Sorry oh."
I hugged Bimbo and we both cried out. Our friend was gone.