#MaitamaRaid: My Worst Night in Akwa Ibom

My stay in Akwa Ibom State has been very eventful. I left the camp at Ikot Itie Udung optimistic and in high spirits.
Before now, I heard stories of how beautiful the city of Uyo is, and my mum had told me how lucky I was to be posted to the “Land Of Uncommon transformation” and we joked about how I was going to be “uncommonly transformed” in Akwa Ibom.

I was posted to a secondary school in West Itam where I developed love for the teaching profession. It felt inspiring watching young individuals walk into chemistry laboratory each Wednesday eager to learn something new from “Aunty Corper” as they fondly called me. I loved leading them in their guided tour into the world of science.

The area I stayed was equally lovely. I stayed at a street off Goodluck Jonathan boulevard, the beautiful stadium road named after President Jonathan. My neighbours pampered me and made me feel really at home. My mum was surprised that I stayed back in uyo during most holidays. Uyo was simply exceptionally nice to me.

All that changed last night.  Our P.O.P was brief and fun! I took photographs and hugged as many friends as possible. Thereafter, I went to church for the corpers’ send forth service. I got home at 7pm and was making dinner when my neighbour came calling. He and his wife wanted to “Flex” before I go back to Bayelsa. I jumped at the offer and got dressed in a jiffy. Mr John wore a white teeshirt on a blue jean and his wife wore a boyfriend’s shirt on a bum short. John drove us first to Eni stores and then later to eat fish barbecue at Tunde Ogbeha drive popularly known as maitama.

Late into the night, I felt pressed and asked to be excused to use the rest room. The waiter led me to the restroom and as he opened the door, i gasped for breath. The place smelt of strong urine. I was still trying to make up my mind weather to risk contacting any infections and use the toilet when it happened. A man ran towards the rest room and about five girls came with him. He pushed me and the other girls into the restroom which could barely contain two persons at a time. I felt a plethora of emotions at the same time. Anger, fear, frustration and all what nots! “What is going on?” I managed to spit out but the other girls hushed me. “Abeg no talk again” one of the girls ordered. I started to scream and one of the girls gaged me. “Wetin dey worry you nah? You wan make dem come carry us?” I bit her hand and she slapped me before explaining. “See, police dey carry ashawo, if they know say we dey here, our own don finish!” I sighed! “but I’m not a prostitute nah? I’m a corp member!” “Nonsense!” she replied. “You go talk that one when you reach station.”

We stayed inside the restroom for almost an hour. I was already feeling breathless. The smell of urine mixed with multiple perfumes and body odour was something else. At some point, I couldn’t take it anymore. Relative calm had returned outside. I tried opening the door but it was locked. I banged on the door to the bewilderment of the other girls. “Wetin dey worry this geh sef?” one of them said. I ignored her and leaned on the door. Then I heard the knob turn. The rest of the girls were startled. I stepped back from the door and it opened. The waiter wore a horrible look on his face. “I’m charging all of you five thousand each!” the other girls started to bargain and beg him, I ignored them and made to step out of the door. “eeesh! Aunty, where you dey go? Abeg settle me before I call ekelebe give you o!” I flared up! “Are you not the one that came to show me the rest room? Do I look like a prostitute to you?  The waiter laughed and dared me to go outside if I want to “see his bad side” I walked out without looking back. The bar was a mess. A number of men stood in small groups discussing. I walked past them and onto the road. A few cars drove past and there was no single keke in sight (keke is the major commercial transport medium in Uyo) I trekked to Oron road through Bennet Bassey street. A keke tricycle drove slowly and I flagged him down. He stopped and I ran inside. “Please move immediately” I ordered but he refused. “Where you dey go?” he barked. “Stadium road, before the new stadium” “3 thousand!” he retorted! I got down immediately. “for wetin nah?” the keke rider spat at me before riding past and screeming “Aaaaaaashawo!” tears slid down my face as I walked towards oron road. I luckily joined a mini bus going to plaza and another one going to Abak road. I got home at 1am and went to check on my neighbour, he wasn’t at home. He came back around 2am and told me his wife was arrested. He tried to snap the officer who arrested her and the officer smashed his phone. In the scampering that ensued, my clutch purse, my iPhone 6, nokia torchlight were stolen.

It’s Friday morning and I’ve parked the little I can. I hear Mrs John will be charged to court later today. This is sad! I wish I could stay and see the end of this, but I’m not sure I want to spend one more night in Akwa Ibom State!

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