By Segun Durowaiye

Mallam Bature was shaking and sweating on hearing the continuous banging on his door.

He knew he was in for big trouble by all indication. Ireti too was shocked and frightened when she heard the blood-chilling utterances of the men behind Mallam Bature’s door. She was really alarmed and awestruck. She knew that bigger trouble was in the offing for the kind-hearted Mallam. She didn’t know what to say or do.

Mallam Bature then summoned courage and moved towards his door to allow the unknown attackers in, since he knew he hadn’t done anything evil or atrocious. The people threatening Mallam Bature behind his door were the men of the OPC sent out by Mrs. Mamora about 30 minutes ago to deal with him and bring back Ireti, her beautiful daughter. The tall and ebullient Mallam was at the moment fidgety and trembled to open his door. But he knew he must just open it, even if it would cost his life. With shaky and trembling fingers the good-natured Mallam opened his door at last, but alas what happened aftermath was too terrible and horrifying to recount.

“Yeah, we got you at last!” the leader of the OPC men hollered, “Shango, the god of thunder will set fire on you now!” In a jiffy about five hefty-looking men of the OPC descended on Mallam Bature and beat him black and blue. He was cudgeled and machetted in the process.

“God help me! Help! Help!! Help!!!” he screamed as he was being assaulted. His screams further infuriated the angry OPC men. “Please don’t kill him… please in the name of God.” Ireti begged in tears as the fiery hands of the OPC men descended on Mallam Bature. The young girl was crying when she saw blood gushing out of the body of the kind-hearted Mallam. She was scared and moved to pity. “Beat him! Beat him!” ordered the leader of the OPC men, “Let him shed tears of blood!” he added. In the next few minutes, Mallam Bature was lying on the floor in a pool of his blood. Ireti was on her knees, in tears, begging the OPC men to spare his life. The benevolent and gentle Mallam looked every inch a dead man. He was motionless and torpid.

“Now, Ireti let’s go back to your mum!” the leader of the OPC men said in a self-satisfied manner. Orisha was the name of the leader of the OPC team that wreaked havoc that eventful day. He was a tall, heavily-built man, with string-like moustache. He was wielding a Dane gun and a sparkling machete. His body was adorned with a brown leather amulet, believed to have supernatural powers.

In a twinkling of an eye, the daredevil OPC men went away with Ireti. The young pretty girl was really grief-stricken and sad, she mopped the tears off her face with the tip of her cloth. Her heart was heavy with hurting melancholy. She didn’t know what to do. She shook her head sorrowfully and sobbed. She knew if help could not get to Mallam Bature quickly he would definitely die after that horrifying assault on his person. She was deeply touched and prayed that something calamitous or disastrous wouldn’t happen afterwards. About ten minutes later Ireti was taken back to her mum by the fierce-looking OPC men in a commando fashion.

“Thank you very much Orisha!” Mrs. Mamora said excitedly when she set her eyes on her lovely daughter. Sympathetic neighbours of Mallam Bautre had come to his rescue by rushing him to the hospital. He was admitted at the emergency ward of the Lagos General Hospital. He was in total coma. About four highly skilled doctors battled desperately to save his life.

Rumours had spread like wild fire to the Hausa community that the likeable Mallam Bature had been assaulted by a team of OPC men and was on danger list at the Lagos General Hospital. The Arewa cabal was informed about the unwholesome development. The Arewa is a group fighting for the rights and emancipation of the Hausa people. The Arewa cabal swore that there would surely be a reprisal attack on the family of the Mamoras and the OPC men…
To be continued.
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