The ordeal of insurgency: Episode 1

"clink! clink!! ....clink!!!" sounds a clanging bell with its  shrilling sound piercing the atmosphere like an early morning cockcrow.The sound was immediately followed by a tumultuous uproar of jubilant expression, marking the end of the last period , Which means school closes for the day.
  The student of the government day secondary school, Samuwa were now trooping out of their classes in their green & white uniforms with droopy class bags hoisted on like a baby enjoying the comfort of its mothers'  back.     The school which is popularly known as GDSS Samuwa is situated near a cattle market and noted for its long time existence in the town of Samuwa. Long ago it was built up by the government to promote secondary school education in the rural communities.
   Sitting on the mid-bench of the second row of  senior class 1A is Dlama with his tall friend Musa, who is copying his note. Dlama is of medium height, having a round pumpkin face and a chocolate skin of which he was told he inherited from his grandfather. Unlike his friend Dlama , Musa has an ebony skin that got him a nick name "Charcoal" with which ladies in his class like to tease him with.
"Five lines! remaining" exclaimed Musa , who saw the uneasy expression on Dlama's face. "Hmm.." Dlama responded,
"when are you going to ever learn  how to write down a simple dictation in class?"

"I know how to, but that Geography teacher was dictating way too fast! and i can't keep up with him"
Replied Musa.

"That has always been your excuse"
Said Dlama.

"you won't understand"
Musa responded.

When Musa was through , everyone in class has left except them. Musa then asked Dlama to help him carry his bag as he left to get his bicycle, which was parked under a locust bean tree adjacent to the admin block. Dlama then advance towards the avenue that connects the school to the main road that leads to the market with two bags as Musa came pedalling towards him.
Musa & his friend then took a left turn down the road while Musa pushed his bike as they walk.
"Dlama do you believe what that Geography teacher said about the earth being circular ?"

"well yes, at least he gave us some good explanations with evidence like sunrise & sunset, the circular horizon, lunar eclipse etc."

"Hmm... As for me i only believe what my eyes can see vividly"

"Don't tell me you are a doubting Thomas"
Said Dlama fixing his gaze on his friend

"look around you Dlama, everywhere is flat. How can some lunatic deceive you by telling you that the earth is circular. To me that's insanity of the highest order"

"Ha ha..But just as the teacher said, there are proofs on ground of pictures taken by artificial satellite outside the earth depicting the circular nature of the earth. Its all about science charcoal boy"

"scientist" muttered Musa

"sort of" replied Dlama

"Hmm...Dlama , as for me i am not gullible and no one in this world can fool me. This science of a thing is for lunatics, imagine all those crazy  subjects like chemistry and physics with all their crazy symbols and theories. I can't comprehend any of those because it was written by lunatics.
I don't even know why my dad forced me to pick these science subjects"

"He wants you to be a doctor remember"

"so! that i can be a lunatic that tears peoples belly!!"

"Ha! ha!! ha..."
They both burst out laughing .
A  large  lorry  then passed by them blowing cough instigating fumes into the air.

"you wan kill person!"
Dlama exclaimed in pidgin English while Musa was still cracking his ribs.

As Dlama walked into a spacious compound that was fenced with dried flaxen guinea corn stalks, he was welcomed by a brindled Dog called Bingo, who was now sniffing around Dlama while wagging his tail joyfully and expecting a pat , which Dlama gave him instinctively. Some  yards away were few doves perambulating in  the compound  searching for grains. As  Dlama was heading towards his room, Bingo dashed to chase them before they all flew and landed on the three compartment mud house which has an inclined rusty  corrugated roof. Dlama knew that  he will not find anyone at home by this time because his troublesome big brother  with whom he shares his room with, never stays at home. while his mother must have went to her groundnut farm and perhaps baba must have went to the market to sell the mortar he carved out of the tree he cut down last week, since he was not at the kiosk where the old men  chat and play cards by the road side.
Just as Dlama was changing his uniform, mama arrived at the compound complaining about Maryamu's stubborn boys whom she caught stealing groundnut on her farm.
"Those rascals! lack home training.
I must! teach them a lesson today.
Its all maryamu's fault, she doesn't discipline her children"

Dlama then came out to meet his mother who is now in the kitchen hut, complaining.
"Those scallywags! Need thorough spanking . If i catch them again ehh......only God knows what i will do to them....idiots!!"

"Good evening mama"
Dlama greeted his mother, drawing her attention like an alarm.

"Ah...Dlama you are back.
How was school today?"

"school was fine Mama"

"Have you eaten"
She  asked

"I was just about to"

"Fetch your food from that yellow flask and make sure to  finish everything in it. Don't remain anything for that brother of yours"

Mama then left as Dlama entered the kitchen.
While he was eating his meal of Tuwo & huba(okra leaf soup) under the guava tree in their compound, his father then drove in on his bicycle. He then halts to park it in front of the mud house close enough to enter his room.
"welcome baba"

"Dlama my boy, how is school"

"school is fine baba"

"good"
His father commented.

Baba Tumba then yawned, now that he is untying a sack on the bicycles back seat.

"where is Mama Tumba"
He asked referring to Dlamas mother

"she was here recently but i think she went to Maryamu's house"

"Ah...ok"

Ndzirinza village where Dlama lives is  an abode of peace, rich of trees and fertile land. It is 4km away from Samuwa's  metropolis and 3km away from GDSS Samuwa(Dlama's school) . From its name Ndzirinza which means "Happy living", the people there are wonderfully living happily together. There was this tale of a famous prince called kwaji who had a quarrel with his grumpy father  king fali, after which the prince decided to leave on a quest of finding a kingdom where no one knew him. On his journey , he came across a vast virgin land full of game, peace, rich trees and an excellent atmosphere. From that moment the prince decided to settle there. He then later named the place Ndzirinza because it was a happy place to stay.
As the night approaches towards the evening with little faint light to differentiate a black thread from a white one, crickets began to chirp from every corner of the village, silhouette of fruit  bats can be seen flying overhead from one tree to another and faint voices of people chatting from various homes can be heard. The roadside kiosk was now busy with men in groups both young and old together with stubborn children, bantering, squabbling,chatting and listening to the radio. Baba Tumba is sitting on a log with a group of old men like him, chatting about the economic state of the country, political issues and the corrupt leadership of the country.

"This country lacks good leaders"

Emphasized Daniel, a bald headed man with droopy eyes.

"There are no good leaders. this corruption is every where. Its in our blood we Nigerians"
Said Baba Mairo

"we can teach these our young growing children not to be corrupt "
Says another

"you no de hear. Its in our blood!"
Said Baba Mairo.

As they were discussing, there was a sudden halt in their discussion as their attention was drawn to the radio
"This evening there was a bomb blast in Maiduguri, the capital city of  Borno state in north eastern Nigeria, which left dozens injured . The number of casualties are unknown at the moment   but we will hear more from our security correspondent who........"
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