The Diary of Mavol
Book One
Chapter One
It was just about nine in the morning when I heard the door bang three times, still lying down on the sofa with the tenth stick of cigarette in my mouth, it has been a long week for me as I have had several threat from the ruling government office because of the last editorial I did concerning the bill that was passed on the new vaccine which was introduced for adult as I have done my private research with some of my friends in the university of London which shows that these vaccines were introduced not for the usefulness of my fellow country men but because they want to use it to embezzle government funds, initially a man had walked up to me in the coffee shop pointing a gun at me with a clear warning that if I should continue threatening the administration of the current government I would be charge for mutiny and treason to national security, another time a package was delivered to my office bearing flowers, I cannot thank God enough that I wasn’t present in the office when the package arrived, fifteen minutes after the package was dropped in my office it exploded which caused several injuries and the death of the janitor, fear has gripped me ever since as I don’t know who exactly is after my life but one thing I am sure of is that this is from a higher power in government and this has made me stay in doors for the past two days, after the bang I sluggishly stood up to check through the peep hole who was knocking my door, on getting there I could not see anyone standing by when I opened the door I saw an envelope lying on the floor which I was scared to pick up due to the last event that happened at the office, still looking at the envelope lying in the floor and expecting the worse I heard my phone ring inside the house I rushed inside to pick it up, the voice I heard is a voice I could easily recognize, it was the voice of the same man who had met me at the coffee shop.
“listen you idiot I know you might be scared to pick the envelope that is just lying in front of your door because of what happened at your office , I just want to tell you that we were the one who dropped the bomb at your office and if we wanted you dead we would have it so, the bomb is just a mere warning because we know you’d not be in the office when that bomb was sent there so I will advise you to open the letter and read the content” after these words he dropped the call and i began trembling for I didn’t know what else I could do, I was worried about my family members and so many other things, I summoned courage to pick up the envelope that was when I found out that it was not just one envelope but two, I opened the first one, I recognized the handwriting immediately I took hold of it, it was that of my fiancé Elizabeth. Elizabeth and I have been together since our university days, I was in my three hundred level while she was in her hundred level, I met her in the library, she was so tender and innocent looking, what attracted me to her initially was her enthusiasm in learning as well as she was studying engineering while I was in the department of journalism, the love was so hot when we begun the time I graduated she was entering her third year, during my service years she would leave school to pay me visits while I did the same to her, after my service year I got a job in Lagos we were both excited about the job for it was a relieve that I came straight out from school to get a job in one of the top leasing media houses in the country, I immediately got a two bedroom apartment in the suburb part of Lagos with the aim that when Elizabeth finishes school and her service she would just come in to join me, that was our plan I thought until she went for service and she was posted to an oil firm in Port Harcourt, when she finished her service year the company she served with decided to retain her and she agreed to stay with them while we shuffle our visits from Port Harcourt to Lagos for the past two years.
Chapter Two
As I opened the letter I could not imagine the content of the letter she wrote “ now I know who you truly are, for all these years I have given you my time and my life yet you took it for granted, I now understand why you have been acting this ways these days, you are always busy and I can see how busy you are, my last birthday I had to remind you that it was my day but I can see that your new girlfriend who has been taking your time these days have been having a good time with you that you could take her out on her birthday you don’t have to deny it because I have proof of evidence you can check the other envelope where I have a picture of you and her when you are treating her out” I took out the other envelope to check what its content contain and I saw pictures of I and one of our junior staff Christine who celebrated her birthday a month ago and we all went out with her to a nearby eatery to celebrate her nothing more than that, what kept me wondering is who is so intent to destroy me that they have to follow me all the way to take pictures of me innocently and send to Elizabeth in Port Harcourt, this must be more serious than what I can presume or think of, the last part of her letter indicates that she was coming the next day to pack the rest of her things which still remain in my apartment, I stood looking at the letter and the pictures not knowing what to do or what to say, while I was still thinking on what kind of thing all these is, just because I decided to write the truth about the wrongs that is happening in my nation which is the main essence of journalism and the dream of every journalist is to write stories that will hit front page headline, just this little achievement is what is become a threat to my life, there is nothing I can do about it I just have to wait until I see her and if possible convince her because currently I would prefer she’s far from me than she been close and in danger, my life is in danger and I will not like anyone to get hurt especially someone close to me, still wondering how I got to this point I heard a loud knock on my door then I heard her voice “I just came to drop your keys and pack my things, open up so I can make this fast so you can have the life you’ve always wanted, I believe she makes you happy” I rushed to the door with the hope of explaining things to her but she gave me no audience to speak or listen to anything I have to say, I was very surprised that she even brought back the Samsung mobile phone I bought for her on her last birthday together with the engagement ring I got for her last December, I couldn’t believe my eyes for my whole world was crashing before my very eyes after she left I went to the convenient store in the street corner and got a bottle of whisky and a pack of cigarette which I consumed the whole night before dozing off with the bottle still in my hands.
Chapter Three
The next day was a different ball game entirely as I woke up from the hangover of the previous night with my head banging so hard that I could hardly move my body which I had to drag myself to the bathroom to get ready to go to the office for it became very important I went to see them because of the bomb blast that occurred, the victims had to be checked upon. I got into my blue Peugeot and rushed straight to the office, on getting there I found armed uniform men standing outside with the rest of the staffs outside, I packed outside the gate and got down to find out what might be the problem again, these days my life has been filled with different scenarios that I had the hunch that these men had come over just because of me for I have been threatened in several ways, as I got down a sergeant walked up to me and asked “ are you Mr. Julian Mavol?” “yes I am” I replied him, he immediately said “you are under arrest and anything you say would be used against you, you have the right to remain silent” he pulled out him handcuffs and placed them immediately on my wrist while he dragged me into the van they brought along with them while they blacked me out by placing a black mask over my face, “where are you taking me to and what have I done” I kept shouting but despite my plenty noise none of them said a thing, they all kept to their silence, about an hour or there about the van stopped, I realized we must have gotten to where they are taking me to just as I thought I was dragged out of the van and the mask was removed then I realized we must be in a military base as I noticed Army officers moving about the place, “sit down” I was ordered which I immediately complied with as I was not ready to argue with these guys as they were looking very built and scary, as I sat down there I had so many thought flowing through my mind, the fact that my aging parents had no idea of where I am or where id be taken to after these, after the blast got to the news they had been dead worried about me, I wonder if they found out that I have been hauled by some officers I really hope they would never find out for these might take them to an early grave and I am not ready to moan anyone, but the fact that I left my cell phone in my car made me much more worried for my mom is fond of calling constantly to check on her only son, I’m sure if she can’t call me for a long time she would travel down to Lagos to check what’s wrong with me, as I sat down thinking of so many things a captain ordered one of his boy to bring me into his office, he seemed friendly though, smiling as I stepped into the office, he ordered the soldier to remove the cuffs and have me sit on the only available seat in the office, “I am so sorry for the way the boys treated you on you way here, we understand that it is quite unprofessional but we hope you let this pass under the carpet” he said this still smiling, there was something about him I couldn’t figure out well, soldiers are not use to be the smiling types, therefore I became suspicious about the looks on the man, I was sure he was trying to make me relax before he starts firing me with all kind of accusations, “would you like a cup of coffee or do you prefer cigarette?” he asked politely, “give me a stick of cigarette” I asked him, he pulled out a pack from him front pocket and handed me one while he walked to me and lit the cigarette with a lighter in his hand, he watched me slowly as I dragged on the cigarette while he kept that smiling face with him, when I had taken the cigarette unto the half part he asked, “you and who is unto this together?” now I knew this was just the beginning of what is to come, “I don’t understand I replied to him”, “stop lying and save yourself from all this plenty stress” he shot back to me, “I must confess after the editorial I did and I was told to not write anything of such I have not laid a pen on paper” I told him trying to be very convincing, he still had this gaze that made cold run down through my spine, “I swear on my mother I don’t have an idea of what you’re talking about sir” still trying to be convincing “you see not all officer can be lenient as I am incase you’ve not noticed I am the only one trying to be friendly with you and I hope you leverage on it for I might not ask you this things again, just tell me what you know and let me find a better way to take you off this mess because I am so sure you have a hand in all this things” I was still trying to figure out what he was saying, “are you ready to talk?” he asked again, “sir I don’t understand what you want me to say” “well I understand that you were going to deny just like the other culprit, but we will see how long you can hold on” “Musa come here and take this monkey out of my sight and treat him how we treat those who form mutiny against the government of this our great county” a heavily built soldier came in and bundled me out of the chair I was sitting on and dragged me all the way to a tiny room with little or no light at all and dumped me just like a bag of salt, I have always hated the dark now I am been forced to stay here in the dark, I tried to check if there’s any form of movement in the room then I found out I was the only one here in the room moments later the door was opened and two hefty looking soldiers came in and put on a dim light inside the room which I never noticed at the beginning, I was hauled on the only seat available in the room which was drawn out from the far end of the room, before I realized I was been hit with several punches on the stomach while the other one was hammering my face with his fist, the only thing I could see was the stars forming in my head, they didn’t bother saying anything, it would have been better if they had said anything to me, the beating together with the silence made me more miserable, after about an hour of serous beating I was left alone to my pains, all I could do was to use every swear word I had known directing it to everyone that I feel might have a hand in this case, what amazed me the most was the fact that after the several threats I had received they still went as far as reprimanding me for what I have no idea of, nothing could be more killing than when a man suffers for what he has no idea of and still yet been accused on grounds unknown and unexplained to him.
Chapter Four
I couldn’t tell what the time says all I knew was I slept off on the cold grounds because all my clothes have been ripped off me and I was left with my boxers without any piece of clothing to cover my body from the cold in this little cell room I found myself in, it was when the door opened that I realized that it was morning because I felt cold water splash on me from a bucket, I was so weak I couldn’t stand up it was the voice of the captain I heard that made me get an idea of who must have ordered the door to be opened, I later found out his name to be captain Mustafa, he walked into the room spreading his wicked smiles as usual, “aha young man are you ready to comply with us and tell us the truth I want to hear so I can make this easy for you” “I still don’t understand why I am here” I replied to him, “okay if you say so then, give him his clothes we are taking him to somewhere more secured” he ordered, I was passed my clothes and I noticed that my wallet and my wristwatch was missing, I told it to him that I couldn’t find my wallet and wristwatch he answered me offhand saying if I was calling them thieves, I immediately apologized that I was wrong because I couldn’t entertain anymore blows on any part of my body, I quickly wore my clothes as fast as I could while I was placed on handcuffs, I still wonder why it was necessary to be cuffed when I don’t see a way or reason to run away as I was been surrounded by military officers, I was led to a van filled with six soldiers who took me from captain Mustafa, this new guys seem to be from the southern part of the country so I felt I could get some information about the situation I have found myself in, before I could say anything one of the officers spoke up his name staff sergeant Aguyi “all these stupid journalist shey you see the thing when you don find yourself because of this stupid stories when una go dey write” “are you saying that this is just because of the editorials I wrote the last time?” he laughed at my ignorance and replied”na who tell you say na the last editorials, shey you don forget say ypu write say the head of state fit dey assassinated and one month after you write wetin you write some bargers go attempt coup abi shey you go talk say you no hear the news?” at this I just remembered the article he was talking about, it was not about the head of state been murdered or assassinated it was just an article that spoke about if the masses are been malhandled and mistreated they can later turn on the leaders, I was merely writing so they could see reasons to take care of the masses in the country I never knew this would be used against me in every form, “but I never meant anything like that” I replied to staff sergeant Aguyi, his colleague laughed out loud and said call me Akpan, he stretched uot his hands for a shake, this must be a trap I said in my head, “take it don’t be scared I am a friend, not all of us believe you had a hand in things like this, the government just wants to use you as a scape goat for other who would want to rise against the government in any form, they think we are all stupid as their people” he said this still with his hand stretched, I took it and shook his hands, his hands were soft unlike those of other soldiers, he seemed to have noticed so he said “im a nurse, I was just sent to ensure you’re in good shape before you are court martialed” “okay” was all that could come out of my mouth, immediately different thoughts started streaming through my memory, if I am court martialed means I have no opportunity for a fair trial because I wouldn’t even be represented by an attorney, would I be just killed without my parent knowing what will happen to me, my name will only be announced on national TV about those who had plotted coup on the sitting administration, it was when corporal Akpan spoke I realize I was in a moving van “relax man, what would be would be all you just need to do now is pray on God or your ancestors to intervene in your matter, because I know that prayer pays” I couldn’t say anything than to look him in the face, he has been the only one kind to me for a while now, even the love of my life left me without hearing my side of the story but here is a soldier giving me hope in this kind of situation. “where are you taking me to?” I inquired of him, “well we are taking you to the airport in Ibadan from there we have no idea where they are taking you to, we just have orders to deliver you to the airport” corporal Akpan replied, he said it like I was some kind of package, “let me introduce the rest of the crew to you” Akpan said “you’ve met Aguyi, to my right this is Kayode and that is Chukwuemeka, to Aguyi’s right is Mohammed and to is right is Bruno” they all said hi and how you dey, we kept talking while they asked me several questions while I answered them accordingly, they were good guys indeed we all laughed through the journey I even noticed the driver laughing at some of their jokes, I almost forgot that I was on a trip to be delivered to where I would be sentenced until the driver announced that we would be getting to the airport in five minutes time, it was then fear gripped me like never before I noticed I was shaking I had to try my possible best to remain cool, when the van stopped I knew we must have gotten to the drop site, the doors were opened and I was led to the air stripe on getting there I notice eight others all dressed in military attires, all of them were looking relaxed, one thing I noticed is that none of them had been beaten like me but they were all cuffed, the soldiers where I was coming from must have used me for fine sport to their wicked pleasure.
Chapter Five
An officer with the rank of a major matched into the place while other soldiers saluted him as he came to a halt on his name tag he had the name Abdulkareem O.U, he read loud “this names have been found guilty for mutiny, treason and failed coup de tat, Brigadier General A.A. Amosun, Colonel G. Badawa, Major O.C. Telsa, Major General E.O. Nwosun, Captain K.C. Bolarinwa, Colonel F.A. Kashamu, Lieutenant Colonel V.M. Oni, Major O.O. Noah” as he called their names they were all answering ‘yes sir’ on getting to my front the Major Abdulkareem looking confused asked “who are you and what are you doing here?” The soldier Akpan who had escorted me there came over saluted and told him I was the journalist who was asked to join the crew “well well that’s new, how come no one told me about him, well maybe it’s a new improvement” he ordered for us to be matched into one of the Army cargo planes there at the airport where we were strapped in to avoid falling off when the plane takes off, as far as I can remember I cannot believe my eyes been with such prestigious individuals in the society, can these ones be involved in a coup, they happen to be the most loved administrators loved by the people these include Captain K.C. Bolarinwa, Major general K.C. Nwosun and Colonel F.A. Kashamu these are the three officers who act as governors in the three region of the country, I was so surprised seeing these governors going in for a trial against me, but what would they have to do with Brigadier General A.A. Amosun who is the head of signal, well I realized that communications cannot go under the nose of the Commandant of the Signal unit. Well we are all in the same boat right now there is nothing I can do right now but to enjoy the ride, we were told by the pilot that we were heading down to Sokoto which will be the place where we would be court martialed, throughout the flight no one spoke for I believe everyone was wondering or envisioning the kind of verdict that await everyone in the flight, it took about an hour thirty minutes to land in Sokoto, on touching down at the airport I prayed to God and whoever is listening at that moment that this cup will pass over me because this cup is too heavy for me right now, as we deboarded we were met with heavy entourage of military officers who escorted us to a place I can’t tell because we were all blind folded until I was hauled into a room and the mask was taken off my face, the room was quite cozy and clean, there was folded white shirts and trousers with underwear lying in the spring bed, the room had its own shower and toilet, this must be an executive prison I thought because after all the ordeals I have past through these last few days I wonder why I am been kept in such a place, some hours later a military personnel came in with a nurse to a check on my health, I tried hard to find the location of where we were from the nurse or the officer but that was to no avail all they said was “just shut up and enjoy your life while it last and don’t you keep asking stupid questions”. After they had left I decided to try the TV set to check if it was working the only station there was that of India movies which I had no interest in, I had thought I would have found a local station where I could have found the latest news on the situation of the country since it has been an attempted coup that failed then it must be something that would make the news for days if not weeks, I had to leave the TV on because of boredom that filled me inside and outside, at past nine an officer came in with dinner of white rice and stew with head of fish, it was the first meal I’d take in three days I had finished eating before the thought of if I were been poisoned came to me but I had to discard it because I knew that I am expected to appear at the court martial then the man involved in my calamity wouldn’t want me killed before I face trials because as a journalist I know my colleagues would want to get to the bottom of the whole issue one way or the other way round I ravenously ate the rice like a wild animal few minutes after I was done he came back in to pick up the plates and what remained from the meal, I didn’t converse with him because he had this looks that I didn’t like so I presumed he must be a very cruel person but as he was about leaving he spoke “Listen some of us here don’t believe you did anything wrong because we all read your article, I we find no fault in what you wrote that concerns the event that took place last Monday but what will I say to you but to pray and hope for a better judgement because you and I know that anyone who faces the tribunal doesn’t get favored but I pray God will see you through” after his state Kent he closed the door and I never saw him again, how is it so wrong I was when I judged the man who had my best interest at heart, after two days I became worried first because I had not seen him and secondly because I have not even heard anything about the trial I am here for, it’s like I’ve been forgotten so that afternoon I walked for the first time to the door to check if I can open it to my surprise it was open, as I came out I met an officer who ordered me to return back to my room. I did as directed and closed the door behind me, I was first bored about the movie but I had to come to reality that I have been given this luxury to enjoy my remaining time which I must have utilized properly as I left the TV loud and slept as a baby until the next morning by 7;00am an officer came in to wake me up, I wondered why I would have knocked out despite the ordeals I have had to pass through these past few days but I cannot deal with nature the body needs to rest, the next day according the time on my bed clock is 16:37 I wondered how long I have slept just because I can’t even know when I went to bed for my body had been exhausted from the previous day but the fact I was still breathing is a light of hope I hold unto with strong wrist, I have made up my mind that no matter what fate brings I’d take it like that still at that I still hold this fear that I might not see the next moment at this I had no choice to pray to God wherever He is to answer my prayers for I have been informed that the next day was Tribunal