The Price Of Patriotism || Musa Hashim

David thought he heard a rustling in the bushes around him. He picked up his rifle and released the safety catch with the whistle in his mouth. A landmine went off and David knew the town was under attack. He blew his whistle with his finger still on the trigger of his rifle. The hitherto peaceful atmosphere was rent with gunshots as the army engaged the would—be invaders. The locals ran for safety.

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“Get out of here you obsolete fools,” the young army recruits barked, their whips landing on different parts of their different victims.

The old men scampered away, reeling from the painful effect of the whips. The ones holding the banners got more lashes.

Ten minutes later, they were seated under the bridge, their designated meeting point because it was close to the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja. Master Warrant Officer Ibrahim Aliyu (Rtd) looked at his fellow retired army veterans as tears trickled down his cheeks. After sacrificing more than 30 years of his life serving and protecting the colours of his country, he and his fellow veterans were being maltreated because they were protesting their unpaid pensions and gratuities.

Ibrahim had lost count of the number of retired army personnel who had died without receiving their long overdue entitlements. From where he was seated, he could see that some of his colleagues had sustained injuries during the protest.

Ibrahim felt the darkness enveloping him and his fellow veterans screaming. The last thing Ibrahim saw before he lost consciousness was the waving flag of a country that had long ago abandoned the likes of him.

***

                Sergeant David Musa of the Nigerian Army switched off his transistor radio. He had had enough of the true-life story being narrated by an army veteran. It was a sad story from 15 years ago, a time when the army had a habit of delaying or depriving veterans of their pensions and gratuities. In 2020, things were better and troops got their entitlements immediately after retirement.

The atmosphere in Baga was steamy as dusk slowly approached. Baga Town, previously home to 300, 000 people was now a shadow of itself due to the effects of terrorism that had plagued Borno and other north-eastern parts of Nigeria in the past 8 years. The smile on the faces of some maids returning from the stream as they chitchatted was priceless because beyond the bloodshed and pandemonium, they still found reason to smile.

David was sitting on one of the concrete barricades at the entrance of the town with his rifle resting on his lap. From his position he could see the other officers on his shift. David and his colleagues were stationed at strategic locations within and around the town. He gulped some water from his water bottle and looked around. The dusty path leading to the entrance of the town was deserted. The only audible sounds came from the bustling activities of the locals and the chirping of birds returning to their nests on trees. David wasn’t focused on the bushes surrounding the entrance of the town which was a minefield. The central part of the town was fenced. He was looking forward to an uneventful night.

David thought he heard a rustling in the bushes around him. He picked up his rifle and released the safety catch. A landmine went off and David knew the town was under attack. He blew his whistle with his finger still on the trigger of his rifle. The hitherto peaceful atmosphere was rent with gunshots as the army engaged the would-be invaders. The locals ran for safety.

A truck materialised on the main road leading into the town. The truck was moving at full speed and heading towards the barricades at the main entrance. David knew it was loaded with explosives. If the truck struck and destroyed the barricades, the terrorists would gain access to the town. They knew full well that their only hope of getting into the town was through the main road because the minefield did a good job of keeping them out. David replaced his empty magazine with a fresh one and started firing at the oncoming vehicle.

“Tony, Michael, fire at the truck! They want to use it to clear their path into the town!” David screamed but he got no corresponding reply over the din.

David looked up at Tony’s sentry post on the tower as he kept firing at the truck. He could make out Tony’s lifeless body on the floor with his head blown off his body. His eyes scanned Michael’s post across from him and he found that he too had a hole in his chest. The terrorists were using superior artillery to unleash hell. David took better cover behind the sandbag barricades and continued firing at the truck. He knew he might die but his platoon commander had given him the task of protecting the entrance with his life and that was what he was going to do; the locals deserved that from the army. The vehicle was now about 300 yards away as he kept firing at it. A bullet caught David in the shoulder, and he fell back on the floor with his rifle slipping out of his grasp.

David mustered all the strength he had left in him and sat up before he grabbed a grenade from his waist bag and tossed it some yards from the entrance. The truck was just 100 yards away and David knew he was taking a big risk because there was no way he was going to escape the blast radius of the explosion when the grenade took out the truck, but he was ready to sacrifice everything to stop the truck from hitting its target. David hoped the steel barricades and sandbags which were his shield from the impending blast would suffice. He said a prayer and braced for impact.

The explosion rocked the town and its force took David off the ground before slamming him against the steel barricades. The steel barricades remained in place as the shootout continued in the background.

Six Months Later

                “It’s an honour to have you back with us at the DIA. Congratulations too on your promotion,” the captain said to David.

                “The honour is mine, sir,” David replied.

They were both seated in the office of the captain at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja.

                The attack on Baga 6 months before left David hanging onto life by a thread. He spent 3 weeks in an induced coma and it took him 4 more painful months to recover. The doctors assured him that no major damage had been done to his anatomy, but he would walk with the aid a walking stick and wear glasses for the rest of his life. The shrapnel from the explosion had damaged his right knee and corneas.  

The previous month, David found out he had been promoted to the rank of Army Warrant Officer (AWO) and reassigned to the DIA as a Defence Intelligence Officer (DIO).

                David had been feeling lonely the past few weeks. The army was the only family he had. He missed his foster father and mentor, Master Warrant Officer Mark Musa (Rtd) who passed away 5 years ago. Mark Musa was the last known member of David’s family.

“It might come to you as a surprise that you’re being offered this promotion,” the captain said.

 “Yes sir,” David replied.

“David, the thing is we need you out there more than we need you here in Abuja. My superiors need a trustworthy soldier who can instil discipline in our field officers by working as an overseer around the country. I recommended you as the best choice. The story of your heroics in Baga has turned you into a much admired figure in the military,” the captain said.

“What exactly do you need me to do, sir?” David inquired.

“We’ve been having serious disciplinary issues among the recruits and certain officers. These disciplinary issues seem to be leading to unpleasant outcomes when it comes to our boys executing their tasks and it’s one of the reasons we’re failing in the war against terrorism,” the captain replied.

“Sir, I understand my orders but there are more than 70 army bases across the federation, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to supervise all of them, sir,” David said.

“We’re not asking you to instil discipline in all the army bases AWO David. We’re asking you to visit certain bases with peculiar problems,” the captain replied.

 “When do I leave, sir?” David asked.

“Any moment from now. Your security detail is already waiting for you in the reception hall. Remember, your orders only come from me. Contact me if you need anything. You’ll find your effects in there. You’re dismissed,” the captain said, pointing at a suitcase on the sofa.

Plateau State

                “I think I’m done, sir,” David said, placing a file on the table and sitting down.

                “Let’s hope you’re right because our intelligence officers down here couldn’t get to the bottom of this case,” the base commander replied.

                It was a Saturday evening and they were sitting under a gazebo at Holiday Resort on the outskirts of Jos. The place was welcoming and would appeal to anyone who was in love with tranquil environments.

                “This is a nice place, sir,” David said, his gaze transfixed on the lake.

                “Work can be stressful, so I come here to relax,” the commander replied.

                “What will you have, David?” the commander asked, beckoning to a waitress and reaching for the file on the table.

                The waitress came and took David’s order.

                “Tell me about your investigation,” the commander said skimming through the file.

                “In my opinion, both men are guilty of treason,” David replied.

                The case David had investigated was a deadly scuffle between a Lieutenant Mike Riyom and his subordinate, Staff Sergeant Umar Ardo. The 2 soldiers attacked each other with their firearms in the line of duty during a dispute. The situation left 3 of their colleagues who intervened, injured and fighting for their lives at the infirmary. The culprits were in custody.

                “Why treason?” the commander asked.

                “It turns out the scuffle between Staff Sergeant Umar and Lieutenant Riyom was powered by ill feelings brought about by tribal and religious sentiments which had been going on for years.  The lieutenant belongs to the Berom ethnic group and he is a Christian while Staff Sergeant Umar is a Fulani by tribe and a Muslim. The 2 soldiers abandoned military codes and their oaths and instead pledged allegiance to their tribes and religion. It is an offence for a military officer to execute his duty taking tribal or religious differences into consideration because his primary commitment is to serve and protect the colours of his country without partiality. Staff Sergeant Umar told me that 3 years ago, Platoon Tarantula commanded by Lieutenant Riyom carried out a special operation in Yobe. Umar said their orders were to apprehend the Fulani bandits who were terrorising some rural communities. They were not to eliminate the bandits unless it was necessary. Platoon Tarantula succeeded in subduing their adversaries without violence but Riyom ordered them to open fire on the bandits, which they did because it was an order from a superior. I crosschecked the report Mike submitted back to HQ and found out the report gave a different version of the incident. In the report, Mike stated that the Fulani bandits had opened fire on his platoon leaving them no choice but to engage them in a gunfight. It turned out Umar wasn’t happy about the conduct of his superior officer but kept his anger bottled up,” David replied.

                The waitress arrived with David’s order and he chewed on some of the suya and pastries before continuing his report.

                “What about Lieutenant Riyom’s side of the story?” the commander asked.

                “Riyom revealed that 2 months ago, Platoon Tarantula was sent to apprehend a terrorist group with a hideout in Barkin Ladi. When they arrived at Barkin Ladi, they apprehended their targets and he gave an order to Staff Sergeant Umar to oversee the conveyance of the prisoners back to base command, but Umar ordered his subordinates to open fire on the prisoners, killing them all. He said he confronted Umar and Umar pulled a weapon on him so he also reached for his firearm to protect himself, and the fireworks began. 3 of their colleagues who tried to intervene got caught in the crossfire,” David replied.

                The commander mulled over David’s revelations.

                “What’s your final analysis?” the commander asked.

                “I gave both officers a choice to tell the truth or face the stiffest penalty for treason. They opted for the former,” David replied.

                “What actually happened?” the commander asked.

                “The truth is both officers did not lie as they agreed that they both carried out acts of extreme violence by the unlawful execution of disarmed prisoners. It is also true that Mike gave the order to execute the Fulani bandits in Yobe due to his extreme hatred for the Fulani tribe because of the long-standing dispute between his Berom ethnic group and the Fulani. Umar, who is Fulani, held a grudge for the unlawful execution of his tribesmen, so when Platoon Tarantula apprehended the terrorists in Barkin Ladi who turned out to be Berom tribesmen, Umar retaliated by ordering the unlawful execution of the unarmed prisoners.  The scuffle began when Mike confronted Umar. The situation escalated leading to the culprits accidentally shooting and injuring 3 of their platoon members,” David concluded.

The commander sighed. He was dealing with one of the greatest challenges he would ever face in the military. Lieutenant Riyom and Staff Sergeant Umar had committed one of the greatest abominations in the military because the military did not accommodate tribal and religious extremists. It was treason because the consequences of having tribal or religious divisions within the army was a nightmare scenario capable of making the army implode. The strictest penalty was going to have to be meted out to the guilty parties to serve as a lesson to every military personnel who fancied tribal or religious bias.  

                “What was the choice you gave them?” the commander asked.

                “They plead guilty and get dishonourably discharged from the army or they can insist on their innocence and risk facing the death penalty, sir,” David replied.

                “Seems you’ve done my job for me. There’s no place for hate, tribalism, religious or violent extremism in the army or anywhere in a sane world so dishonourably discharged, they are,” the commander said with a tone of finality as he lifted his glass of beer to his lips.

Anambra

                According to a report based on the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) by the National Population Commission (NPC), Anambra was among the states with the highest incidences of domestic violence in the country. The issue of domestic violence plaguing the state had also found its way into the barracks.

                On his arrival in Anambra, David was informed that a Captain Chibuzor had been shot and killed by his wife with his own service pistol. The wife, Angela, appeared to have killed her husband in self-defence because he had a habit of physically abusing her. The neighbours confirmed Angela’s story. The late captain had a habit of pummelling his wife mercilessly, especially when he was inebriated. Further investigations proved the captain also had a short fuse. A neighbour, who was also a captain, revealed that on the night his colleague met his end, a feminine voice confirmed to be Angela’s could be heard screaming so he rushed over to the house to intervene as he always did when things got out of control. Before he got to the house, he heard 3 gunshots. He burst in to find Angela sobbing with the murder weapon by her side.

                “I killed him, I killed him,” were the words Angela mumbled as the Military Police (MP) took her away.

                The bullet recovered from the scene of the incident proved that the murder weapon was indeed the service pistol of the captain. Angela was still in shock and undergoing counselling with a psychologist at the detention centre but the only words she had uttered since the night of the incidence were: “I killed him, I killed him.”

                After reviewing all the evidence and speaking to several people, David was convinced Angela killed her husband in self-defence. However, a visit to the mortuary changed his mind. After taking a closer look at the captain’s corpse and the 3 bullet wounds on his chest, David changed his verdict. There was no record of Angela having any experience handling a firearm, but she had fired 3 well executed shots at her husband. The accuracy of the shots grouping on the thorax of the deceased was nearly impossible for a person who wasn’t accustomed to firearms. If Angela was an amateur handling a pistol for the first time, the shots ought not to have been so accurate.

                David knew something wasn’t right, he could feel it. Something was missing from the puzzle. Angela and the late captain had no kids, so they were supposedly alone in the house, so the only logical explanation was that there was a third party in the house that night.

                Two hours after his visit to the morgue, David was seated opposite Eunice Etim. Eunice was a neighbour of the deceased Captain Chibuzor, and wife of Captain Etim who was the first person to arrive the scene on the night of the incident. After confirming Captain Etim wasn’t at home, David decided to show up at their house without an appointment.

                Eunice was a beautiful Efik woman and a nurse at the Military General Hospital. David was impressed with Eunice’s calm disposition.

                “I’m sorry for intruding on your privacy ma’am. I need you to help me clarify some things,” David said.

                “It’s okay, sir. How can I be of assistance to you?” Eunice asked.

                “Can you please tell me, again, everything you heard or noticed prior to hearing the gunshots from the Chibuzor household on the night Captain Chibuzor was shot by his wife?” David asked.

                “It started like any other night. Oga Chibuzor returned home drunk and was having a misunderstanding with his wife. It began with the shouting, the insults and then the violence. I assume you’re aware the deceased had a reputation for battering his wife?” 

                “Yes, I’m aware ma’am. So, what happened?” David asked.

                “My husband did what he always did whenever things got out of control. He left the house to reconcile the couple and some seconds later, I heard three gunshots. I was scared but I ran to their house. Other officers arrived at the scene some minutes later,” Eunice replied.

                “When you arrived at the crime scene, what was the first thing you saw?” David asked.

                “I saw my husband kneeling beside Captain Chibuzor who was lying flat on the floor in a pool of his blood and Angela was sobbing in a corner of the living room with a pistol beside her on the floor,” Eunice replied.

                “And what did you do?” David asked.

                “Acting by instinct, I checked Captain Chibuzor’s body for a pulse but he was gone,” Eunice replied.

                “You’re sure that’s what happened?” David asked sitting up.

                “I’m pretty sure that’s what I witnessed sir,” Eunice replied.

                “Eunice, you’re military personnel so you know the implication of lying to an intelligence officer. Your primary loyalty is to your country and any other thing is secondary,” David said.

                “Are you accusing me of not telling the truth, sir?” Eunice asked.

                “No, I’m simply asking you to tell the truth for the sake of your children, even if it means sacrificing your husband,” David replied.

                “What are you implying?” Eunice demanded.

                “I might not be able to prove it now, but I know your husband killed Captain Charles Chibuzor. Tell me the truth and I promise nothing will happen to you or your children, but your husband will be court court-martialled for killing his colleague. You can tell me the truth now Eunice, or you can wait until I find out which I’m close to accomplishing because the shot grouping of the bullet wounds points to someone with firearm experience pulling the trigger and the culprit could not possibly be Angela Chibuzor. I promise you, Eunice, nothing will happen to your job because your kids will need your physical, financial and psychological support after their father is prosecuted for his crime,” David replied.

                Eunice eyes were trained on David as she went to war with herself. David held his breath as he hoped the moral part of her would prevail. Eunice looked away as tears slipped out of her eyes.

                “I warned him. I warned him several times to stay away from Angela, but he always insisted he felt sorry for her because she had no kids and her husband saw her as nothing but a punching bag. Four months ago, I began to suspect Jeremy was having an affair with Angela. I confronted him about it, but he dismissed my allegations as nothing but jealousy. Anytime Angela and her husband had a dispute, he was always the peacemaker. On the night Captain Chibuzor was killed, my husband lied to me that he was on duty, but he was with Angela in her matrimonial home believing that herhusband was on duty. Before the three shots were fired, I heard Angela screaming, ‘please!’ and Charles shouting ‘whore!’ After that, I heard what appeared to be a struggle, so I rushed out of the house to intervene since my husband was not at home. On my way to the house, I heard the three shots and I screamed for help before rushing into their apartment where I found my husband half-dressed with a pistol in his hand. I checked for a pulse out of instinct; Charles was clearly dead. Angela was traumatised as she held her husband’s corpse and kept saying ‘I killed him, I killed him.’ I am not a child. It was obvious Charles had caught my husband with his wife and gotten into a tussle with the intruder in his house who ended up killing him with his service pistol. Jeremy knew I was going to tell on him so he convinced me that my children will grow up fatherless with the additional stigma of being the children of an adulterer who murdered his colleague. Jeremy wiped the pistol to get rid of his fingerprints before placing it beside Angela who was still wailing with the corpse of her husband metres away. Jeremy told me what to say and do when the MPs arrived. My husband didn’t murder Captain Charles but he killed him in the process of protecting himself because Charles was going to kill him for daring to commit adultery with his wife,” Eunice said flatly, before burying her face in her palms and giving in to the tears.

David felt sorry for Eunice. He was going to make sure she remained on the military payroll and get her transferred out of Anambra. It was the best he could do for her.

                One month later, Captain Jeremy Etim was court-martialled and sentenced to 20 years in a military prison. Nurse Eunice Etim was transferred to Abuja with all her kids enrolled on a military scholarship. Angela Chibuzor was confined to a military psychiatric hospital where she was to receive treatment until she recovered from her psychological travails.

                As the flight taking David to his next destination lifted into the sky, David reflected on the case he had just solved and no matter how he sliced it, he always ended up blaming Captain Chibuzor. Violence had the ability of opening pandora’s box and Captain Chibuzor’s violence towards his wife had not only left her physically battered but also so emotionally bruised that she had indulged in an extramarital affair with the man who had become her hero anytime her husband activated his violent mode. Angela’s hero had ended up sealing the fate of the monster she had for a husband because only monsters found solace in extreme violence.

Niger State

                David was walking by the riverbank; the time was 3:00 a.m. The moon reflected the beauty of the river while she slept. David was loving every moment of his annual leave back in his hometown.

                “Mind if I tag along?” a feminine voice asked.

                “Not at all. I could use the company,” David replied.

                 David glanced at the pretty dark-skinned lady who had appeared beside him.

                The strange lady was a replica of the famous Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji. The scent of the mysterious lady aroused David’s intimate senses.

                “I’m Dr. Helen Sarkin-Pawa,” she said.

                “AWO David Musa at your service ma’am,” David replied, saluting her.

                She was grinning now, with dimples.

                “Are you based here in Niger State?”

                “Yes. I live in Minna and work at the General Hospital there,” Helen replied.

                An awkward moment ensued as they both enjoyed the atmosphere and walked like a couple. This woman was waking all sorts of emotion within David and he did not know when he blurted, “I’m guessing you’re single?”

                Helen chuckled. “You seem so sure of yourself.”  

                “Being alone at the riverbank well past midnight says something. I have to admire your courage,” David said.

                “This is my most favourite place in the whole wide world. I spent some holidays here with my maternal grandparents and this is arguably one of the most peaceful settlements in Niger State. I have a confession though,” Helen replied looking around.  

                “What?” David his curiosity at this woman piqued.

                “I had been waiting for the area to be deserted so I can take a swim. When I noticed you weren’t planning on leaving anytime soon, I decided to join you,” Helen replied.

                David laughed because the thought of not just a woman in her mid-thirties but a pretty doctor behaving like a teenager intrigued him. David couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Helen take off her dress, leaving only her swimsuit beneath.

                “Care to join me?”

                “Fuck the army for denying me this moment,” David replied, looking down at his bad knee.

                “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring back bad memories,” Helen said reaching for her dress on the sand.

                David stopped her.

                “It’s no bother. I am already used to it. Plus, my injury came with a silver lining due to the ways it elevated my status in the army,” David replied.  

                “If you’re still here when I emerge from the river, I promise you a memorable night,” Helen said running towards the river.

                “Give me a clue,” David begged.     

                “I’m more of a shower than a teller, so hang in there until I get back, Mr. Soldier Man.”

                David chuckled at the sight of Helen diving into the river. 

                “Are you still there, soldier?”

                “I’m going nowhere without my surprise,” David replied. She laughed and dipped under the water.

                Thirty minutes later, Helen emerged and lay down beside David.  The sight of Helen breathing quickly with her enticing bosom rising and falling according to the rhythms of her heart stirred sensations in David.

                “If your surprise is wrapped in anything other than intimate sex, you can drag your medical ass back into that river and drown,” David said and they both laughed.

                David and Helen kissed deeply and were both mildly surprised at how much they enjoyed it. They explored each other’s body; kissing, touching, fondling, caressing, licking, sucking, and tasting.

                Strangely, in that moment, David recalled the veterans who experienced an abysmal end due to their unpaid entitlements and said a silent prayer for their souls and prayed to God that his price of being a patriot was going to end up giving him pleasure… like the volts of sensations currently going through his body.

                For the first time in years, he felt at peace. Peace in Helen’s arms: away from violence, hate, tribalism, extremism and all the horrors associated with the ugly side of humanity. This would do.

THE END