LIFE IMPRISONMENT
EPISODE 3
WRITTEN BY: GRACE OLAYEMI
Settling down in the new city was not difficult for the Emmanuels. Their new apartment had already being setup and all they needed to do was to get their things inside it. They had enough hands to help them with the setting up and in no time they were settled in. Mrs Emmanuel saw to it that the children were duly enrolled in school and they resumed immediately as it was the middle of a term already.
Mr Emmanuel resumed to his new position the next Monday. He had done a background study of the Police Force in that State and had even visited the CSP of the State. He was fired up and ready to get to work but the lagging state of the Force baffled him and he knew that he had to put a lot of things in place.
He had a meeting with Divisional heads in the State and other ranking officer and he made sure that he reminded them of their duties and other things that was apparent they had forgotten. He corrected every wrong conduct he noticed and also brought up strict rules with grievous penalties for defaulters.
He got the details about Danger’s case and immediately formed a committee of strategists to work hand in hand with him.
“I want to appreciate everyone of you for the warm welcome you gave to me and my family,” Mr Emmanuel began his speech at the first strategic meeting with the members of his committee and made sure he had everyone’s attention.
“I want to commend the combined effort of the police Force in this State to put an end to crime and insurgency in this State and in the country at large.”
“It is no news to you why I was transferred to this State and the urgent task that we have to carry out. I have selected you all to be members of this committee based on your exceptional abilities and performance in the Force since you joined.”
“I have gone through the information about Danger and I can tell you for a fact that that guy is a threat to the peace of this city indeed. I feel the pain of the citizens and I want us to work hand in hand to make sure that an end comes to it.”
“If this guy continues to get away with all the crimes he had been committing, that will spell doom to everyone in this city. The Police will lose credibility, the government will be despised and the citizen will be insecure. I’m sure we all don’t want that?”
“We are going to come up with a strategy here and now to make sure that we catch this Danger.”
Mr Emmanuel left off speaking and suggestions started rolling in on methods to catch Danger.
* * * * * *
“Nawa o! This your new oga is crazy o!” One of the Inspectors at the headquarters commented after reading the memo sent to them from the new SP.
“Don’t mind him jare.”
“That’s how they always do. It’s initial gara gara they have after they have just received a promotion.”
“Abi o! He will soon calm down.”
“But this man’s own is too much o. See all the yeye rules and regulations that we have forgotten that he is trying to enforce on us.”
“Is it that one that is paining you? My own is the inhumane punishment that have been allocated for people found wanting.”
“So, with my gray hair I’ll be attending morning parade? God forbid. Let him come and take 50% of my salary.”
They all laughed.
“But, I heard that he had been giving an ultimatum of six months to catch Danger or he will lose his job.”
“No wonder. I’ve been wondering why he was so interested in Danger’s case immediately he got here.”
“Let him go and catch the Danger nau. It’s here we will be till the end of the six months when he will pack his things and leave us in peace.”
“But, it will be good if he can catch this Danger. At least, we will have peace in this city.”
“Catch indeed! What will he use to catch him? The Danger that is like a spirit. Is it that one that one overzealous man will catch.”
“Wait, is it true that he has been caught before?”
“Who?”
“Danger, nau!”
“I also heard the story. That he was caught some years back at Osogbo and he disappeared from the cell.”
“Hmmm, that’s definitely a made-up story.”
“Osogbo is a peaceful place and Danger has not been recorded to have operated outside this State before.”
“Let them just catch him and let us rest. Enough of Danger this, Danger that.”
“Who are the them that should catch him? Are you not an officer?”
“The Ogas. Let the ogas go and face him since he is a senior criminal.”
“Coward!”
“Thank you! I have a wife and children!”
To be continued…
