“I am not willing to be humiliated or lose my position because of one person's stupidity. I want him here alive, and make sure you bring him back.” The leader continued giving his instructions. After ensuring he was understood, he paused briefly before continuing.
“Currently, he is believed to be in Nigeria and is using the name Alphonce there. After committing the incident, he began to be hunted the very same night, but he must have understood the punishment awaiting him, which is why he decided to flee early. I leave this task in your hands. If you succeed in bringing him back here, you will be handsomely rewarded with enough money to ensure you and your families live comfortably for the rest of your lives.” He spoke as he tossed photos of the man onto the table and signalled them to leave.
They were not to ask any questions but to carry out the mission as instructed. They turned to leave after saluting but stopped when they heard their leader's voice again.
“None of you have the right to question or investigate this matter beyond what you’ve been told. If anyone disobeys my instructions, they will have signed their own death warrant. This matter must remain confidential among you. Your initial payment will be deposited into each of your accounts in the next half hour.” Their leader finished speaking, and they left the room, filled with the joy of the forthcoming wealth but also with an underlying fear for their lives.
*****
The bullet that had penetrated Jason's side was laced with a potent poison. As he felt his body growing unusually heavy, he knew he had to leave the area quickly. He approached the man who was slumped over, taking his last breaths. Opening the man's mouth to investigate, he discovered that the man had bitten down on his tongue, which held a tiny black pill. Jason realized these men carried poison in their mouths to take their own lives rather than divulge secrets if captured.
This level of commitment, willing to sacrifice one’s life to protect certain secrets, was extremely dangerous. Jason stood up and headed towards the door from which the men had emerged. Ahead was a large door secured only by an external latch, with a large window next to it that reflected the interior, though those inside couldn't see out.
Inside, he saw a woman tied to a chair—Yasinta. Her face wasn't entirely unfamiliar; he had seen her on social media and even had her photo saved on his phone. He opened the door while keeping his face hidden.
“Leave me alone! Don’t come near me, you devil!” the woman cried out in anguish as Jason approached her.
The trauma of narrowly escaping rape by the men who had initially held her had left her terrified, thinking that they had returned. She tried to speak, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Jason moved closer despite her screams. Realizing he was wasting time, he manoeuvred behind her and applied pressure to her neck, causing her to lose consciousness. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, then exited the room cautiously, keeping an eye on the walls. It didn't take long for him to spot the electrical meter. He approached it, placed a small device resembling a miniature explosive inside, and then closed it before quickly leaving the building.
As he reached his car, a massive explosion erupted from the house he had just exited. He remained unbothered, knowing he had orchestrated the incident by creating an electrical short circuit that led to the explosion. Driving away rapidly, he was confident the explosion would alert people, and the police would arrive shortly.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, ignoring the blood seeping from his wound, and made a call in the dead of night, with lawyer Yasinta lying unconscious in the back of his car. It was an unusual hour to make a call, but ASP Bakari, who was in a deep sleep after the day's hectic activities, was awakened by the persistent ringing of his phone.
Since being granted a short leave by the IGP, he hadn’t received a call this late. He had no choice but to answer the unfamiliar number.
“Hello,” he said calmly, trying to ascertain who was on the other end.
“Go to the bus stand immediately. Get on the flyover and you’ll find a black car. Get in and drive it to a safe location. Tomorrow morning, you’ll know what to do. I’ll meet you tomorrow night,” the voice on the other end instructed in a stern tone, abruptly ending the call without waiting for a response from the police officer.
ASP Bakari was left calling out in vain,
“Hey, hey, who are you? Hello, hello,” but it was as if he was talking to himself.
Frustrated, he sighed heavily, his outburst waking his wife, who wanted to know what had caused her husband to become so agitated at such a late hour when he should be resting with his family. ASP Bakari assured her that it was a work-related call requiring his immediate attention at a certain location due to an emergency.
He left home without further explanation, in his police uniform, making it clear that he was an officer. He embarked on his journey using his beloved motorcycle, a mode of transport that fit his modest income. The absence of traffic allowed him to reach the designated location in thirty minutes.
ASP Bakari stopped his motorcycle at a remote area near the petrol station. He began to walk cautiously, passing by individuals one by one. He slowly ascended onto the road that separated the four main routes.
The car parked ahead appeared to be of significant value, unlike what he had initially thought. This made him more vigilant, and he pulled out his pistol from his waist. He approached the car cautiously until he reached it. He turned to look around for his safety but didn't see anyone. Inside the car, there was only the glow of the lights, which prevented him from seeing clearly what was inside. This forced him to make a decisive move.
He slowly pulled open the driver's door, keeping his pistol in hand. Upon opening, he didn't see anyone inside except for the car being turned on, with the keys on the dashboard. This prompted him to quickly turn to the back to ensure there was no imminent danger. What he saw made him close the door and open it again for the second time. There, he saw someone lying in the back seat of the car. He took a closer look and was startled by what he saw.
He closed the door and took a step back, moving towards the edge of the road. From there, he scanned the area, trying to see if anyone was nearby, but unfortunately, he didn't see anything. On the back seat lay the body of the woman who had been kidnapped several days ago, causing a nationwide stir, Yasinta. ASP Bakari Zalimo wiped the sweat that had begun to form on his face and returned to examine the woman to see if she was alive or dead. He had no other way to get answers than to approach the body and find out for himself.
As he approached, he felt a strong fear, worried that the woman might have been killed. He wiped the sweat from his face and cautiously approached the back of the car. He pulled open the rear door and saw the woman lying in the back seat. When he touched her neck, he felt a weak pulse, indicating that she was still alive.
Relieved that Yasinta was alive, ASP Bakari Zalimo quickly lifted her and placed her on his motorcycle. He secured her tightly to prevent her from falling and rode the motorcycle at full speed towards the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention. With his mind filled with numerous thoughts, he knew he needed additional information and the cooperation of the police to ensure that those involved in Yasinta's abduction were arrested and brought to justice.