THEY were given two options – face the bullet or poisonous snakes controlled by charmers. It was threatening to rain and once it does, the road becomes impassible. So everybody was in a hurry to get home before the rains.

A night before, it was shown on television how properties of a citizen were floating on top of erosion in his bedroom. He had been away to work when heavens opened and the rest is now history. The young man who volunteered information to media men said he was stunned to the point that he does not know where to start from anymore. His computer machines were among those swimming in the flood that invaded his sitting bedroom when the flood knocked down the doors, opened and occupied every available space.

The young man was among those going home that night until a portion of the Asoro held up traffic for hours. Meandering through the sea of cars held by the traffic was impossible. No turning, nothing. Everybody waited for God’s intervention before doing something.
Meanwhile, it was getting darker. Those with handsets called up their relations and friends to keep them company while waiting for the inevitable.

The Young man had nobody to call. He came down from the bus and walked towards where people dreaded. At the end of the hold up were guns totting men. They threatened to shoot whoever dare leave the line. And a condition was given to those who wanted to reverse to part with their money and handsets. On a second thought, the robbers decided against this. They thought that those who escape may turn to the police and that would spell doom for them.

The snake charmers were not in a hurry. Those who wanted to play a fast one, had snake thrown at them. Some fainted on seeing dangerous snakes, pulled from a sack by the charmers who grinned.

But things would not have dengenerated if a little bit of patience was exercised. Everybody was in a hurry to get home and no one wanted to be out-smarted in the mad rush.
If the people had allowed at least five vehicles to pass on both sides nobody would have met the robbers. It turned out that the motorists played into the hands of the robbers who took absolute control – forgetting that army barrack on Ekenwan Road was just about five miles away.

There was fear that those queueing on the bad spot could have their vehicle caved in at any moment, depending on the load the failed portion could carry. This added more fear.

The gully on both sides of the road was such that nobody, no matter the size of his heart, would want to take a plunge for escape. It was, therefore, a perfect setting for the robbers to operate unchallenged.

As breeze caressed the faces and legs of those waiting to be robbed, there was a sound of a gun-shot. Car owners scrambled into their cars and some sacked their drivers on the spot for their inability to drive them out of the danger zone. As the drivers threatened to hand over the keys, some begged and apologised. There were some who needed cool pure water to quench their thirst but who would pass the robbers to buy–‘pure water’ and return to the battle-front?
On enquiry, it was discovered that the gun shot was from one of the robbers who wanted to instill fear into one of those men held in the traffic jam. The traffic suddenly continue to reduce as people parted company with their cash and handsets. It was turn of the boy whose apartment had been taken over by flood. He told the snake charmers to do whatever they like since he had nothing living for anymore. The charmers brought out a cobra. It did not strike fear into the young man. But a man behind who saw the snake dipped into his globe compartment, took out two valiums and swallowed them at a gulp.

That was when the law appeared – or so we were told. There was exchange of gun fire and the thieves fled.

The problem, despite what happened in the previous evening, is still there. The Police or Federal Road Safety Corps, should post men to that place since we lack the sense to be descent on the high ways. Their duty is to control traffic on the failed portion until it is repaired. Schools are re-opening and it will not augur well to begin with sad news.

Those caught offending the rules should be prosecuted or a fine imposed. The way the drivers especially the tuke-tuke and others use the road is disturbing.

The law should maintain peace and ensure that at least five to 10 vehicles are passed on both sides to avert a looming doom.

For me and those who serve God faithfully, our lives are soaked in the blood of Jesus. No weapon formed against us shall prosper.