A nostalgic trip to Enugu II
Even as I savored the developments I saw in Enugu, I remembered several hellish encounters. My first “python dance” in the hands of the Army at the 82nd Division. My “scopion dance” in the cell of the Nigeria Security Organization, now DSS. And my “kangaroo dance” in the cell of the state police command. Each of these agencies claimed they were carrying out their duties. But forgot that the reporter also has a duty as a member of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
The Army arrested me for publishing a story about some soldiers from 82 Division that became notorious. They became edgy when reports of their wrong actions against civilians were published. I was “captured” and told to lie inside a drum filled with water. As I moped at the hole the water dropped on my forehead. It was an experience I would not wish an enemy. This was during military dictatorship. After my release, following the intervention of my publisher, I was told that it was an error of judgement.
Yes, it is affirmed that police is your friend. But in 1984, the same police, after detaining me for days, handed me over to the then NSO over a story both agencies claimed bordered on state security. The story was about the sudden mysterious death of all the police dogs in their kennel. There was another story of an investigation about a planned attack by robbers on Enugu town.
My clash with then police commissioner, Mr Johnson Odu, was the story about the death of all the police dogs in the custody of the police at Awkwananah Mobile Police Base. I was locked investigating for three days in police cell after publishing the story which Odu warned me not to.
It will be difficult to forget my lucky escape during an armed robbers’ gun attack on a police van on night patrol. This happened along Enugu-Onitsha road in the middle of the night. I had inserted myself into a night operations team to have an experience of what night patrol was about.
I also remember my ordeal in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where I was summoned by a presidential panel investigating a front page exclusive story I wrote about the then VIce Chancellor, Prof. Frank Ndili. He was removed from the office based on the story.
I could not forget the late Chief C.C Onoh, as governor, asking my publisher, Bashorun MKO Abiola to remove me. Abiola flew into Enugu to answer an invitation based on my hot stories that were not acceptable to the governor. Chief Onoh asked that I should be transferred out of the state else he would not be able to rule the state. “Your man is a stumbling block to my administration,” he declared. I can’t forget that statement he made as he wagged a finger at me. MKO, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and the late Dele Giwa were all assembled inside Government House for the meeting.
I remembered my report of the first plane crash in Enugu. To get the story, I posed as a relative of the Ghanaian pilot just to get him inside the hospital room and extract information. This became the front page lead of the National and Sunday Concord newspapers. I was financially rewarded for my investigative reporting.
Which one will l remember or forget?
l remembered the Nurse l traced to Onitsha as she was about to sell ten kids. I gave the information to the police. Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo was then the DPO and we worked together after her arrest. It became my exclusive story.
There was the story of Awka female students who slept with trained dogs for financial reward from foreign construction workers. l had visited a doctor friend who was treating one of the girls. l overheard him say that the scratches on her body were connected to sexual affair with an animal. l waited for the girl and sought to know her school. That was how my investigation started and the big story emerged. Both my publisher and the then Governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo, rewarded me handsomely.
l remember the story of my detention in NSO. l had to befriend an NSO lady to be able to obtain information that led to the removal of the state director, one Mr Njemanze. lt was not funny. They came after me , killed my Alsatian dog, locked me up in an underground cell and signed decree four on me. Thank God, that regime was toppled before they could execute mine. This was after Nduka lrabor and Tunde Thompson had gone in for ir.
What a nostalgic feeling that the Coal city has evoked!
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