Reminiscing: Bakassi Boys

I was young but not naive as heads flew and blood spilled and fear grew; Onitsha was a terror zone One day as we were riding back home from school, mummy driving, me on the back seat with my siblings, we were caught in traffic and we saw their vehicle. They were carrying weapons, knives, red scarves. I think one was lifting a head over his head. Blood drained down his chest. We drove past and I gasped at something that looked like a doll's head lying lifeless on the black tarmac. It was human and it was already white. Some said they saw the arms and legs lying somewhere. It was terrible, terrifying. They said they were cleaning out the streets Robbers were in for it Everyone that had ever stolen meat from a pot was sorry. Only saints plied the road Guilty ones disappeared to other states. Onitsha was now 'safer' than ever but terror was palpable. A few families bore the