Darkness seems to draw closer than usual. It was still half past six in the evening, but the night was too quick to take charge. The male crickets made their nightly repetitive chirp sounds. It was still an early night but unusual silence befall the whole village of Ababa. Ekwueme's bar that was a few blocks away from our compound, who normally stays open till 10pm attending to customers and playing all kinds of afrobeat songs had to close earlier.
Ababa village was indeed in chaos. A young lady's corpse was seen lying on the main road leading to the general market. Rumors had it that a flashy Range Rover car dropped the dead body at the early hours of that morning and some said she walked for awhile and collapse to death.
A squad of police officers arrived later that morning for their inspection and investigation. Quite a number of people who were seen around the area were arrested for questioning. This incident was on the lips of every one in Ababa village . The corpse was confiscated by the police and awaiting identification.
Later during the week of the incident, the corpse was identified and it happens to be Nkiruka's daughter. Ababa village was quite large and populated but gossip and rumors was something that circulate faster than a minnow can swim a dipper.
Nkiruka's daughter, Amaka is known to be the pride of Ababa village . She is a pretty young lady with brains and a role model to many young girls. Parents would always use Amaka as an example to their children. She won the golden medal of the cowbell's spelling competition and brought back the cup to the community high school. Amaka was born celebrity and influencer, she was popular to all Ababa families.
When she finally got admitted into the university, it was something we all expected. The whole community was willing to sponsor her through school. She was to be our community lawyer after her studies
But the only hope and pride of Ababa was left dead on the road of Ababa. Tears were in the eyes of many and sorrows in the hearts of people. It was indeed a loss.
Nkiruka was so grief-stricken— her only daughter, she loved and cared for after the demise of her husband. She remained unmarried after many suitors came for her hands in marriage because of her love for the late husband and daughter.
“But, to what end?” She asked in pain.
In the course of the investigation, the truth was brought to light. Amaka's roommate was interrogated— Amaka left for a club party hosted by the happening guy on campus with a friend that fateful night. She had double mind on if to go or not, saying that she promised her mother not to attend any ungodly gathering but on a second thought, she accepted to go for the party. At least, it was her last days in school and she wanted to experience what it is like to attend a night party.
Her first happens to be her very end. The voice of reasoning came calling yet she ignored it.