Lugard: Chapter 9

The days following the Lekki Toll Gate massacre were filled with anguish and despair. The city of Lagos, usually so full of life, felt heavy with grief and anger. Amara, Ifeanyi, and Damilola began a desperate search for Na'ibi, combing through hospitals, police stations, and morgues in hopes of finding any trace of him.

Amara was consumed by guilt and fear. The weight of the situation was exacerbated by a secret she had recently discovered: she was pregnant. The news had been a shock, but amidst the chaos and her frantic search for Na'ibi, she had no opportunity to share it with anyone. The fear of what might have happened to Na'ibi gnawed at her, and the guilt of not heeding her father's warning added to her torment.

She replayed her father’s words over and over in her mind. Chief Daniels had warned her about the potential attack on the protesters. He had known something was going to happen and had tried to dissuade her from attending. But Amara, believing that her presence might deter the violence and hoping that her father’s influence could prevent it, had gone anyway. The realization that her father had been unable to stop the massacre weighed heavily on both of them.

One evening, as Amara sat in her small apartment, her phone rang. It was her father, his voice filled with anguish. "Amara, I tried to warn you," he said, his voice breaking. "I couldn't stop them."

Amara's heart ached with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "You knew, Dad. You knew, and you couldn't stop it. How many more lives have to be ruined because of your friends?"

Chief Daniels was silent for a moment. "I never wanted this. I wanted to protect you. I failed."

The guilt and regret in his voice were palpable, but it did little to soothe Amara's pain. She hung up, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was responsible for everything that had happened.

Despite the emotional turmoil, Amara, Ifeanyi, and Damilola continued their search. They visited hospitals, hoping to find Na'ibi among the injured. They checked police stations, praying he had been detained rather than something worse. They even visited morgues, each visit a heart-wrenching ordeal.

Days turned into weeks, and their hope began to wane. The strain of the search took its toll on everyone. Ifeanyi and Damilola provided unwavering support, but the constant stress and worry were evident in their weary faces.

One particularly grim afternoon, they arrived at yet another police station. The tension in the air was thick as they approached the front desk, asking once again if anyone matching Na'ibi’s description had been brought in. The officer on duty was unhelpful, dismissing their inquiries with a cold indifference that stoked Amara’s already burning rage.

"I just want to know if he’s here," Amara pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

The officer sneered. "Get out of here before you cause trouble."

Amara’s patience snapped. "We're not leaving until we find out what happened to him!"

The officer’s face twisted with anger. "I said, get out!" he shouted, reaching for his baton.

A violent confrontation ensued. The officer struck out, and Amara, in her heightened state of distress, fought back. Other officers rushed in, and amidst the chaos, Amara was shoved to the ground. A loud crack echoed through the room as her head struck the floor.

Ifeanyi and Damilola screamed, rushing to her side, but it was too late. Amara lay motionless, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

News of Amara’s death spread quickly, reaching Chief Daniels within hours. The grief and guilt of losing his only child were too much for him to bear. Upon hearing the news, he suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed, never to recover.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through their circle of friends and the broader community. Na'ibi was still missing, and now Amara, the fierce and unyielding fighter for justice, was gone too. Their friends were left to pick up the pieces, determined to continue the fight in their memory.

Aondo, recovering from his injuries, provided critical information to Damilola, ensuring that the evidence they had gathered would not be lost. The quest for justice was now more personal and more urgent than ever.