I shall never forget the afternoon the cow broke into our garden and damaged my father's brand new wrought-iron gate.
(1) Therefore you can imagine my consternation when, sitting at home one afternoon and taking the opportunity of doing some serious reading while the rest of the family were out, i heard shouting. Looking up from my books, I saw a cow in the garden just disappearing round the corner on it way to the back of the compound.
I rushed out, wondering how on earth it could have got into the garden as I shut the gate myself bolted it firmly into the ground, when my parents left the house.
The Fulani cattlemen were already in the garden chasing the cow, and as i got to the front door, I saw it disappearing again this time through the front gate.
(2) What a mess that gate was, my parent's precious gate! It was now no more than a bent, misshapen piece of metal.
But i must get moving; I thought to myself. I must get hold of the cattlemen and take them with me to the police station.
There was one nearby.
Atlas, i had got moving too late. When I looked down the road the cattlemen and the cattle had already disappeared.
You d' better go straight to the police station and report it; said one helpful passer - by.
(3). I ran all the way, arrive breathless and managed just to pant out, Good evening, officer. I want to report that a cow has broken down our brand new and expensive wrought-iron gates.
The officer on duty looked at me silently for fully a minute as if he had not heard aright. Then he scratched his head and, leaning over the counter, said, You want to report that a cow has broken down a gate?
Yes i replied if we hurry we could meet them.
Now just a minutes. I can't go rushing off just like that, you know. Do i take it you wish to lay a formal complaint?
"I suppose so, if that's what you call it; I said, impatiently. Can we go now? Unless we are very quick, we shall never catch them.
Oh, dear me, no; he said as he reached for a large book lying at the other end of the counter. Formal complaint must be laid in writing. I write and you sign.
And he reached for his pen.
He looked round at the clock on the iron table behind him.
Time the complaint was made was almost 6 p. m. Date: twenty- third of December 2017. That's right, isn't it? As he spoke, he was writing, very slowly and carefully, in the big book.
Yes, of course, I said. I was getting more impatient.
Name and address, please, ' he went on. Your place of residence, not the P. M. B. number.
He wrote them down as he wrote everything, very carefully and very, very slowly. I could hardly bear it. Then he said, And now I should like like you to tell me in your own words exactly what took place at the above address at approximately 6 p. m. On the twenty-third of December 2017.' He looked at me expectantly.
(4) I controlled my impatience there couldn't be much chance now of catching up with the Fulani cattlemen and told him.
I was, I said, sitting studying in the living room quite alone, as all the family had gone out, when I heard shouting, and then saw a cow disappearing round the corner of the house. I knew I had bolted the gate when my parent left, so I couldn't think how it had got in. But by the time I rushed out, the cattlemen had chased the cow out through the gate which was badly damaged largely, I presumed, when the cow had forced its way in. I repeated what the passer-by had said and described how I had come at once to the police station.
And in what condition was the gate when you reached it? asked the police man.
It was bent right out of shape; I said.
And what do you consider the damaged was worth? That is what do you estimate it will cost to repair it? he asked.
I really had no idea, bit i made a guess and he wrote it down. Then he said he was going to write out my statement in proper form, and ask me to take a seat ' while he did so. After writing out my statement i signed on the dotted line which he had carefully drawn with his ruler.
And now; he said, we'll set about catching that animal. Believe it or not till date the police man is still in search of the cattlemen and the cow.
