In Bouza, somewhere in Sokoto at 1:00pm.
James had just finished a meal with his family. Grace, his second daughter was already telling her unending stories. When Grace was full with food, she usually talked and talked until everyone was tired of listening.
"Gracie, can't you shut up? I am beginning to wonder if I mistakenly put alcohol in the food. Haba!" , her mother would say.
It was in the middle of Grace's meaningless story that gunshots were heard.
"Oh, they have come here.", James said with all the grief in his heart. His whole family laid on their stomachs and all his children started crying. He held hands with his wife and mustered some prayers. Fear was in the air.
His heart finally broke when he heard a big bang on the door of his house. In seconds, it was finally broken down. He began to muster courage for the worst. He knew they would kill his family and finally kill him.
Masked men, fully armed, entered the house and bundled him away. His family was not touched. He was relieved, he cared less what they would do to him.
They took him to a place in the bush nearby. Many other men were there. About five others were brought after him. They were about twenty captives. They put them in a straight horizontal line. And asked them one after the other of they were Christians or not.
James could feel the tension in the air. He could almost hear the hearts of all the men there contemplating whether to claim they are not Christians or not.
The men began asking their captives. The reality of the showdown was not so clear to James until his pastor, who was right beside him said he was not a Christian. James was shocked to his marrow.
The next was James.
He said, without thinking of the consequences. "I am a Christian."
The masked men removed their masks. They seemed to communicate with themselves using their eyes. They were all surprised that someone could be so bold and loyal to his faith.
They picked their guns and killed all the men except James and set him free. One of them said to him. "We need more loyal and truthful men like you in the world today. Go."
LIES DON'T SAVE.