"Make sure you don’t forget the gift,” I reminded Ngọzi, knowing that she was more in an organised mood than me that morning. I had noticed how she kept thinking ahead making sure we didn't forget anything.
“Don’t worry,” she replied. I watched as she secured the last of the bags. “I’ve got everything we need".
I looked up at the sky, the sun was already becoming hot. I had envisaged we would be on our way by then but we were still waiting for our last coursemate to arrive. "Typical students", I muttered and shrugged my shoulders. I looked at my watch, we still had a few minutes before we would be late.
"Are you sure we can still make it in time to Gloria's traditional wedding in Abia State?" Ngọzi asked, it was as if she read my mind. "You know it's actually going to be a long drive", she added.
"I know. But if only we leave in the next few minutes. We'll meet up" I replied.
Looking up I saw Charles, running towards us. He was the only one we were waiting for.
"I'm so sorry. The traffic was bad" he apologised as I motioned him to enter the bus without saying a word back at him.
Ngọzi and I piled into the front seat of the bus.
Our driver, Mr. Ubong, asked "Make I move (can I go now)?"
I nodded.
Mr. Ubong turned on the engine, and soon we were on the highway.
The journey was like every other Nigerian student's trip. Filled with singing songs, shouting at the top of our voices, cracking jokes, pointing and taking pictures of the scenic views and lush green countryside. and sharing stories. Laughter and chatter filling the air.
"Welcome to Abia State" I read out loud to the class. Pointing at the signpost where the words had been boldly inscribed.
"Are we there now? I'm tired of sitting down" A feminine voice asked from behind. I turned to see it was Favour, the youngest in our class.
"No, we just got to the city gate. Now we have to drive down to the community that's another forty-five minutes drive from here" Mr Ubong our driver explained.
“Oh no!” Favour grumbled.
But then something unexpected happened as we got to a road leading into the community where our colleague's traditional marriage was being held. A group of youths had blocked the road with a bamboo stick, their faces stern and unwelcoming. They wielded sticks in their hands, making it clear that they meant business. They were extorting money from road users before they could pass.
“Oga stop!” one of the youths shouted at Mr Ubong as he made to manoeuvre their blockade, banging on the side of the bus. “Wey your money? (Where is your money?),” he asked.
Silence engulfed the bus, the tiny chattering died down. We all focused on what was transpiring between Mr Ubong and the perceived youth leader.
We watched as Mr Ubong tried pleading with them, with confusion and worry etched on his face.
“My Passengers are students going to their colleague's wedding. Let us pass please.” Mr Ubong pleaded.
"No dey speak English for me. Me I no dey understand that your English o. No money, no passing. Na our rule be that. (Don't speak to me in English. I don't understand English. All I know is, no money, no passing. This is our rule.”)" the youth said.
A slight giggle came from the back of the bus. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. The mood on the bus turned from excitement to tension. I knew we couldn’t just give in to their demands. We had a right to travel freely, and we weren’t about to be bullied.
I got off the bus and noticed that all motorists were at a halt. Some who didn't have patience gave in to the extortion and gave them money so they could drive past. I was gradually becoming irritated with what was going on.
"Is this even legal?" I tried asking in a scary low tone but my voice became surprisingly loud. My heart pounded in my chest.
"You say wetin? (What did you say?)" The leader asked, walking closer towards me.
Ngọzi tried holding me back and signalled to me that I should keep quiet but I shook her hands off and asked again "Is this roadblock legal? Who authorised it? Because if you're to block a federal road then the orders should come from the government. Mind you, I'm a citizen like you and I know my right" I asked in a little bit of a shaky voice. I couldn't tell what was pushing me but I knew I was becoming angry.
"Yes!, who authorised it" I heard Charles, my coursemate voice from behind. I turned to see him and other male coursemates and even some motorists stepping out of their respective vehicles to stand with me
I turned back to the youth leader and smiled. Knowing I wasn't alone anymore in that fight.
"Be like you dey mad. Na me you dey ask that kind question? (Seems like you're mad. Am I the one you're asking that kind of question?)" The youth leader asked, walking up to me with his stick.
"We're on our way to a wedding and we're already late. Last I checked we don't owe you anything and you have no right to block this road" I said this time in a calm but firm voice.
"Oga na too much English you dey speak. Pay money or I go wound you here! (You're speaking too much English. Pay the money, or things will get rough)" he threatened. I watched as his eyes narrowed. Then his fellow youths started approaching.
I knew if this wasn't handled properly at that moment, things might actually get rough just as he threatened. But I couldn't back down now. Luckily, Charles tapped me and pointed to a police van slowly making its way down the road towards us. The youths were backing the road so they couldn't see the police van approaching.
"Be like na those olopa go settle this our matter now (seems like those policemen will settle our differences now)" I gave a mischievous smile while pointing at the police van that was already close.
As they turned and sighted the police van they all scampered into the nearby bushes. While a few policemen chased after them.
“What’s going on here?” one of the officers who seemed to be the leader asked us.
“They were trying to extort money from us!” I explained, "We’re just students trying to get to a wedding.”
“Oha and his men,” the officer said, shaking his head.
“You know them sir?” I asked, surprised how he got to know their name
“Yes, I do. And I've told this boy that this is illegal but they wouldn't hear. Always blocking the road and demanding money from motorists." The officer turned to the blocked road and shook his head. To his men, he commanded "Boys disperse those blocks and sticks from the road immediately" then to us again "We're so sorry. We'll find them and bring them in. Hope nobody was hurt because they can be violent at times"
"Nobody was hurt."
"You can continue on your journey now"
“Thank you, officer,” I replied.
We all got back on the bus and back on our journey. For me, the mood was one of relief and triumph. I knew the youth leader wasn't bluffing when he said things were about to get rough. And I wondered what would have happened if the policemen didn't arrive on time.
“You were amazing. What gave you the morale to stand up to those guys like that?,” Ngozi asked, giving me a proud smile.
“Do you want to know the truth?” I asked instead of answering her question.
The bus immediately fell silent. I guess everyone wanted to know the truth too.
"Yes"
"I nearly shit my pants there."
The whole bus burst into laughter.
We got to the wedding late but just in time for food and drinks and a whole lot of dancing after we had wished our celebrant congratulations.
