HAPPY DEATH DAY
Ajegunle is a small town in the eastern front of Bolorunduro district of Ilesa Local Government. A town that hosts the newly constructed free trade zone where importations are done custom-free.
The license given for the full operation of the mini seaport has largely increased and improved commercial activities in the town. It has become a busy town, where commerce thrives, a bustling market where buyers make transactions in thousands and multimillion naira to sellers daily.
As the sun sets and the neon signs from billboards illuminate the streets, a different set of activities unfold. Covert meetings find their playground in dark alleys, and whispers of illicit deals circulate among those who operate in the shadows.
Amidst the vibrant commerce, there's a palpable tension in the air. Street tunnels and abandoned buildings serve as the canvas for criminal operations, while disreputable characters lurk in the shadows. Petty theft and black-market transactions became a part of the fabric of this town, as pickpockets and small-time criminals seize opportunities in the crowded streets. The report of armed robbery and kidnapping soon became a daily event.
In the midst of these, Police presence is always a sight to behold, striving to get a delicate balance between maintaining order and combating the criminal element that seeks refuge within the street hustle.
When did Ajegunle become this? I queried, hoping to get a satisfying answer, little did I know I was only soliloquizing. The duality of this town is a stark reminder that behind the most visible side of prosperity and commerce, there lies a darker world that, at times, casts a shadow over the rich and legitimate bustling activities of the day.
A dark cloud of fear had loomed for a while. A notorious gang of armed robbers had terrorized the business streets for far too long, leaving trails of crippled businesses and stolen dreams in their wake. But why won't the police live up to their duty? Are these boys above the law? Or perhaps they possess more assault strength than the police; these are the questions that ran through my mind. For years, these merciless criminals had held the town in a grip of dread, until the day the winds of change began to blow.
One fateful Tuesday morning, as the robbers executed another daring heist, they found themselves caught in an unexpected twist of fate. Their intended victims, fed up with the constant fear and suffering, had rallied together. As though the traders were aware of the attack, they already met the weekend before, at a respected traditional priest, for fortification against the attack and infiltration of the robbers. Led by a courageous soul named Jagun, a group of townsfolk confronted the gang, refusing to yield to fear any longer.
As the confrontation escalated, a tense standoff ensued, with both sides well aware that this moment could decide the fate of the town. The townsfolk, armed with determination and unity, confronted the robbers who had thrived on their divisions for far too long.
In the end, violence was not the answer the townsfolk had hoped for, but it was the outcome they were forced to accept. Sporadic shots rang out, Jagun and his men stood firm, others took cover for fear of stray bullets, and in the ensuing chaos, the gang of robbers was mobbed and brought to a tragic end. Before the police could come to their rescue, the traders already lynched the robbers.
The death of the robbers should bring gloom, as death is often a cause for sadness because it signifies loss and even brings about a profound sense of grief, as it means the end of life and the permanent separation from the living. But the case is different, as the townfolk are seen jubilating and so elated at the death of the robbers. It's a happy death day for the thieves. The death, even the death of those who had caused so much harm, served as a sobering reminder of the power of collective action, and the value of unity.
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