I live in the northern part of the country Nigeria. In year 2017, most of our engagement had to do with traveling within the northern states, sometimes for religion conference, academic conference, business and for visit. Still during that period was the northern part especially the Northeast (maiduguri precisely) was unsafe with the case of bokoharam, killing people for a cause unknown. Though our journey within that particular state was halt, a particular engagement or opportunity came which our boss advice we took advantage of and gave us the encouragement that God was our protection. After much persuade, we decided to embark on the journey hoping not to come across the terrorist or better still have military check points all over the city to prevent the terrorist from taking control of the road.
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The journey was by default 15hours from my state and we started at around 9:00am , hoping to arrive there late into the night. With us were passengers who were going same direction. the journey started smoothly and fun , loaded with people who told joke about the recent happening in the state and others gist us about the happening in the state, and the destruction the terrorist has done recently. My heart wasn't at peace hearing how the terrorist has dominated the state, I could only pray that God save us from this evil. I sat at the middle row, my boss sitting on the driver seats.
At around 1:00pm, we arrived borno state, the road seem calm with just few check points than I have expected. We moved further , passing an isolated site that was crowded by forest, a bullet from an unknown direction penetrated into the front mirror hitting the driver on the shoulder. He screamed in pain and it alerted everyone who was in the car. We dashed out immediately the driver pressed on the break pad running into the thick bush. We were all separated as everyone ran into the forest blinded by the dark and the path to where they are heading to.
I ran non-stop into the forest stumbling on woods and few times fell into holes but all these didn't make me faint. I could hear shooting close and afar as they chased us into the forest. I gathered my little energy to pass through the streams, I was unaware to were my destination was leading me to, all I thought of then was safety. I ran all through that morning from around 1:00Am to at around 5:00Am.
At about 5:10am or so, I came across a hunter, who probably was returning home from his hunting. At first, I was scared to approach him but I did after realizing he was calm. "What's wrong, young boy" he asked me when he realised I was panting. "We were attacked on our way by bokoharam" i told him. He did not speak further as he took me to a nearby village where he lives. He asked that warm water be provided for me, to which I bath and he encourage that I rest but I couldn't as I thought about my boss and the other passengers to whether they survived or were caught ran through my thoughts.
I stayed three days with the old man. He had two wives and a small male child, the grown up were females. He alone struggled to feed the family through farming which was their major occupation. He fed, shelter and encouraged me to be calm during my stay with him. He wasn't wealthy but he had a heart so kind to share from the food he had harvested during the rainy season.
The third day, he called me out and handed me some money, "this will take you back home " he said. With unbelieve, tears rolled down my cheeks. I appreciated him and set to go. He told me time which was safe to travel and the best route, to this I promised to return.
I arrived home the next day, meeting my family worried. They have heard about the recent attack in the state and more worried when I wasn't picking my calls. I told them about the journey and the kindness from the hunter and how I misplaced my phone. We all thank God for God's mercy. I later learnt the military helped my boss and few passengers that night. Ever since then, we have been in touch with the hunter.
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