Coming out of the house, I looked around me. It was obvious that the compound was lacking what it used to have. Everywhere seemed like a kinda deserted place. I got into the car and sat down. I bent her head, placing it on the steering wheel, then I closed my eyes.
I know I'm not the kind that pray. I cannot remember the last that I did that anyway, even though I made my kid do it, I was guilty of the fact that I don't.
But, at the point in time, I think I have no choice than to pray and hope that the heavenly Father hears my prayer. I muttered some words of prayer that only me could understand. After that, I couldn't help but shed tears.
It took me about five minutes to compose myself before I can start the car. After I had dabbed my eyes and face with my hankerchief, I ignited the car and waited for it to warm up before I drove out of the compound.
I left the house at about few minutes past nine, in the morning. The weather was cool, since it wasn't sunny and that was the best weather to go for a search.
The first thing that came to my mind was to report the case to the police. It wasn't up to 48 hours of the incident, but I wasn't ready to take chances. I needed to find my children, latest the following day without excuses. If I don't, then I am totally doomed.
I have the feeling that my children are around me, just that I could not place a finger as to where they are exactly.
Jessica might be right, I sounded selfish, because I was only referring to my kids alone and not my housekeeper and the driver. But, I don't care about that. Every mother yearns for her children so much, even if it might mean not caring for other people. I guess that is the case with me now. I knew it sounded so selfish that I was only talking about my children alone, but it doesn't really matter so much to me. I just want them to be found, all of them atleast.
The traffic jam I encountered on the road was nothing to write home about. I couldn't fathom what the issue was. I heard someone by the side say that the vehicle infront of us were so many that we might not be among the first hundred. I knew he was exaggerating, but I understood what the person meant anyway.
I was on the road for about two hours, something that won't take me up to thirty minutes on a good day. It was so annoying, giving me low hopes on finding my children. I already lost two hours of my time on the road doing nothing. Two hours wasted all along, it was so painful.
Finally, I got to the place where the issue was coming from. A car had exploded there earlier and it blocked the road, making it uneasy for us to drive through. I wonder if there were survivors from that accident, because it was really massive.
Finally and fortunately for me, I got to the police station. It wasn't easy getting to see the Director of Police who was in charge then. They had a kind of funny protocol. I wasn't so patient to follow the protocol, especially when bribe was involved. I decided to call my mom to help me pass through.
She was a retired Inspector General of police, so she still had access to many of the police arms in the country. I complained of my ordeal to her.
"Hello mother." I said to the receiver immediately I noticed that she has picked up the call.
"My dear, any news yet? She asked.
"There will be, soonest. I am at the police station already, but I can't get through to the DPO. When I tried to, one of his boys said he was very busy and can't attend to anyone at that moment. Later on, asked me to give him fifty thousand naira to let me in. Can you imagine that sort of nonsense."
My mom laughed so hard before replying. "Well dear, that is what we faced them. It's a fact that we cannot stop everyone from being corrupt. No matter what you do and how you do it, some set of people will still do it. Don't get so angry over it alright?
"Yes mother. I am calm now."
"Okay good. I will place a call across just now, so they can attend to you immediately."
"Alright mother. I will be so glad if you work on it on time. Thank you."
"I will get it sorted out soon, okay."
"I will be waiting."
The call ended, so I looked for a place close to the DPO's office, where I could sit down and observe what was going on around me. In less than five minutes, the DPO himself came out of his office and called one of the officers infront of his office and whispered something to him. Then the DPO went back into his own office.
The police officer who he said something to came around and called all of us together. Then he mentioned about three peoples' names and said they will go in. Almost everyone waiting started claiming that particular nane.s he mentioned. He asked them to wait by the side of the office.
After that, he said that he wants to call two people and those two people he will call were not allowed to go into the DPO'S office. Then he proceeded to call the first name, but no one agreed to accept the name. Then he called the second name which happened to be mine, so I raised my hand and answered.
The police officer asked me to come forward and Confirm the name, which I did. Then he asked me to go inside the office. The other people started shouting so loud.
I just rushed inside the office to avoid more issues from arising because of my case.
The DPO was seated right opposite as I entered his office. He was dressed on his well ironed and tinted uniform, with his fabulous police cap.
"Good morning sir." I greeted calmly.
He looked up from his laptop, then faced me. "Good morning young lady. How may I help you this wonderful morning? He asked. "Please sit down, please." He offered me a seat and I sat down.
"Thank you very much sir." I thanked him as I sat down.
"Okay then." He winked at me. "Tell me, what is a very beautiful lady like this doing in the police station, by this time? He asked.
I liftedy left finger up, pretending to remove something from my face, so he would see my wedding ring. I was sure he saw it, so I brought it down. He didn't react to that publicly, but I am sure it took him by surprise.
"Sir, my children, my only kids got missing two days ago." I said. I was about to continue when he cut me short.
"Your children, missing? How? How did that happen ma'am? Please talk to me.
"Okay sir. I returned from work in the evening that say, around past 5 pm. But my children were not around. Earlier that day, I had a lot of meetings to attend, so I couldn't get to pick them up from school and my husband travelled out for a business trip. So, I asked my housekeeper Nancy and the driver to pick them up from school. I got home to see that the car wasn't in and so was all of them."
"So, you are saying that not only your children are missing then?? He asked.
"Yes sir. My housekeeper and my driver is missing as well." I replied him.
"Hmmmmmmm. Is this your first time reporting this case to the police? He asked, jotting down Something.
"Yes sir. This is the first time I am reporting this issue." I answered.
"Okay. Do you or your husband have any one threatening you? Or someone who you think might have done this?
"Not exactly sir, I don't have anyone I am having any issue with and my husband doesn't have any kind of enemy as I can relate." I answered.
"So, where is your husband, like now?
"My husband is in Dubai. Been out since Monday for a business trip. Will be coming in this weekend " I replied.
"Do you think your husband is capable of kidnapping your children? He asked staring at me.
"No no no, not at all. My husband will never do anything of such to his own children, his blood. No! I said, almost screaming.
"Please, calm down ma'am. You don't need to raise your voice. I am only preparing the ground for the he investigation."
"Okay sir, I am sorry about that." I answered.
He asked me to wait for him right there in his office while He got up and left his office with the little jotter. I sat down there, waiting for him to return.