My brother, an officer in the Nigerian Army and his colleagues had been in Dafur, Sudan for peace keeping for a little over six months. Last week he informed me he will be back on the 20th day of May. I was so happy!
After much expectations Tuesday the 20th finally came. On my way back home after work on that day, at about 5.30pm, I received a call from my Mum informing me that her son, my brother, who has been away on a peace keeping mission was back in the country. Then she gave me a number to call him with. Immediately, I dialled the number but the network chose that time to be busy. I continued trying to make the call and still could not reach him. No problem. I know he will call me.
At various intervals the next day, Wednesday 21st day of May 2008, I kept on trying to call him through that number, but I never succeeded.
The next morning, Thursday 22nd May 2008, on my way to the office, while we were still basking in the euphoria of the victory of the Manchester FC win over Chelsea FC, I received another call from my Mum. She said she just received another call from my brother with another number. She gave me the number and once again, I tried calling him and as usual the call did not go through.
The happiness I felt when I heard my brother had returned was cut short when I heard there had been a fatal accident, on Wednesday the 21st day of May 2008, which involved the returning troops from Sudan! O my God! Blood of Jesus! That can’t be. No way. Mum said she spoke with him! Father Lord! This can not be true!
When I entered the office I tried calling the number again but the network was still busy. Why is it that whenever one wants to make an emergency call or send an urgent SOS, the network is always busy? Just before noon I tried calling again and thankfully, the call went through and I spoke with my brother! Alleluia! I became very relieved and I thanked God.
On my way home, after work, I heard the sad news on radio! When I got home I called him again, just to make sure that he was alright. This time I asked him to confirm the news I heard on my way home that evening! He was still in shock. O my God! Imagine, after serving for SIX months in a war zone, ensuring peace returns to Sudan, risking their lives and by the grace of God escaping all the troubles there, they came home to die just like that! This is very sad. So sad. Chei!
By the evening of Thursday 22nd day of May 2008 the news was on all TV stations. As I was watching the news, I was crying! The whole thing looks like a dream! But why? Why did this have to happen?
Everyone who knew my brother was due back in Nigeria this month started calling me. I answered the calls and invited each person to join me in thanking God. All I could say to them with tears in my eyes and my shaky voice was that he was not involved. It could have been me! It could have been my family! I really truly sympatise with all the families of the deceased soldiers. I am still in shock!
May God Almighty grant the departed soldiers eternal rest. AMEN. May Almighty God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable lost. AMEN. May such tragic incident NEVER happen again.
All these I ask in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
