The Encryption

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Jumoke sped through the streets of Ikeja towards Murtala Muhammed International airport with the police and bomb squad ahead of her. She had been told to stay back after alerting them of the threat but couldn’t bring herself to stay away, her best friend was in there. The whole airport was in danger but she was sure the police had called the aviation security.

She had been trying to call her husband and Mrs Adams, but nobody was picking and they made her more worried. Soon, her phone began to ring and she hurriedly picked it up.

“Hello” the now familiar voice said.

“Yusuf, why na, why are you doing this?”

“See ehn, you can’t understand, the whole state needs to learn to appreciate their workers; Starting with your boss."

"You won't get away with this, the police have already been alerted, they know all your plans" he simply laughed hard after she spoke.

"I believe we've already gotten away with it,and besides we have insiders in the airport.”

“Come on, it’s not that deep, please, people are going to get really hurt" she picked up her speed, pressing on the gas.

“I'm sure you're aware that we have you husband and child.... or should we say, niece. Maryam was a lot of help you know” the cockiness very evident in his voice.

Wait...Maryam? My family? No. As what he said sunk in, she began to feel dizzy and she soon slipped out of consciousness.

Screeeeeeeeeeech, gbam!!

  

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“If you try anything funny, I’d shoot her, so just keep driving” The masked captor in the back seat of Tobi’s car warned him; cocking his gun and pointing the barrel at frightened Bimbo, who was shivering.

A Nokia tune filled the room and with his free hand, the bandit picked up

“Hello...ehn… we're at Anthony…okay, I dey come”. He ended the call.

“Oya out, both of you!” With that, Tobi stopped the car and hurriedly unbuckled Bimbo’s seatbelt and carried her out.

Standing out on the road with Bimbo on his hip, he watched the bandit make away with his car.

“What’s going on daddy?” Bimbo asked “the car” she pointed at the car in the distance.

“Don’t worry baby, daddy would get another car” he replied, walking towards the bus stop. He was very happy the bandit didn't hurt any of them or take his wallet. The car had insurance and was very replaceable. He waited in line and booked a bus ticket.

Inside the BRT bus, he looked up at the TV screen; the headline caught his attention

‘Murtala Mohammed Airport attacked by suicide bombers’.

The reporter stated how the terrorists were apprehended and how one of them accidentally detonated his bomb; thus ending the lives of eight others. She went further to narrate how the authorities had been alerted of a possible terrorist attack by a woman who had received a coded message containing the information.

Also the travellers in the terminal were evacuated on time; unfortunately the travellers outside became casualties of the situation.

‘Woman, coded message…Jumoke’ Tobi remembered the hieroglyphs he had seen on the table. Reaching into his pocket, he picked up his phone and dialed his wife’s number, it rang a few times, making him more agitated

“Hello?” someone said

“who is this?” he asked in agitation

“I’m doctor Bamidele, from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The owner of this phone was involved in an accident this morning; she’s in a ward…

What!!? “She’s my wife, I’m on my way”

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