Garin Mazugal

Chapter 13.

Alhaji Sabi'u gained notoriety for being a heavy spender. In Mazugal, this kind of trait brings attention. People want to know and associate with you. Your know will be dropped as a measure of your success. Every one likes you because of the belief that in a day or two, your spendings will get to them or anyone from their household. So when he died, the news spread as quickly as it took them to point fingers and it pointed to Barau, Alhaji Iri and Mai Naira. Events in the past days did little to deflect attention from them and moreover, he spent more time with them than he did with his wives.

The circle of gossip in Mazugal is as frightening as the amount of lies it came with. Those who have no connection with the topic of the gossip swear to the veracity of their insider status. Like expert tailors, the join patches of truth, falsehood and Shakespearean fantasies, feeding it to a crowd eagerly starved of information. It could be the psychology shooting out. People like to believe that someone knows what happened. They like to bring their heads to work in a case of mystery snd readily accept any explanation to that effect. Trust Abuh to milk this sentience.

" Assalamu alaikum ya jama'an musulmi." Mazugal's equivalent for a town-crier. Abuh knows he has lost the respect he commanded. In times past, a snap of his fingers is enough for any sane being to listen to what he had to say. Not so these days.

" I know we haven't been on the same page lately." He continued " but I assure you that I'm only concerned. Just listen to what I have to say."

Habu, Barau's lackey was on his way to play spin master. Imagine his face when he saw his archenemy doing what he came to do.

"First, Hajiya Talle was expelled from her party. Iro and his friends hijacked the party from her. Yaro was told to step down. Then Hajiya Talle died. Now, Alhaji Sabi'u is dead. In all of these, three people are always present; Barau, Alhaji Iro and Alhaji Mai Naira. I'm not saying they are responsible. I'm saying that it is not magic that they're a repeating decimal in every bad event that have plagued Mazugal in the past days."

Everyone kept quiet. He continued.

" Again, I am not accusing them of anything. I am only saying they have questions to answer."

" So what should we do, Yaya! We need actions, not words!"

How pleased Abuh was when he heard that. His opinion was sought for directions. He was getting it back. Habu stood behind, watching the entirety of the scene unfold.

" I think we should invite them. Or bring them! Give them a chance to explain themselves. If we're satisfied with what they say, fine. If we are not, then they must prove they are not responsible. If they fail, we will deal with them appropriately."

" Who appointed you?" Habu said from afar. He started his walk towards Abuh in small but measured steps. The crowd turned to him. Were they to face Abuh, they would have seen him shivering.

" You liar! We know you. We know the thousands of lies you have told. Why should we believe you?"

" Well, I am not saying you should. I am just saying..."

" Shut up Abuh. We have heard a thousand lies from your small mouth. We do not want a thousand more. ". Abuh turned, beaten. His head down, walked with a weakness that defied reasoning. He was beaten but tears was far off. He was smoked but the steam did not come up. Everything that held meaning to him has been taken away. He would have felt better if he had or knew what to do. He was confused because he lacked ideas as to what to do. His next step was taken in blindness. He was crippled with sorrow and dead with thoughts. If tomorrow was the day he was to die, it came the next minute.

Habu flipped the script. Expertly.

" It is easy to blame men like Barau and the rest. It easy to say that Sabi'u, one of the best men ever in Katoge. ....daaaiiii......daaaiii" He punctured his talks with ferocious sobs. When you want to sell a story, you work hard to sell the story. Habu did that and more.

"...daaaiiid and one of them is to blame. No body is talking about his wife, Binta. Every one knows she never liked him. We know how Sabi'u maltreated her. We know how different she is from many girls. While it is okay to speculate, it is okay to think that Sabi'u was murdered by his own friends, what is bad in making sure his wife is not involved?"

"Show us proofs! Show us or shut up!". Magama, a known Abuh sympathiser thundered.

" I don't have proofs. I will not lie to you. But use your head. Think. Did you know that Yaro is back?"

" And how is this related?"

" Very good. I like the question. Yaro's mother died and he disappeared. In his absence, Barau, a known follower of the brand of politics preached by his mother, hijacked the party primaries. Alhaji Sabi'u died. It might look unconnected but if you are smart, and I know all of you are, you will see the connection. Yaro wanted to become a governor before his mother died. His dream was shattered by Alhaji Iro, Alhaji Sabi'u and Alhaji Mai Naira. Binta, his girl was married to Alhaji Sabi'u against her wish. Mai Naira was to become governor. These are enough reasons for a man to seek vengeance. He planned it perfectly so that when the news of Sabi'u death filters in, he will sneak into town, pay fake sympathy, kill the remaining three and elope with his beloved wife. Now, please, tell me there is no sense in what I'm saying. Tell me if what I am saying is impossible."

Every one kept quiet. If the brain is a machine, he had full control. Just as he was about resuming his talks, Alhai Iro lazily strolled in. He looked very unkempt. His clothes were backed in sweat. His face was a resting place for dusts. He had no shoes on and quickly collapsed when he came into a full line of sight.

" Now, look Dan girman Allah! How can this man kill Sabi'u? You can see how empty he is. Any one who thinks he will kill clearly has no conscience."

Some parts of the crowd nodded in unison. Others gave their thoughts the freedom to wander.  The plan was to sow seeds, plenty of them, of discord in the heart of as many people as possible. And it worked. Now, with a nudging, they will compelled to do what he wants them to.

"Abuh said we should invite these men. Alhaji Iro came uninvited. A man that has a thing or two to hide will not take a risk this big."

"True." Some one replied.

" I think we should bring Yaro here! He must explain!"

"Yaasin."

" Wallahi."

" Wane mutum! Sai ya yi! (He will be compelled to explain)."

The nudge was operational. They made hazy runs around, searching for any available weapons. Those with sticks thrusted it into the air, warning the atmosphere of what was to come. Some saw bottles. Others clapped. In Mazugal, you find people organising themselves to cause disorganization. This one was no different. They divided themselves into groups, each going in different directions. The aim was to cover as much grounds as possible and to smoke  Yaro out from whatever hole he was in.

Yaro strolled leisurely. You could tell he looked hungry. He appeared like a man caught in between sanity and insanity. His clothes were just clean. The effect of his mother's death hadn't completely vanished. He came to Mazugal to remind himself of his mother's memories, oblivious of what she had in store for him. He went in to a shop, got an item and paid for it. His mind played scenes of laughter between him and his mother. A huge smile plastered on his face as he did. He was in a different world. His mind was focused on feeling good that he didn't hear the mob that was approaching him. In a short while, they enveloped him. They started talking but Yaro was too broken to be bothered. He nodded his head and squeezed his lips. They asked all they wanted to. He nodded as much as he wanted to. They were getting irritated. The veins in their necks was clear. They were moving about, showing their weapons and pushing it in the air. Yaro was too broken to be bothered. He had defeated fear and was receptive of death. Another question was asked and he nodded. Out of anger, Habu flung the wood he held at him. He meant to show descent but it flew at inordinate angles and struck his head. Yaro Immediately fell with a loud thud.
Legs flew in different directions. Everyone dispersed. The sight was a familiar one for Yaro because he saw his mother....