Must Read: Kumalo

6 years ago

Must Read: Kumalo

UNIVERSIT Y OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL ENUGU

Detectives Peter and Sandra entered the building; they went to the receptionist desk and flashed their badges before making enquiries.
They were directed to the office of the Chief Consultant.

The Chief consultant is a bespectacled old Lady in her sixties. Her face has multiple colours as a result of several years of rubbing make ups, some part of the face looked burnt, other areas are permanently coloured in red, green and black. She does no longer make up again as her face is permanently made giving her the most ferocious and funny look ever because she was always aggressive and angry.

The Detectives flashed their badges as they entered her office and introduced them selves and their mission.

You are different from the people that brought him here! She declared. And what do you want with him? She directed the question at Peter.

Peter almost laughed at her face, it was like a hungry Fox chewing Kola nut. The colour of her teeth cannot be gotten in any colour brochure.
Peter nodded at Sandra.

You are quite right Madam, Sandra offered; the patrol team that brought him here were on a routine job. They relayed their findings to our headquarters and HQ disseminated to every station. That is standard procedure. Now we are the detectives covering the institute of Management and technology and we have been assigned to take up the case ma!

We have been on this for about two weeks now.
Hmm? The Consultant looked at the detectives again through the rim of her glasses. When she stared at Peter, he could not hold it any longer.
He busts out laughing. And he excused himself from the office.

Sandra took thirty minutes to plead and pacify the Chief consultant. Eventually she collected and made photocopies of their police ID cards and their detective badges, she made several frantic phone calls before ushering them to the ward where Kumalo was admitted.

He was brought here almost dead two weeks ago by your patrol team at night. The young man was shot in the stomach, he was very lucky that no vital organ was damaged, just perforation of the intestines and the abdominal walls. He has survived! He is very strong willed.
She explained to them on their way to the ward.

She opened the door to the ward and asked the nurse in the ward a few questions.

Kumalo was lying on his back. His abdomen was wrapped in bandages and there were bruises on the sides of his face. A pack of drip containing yellowish liquid hung above his head discharging its contents gradually into his body.
His right ankle was cuffed to the metal beam of the metallic 6 by 6 inches bed.

I wonder why you people put that thing on his foot! Chief snapped.

It is standard procedure! Sandra said.

This annoyed the Chief and she became furious, she faced Peter to complain but peter pointed at Sandra and backed out to laugh some more.

Do you think he will run away in his condition?
She asked Sandra; you could have one of your men stationed at the door of the ward to guard him instead of chaining him down like this! With this on his foot how do you expect him to turn around and change position? Don’t you know this will have an adverse effect on his body?
Now Sandra saw why Peter was laughing but she pinched herself hard and she screamed out of pain so as to distract the woman.

What is wrong with you? Chief asked with concern.

It is cramps ma! Sandra said. I had a running stomach this morning, Sandra clutched at her stomach. I will be okay ma! She said. And ma, we do not have enough man power. We did not make the rules ma, we simply follow!

Like Zombies abi? Chief asked.

Yes ma! Like Zombie! Peter answered from behind as he joined them in the room.

You this silly detective! By the time i inject you with Amonia, you will have the laugh of your life! Silly boy! Please i will leave you now and you have just ten minutes to do what ever you want with him but note that this is a hospital and not a police station! If you do any how here, you will see any how!

Yes ma! Peter saluted.

The consultant left, peter pulled a spare seat and sat by the left side of the bed while Sandra went and stood y the right, she checked the cuff on Kumalo’s ankle to see if it was tight or loose.

Hello! I am detective Peter of the state CID and beside you is Sandra my partner. We are on top of your case and we hope you would be able to assist us. We need to catch up with the guys that did this to you and killed your brother.

Where is my brother’s body now? Kumalo asked

He is still at the mortuary, your people have been contacted and they will be coming for the corpse tomorrow. Peter said.

When will he be buried? Kumalo asked
We don’t know for now until your people arrive! Sandra offered
Kumalo started to cry painfully because his stomach wound was yet to heal.

Please don’t over work yourself! Peter advised. Everything will be okay. It is your own protection that is important to us now.

Those that killed your brother will want to silence you at all cost since you were supposed to be dead too. Isn’t it? Peter asked.

Sir! Kumalo called through clenched teeth.

Yes? Peter answered.

If I should survive this attack ehn? Ha! Oga blood go flow o! Imagine they just killed Jumbo like say na fowl! Just because of two fighting o!
Ha! Oga i be waffi boy o! My eyes don see tire oga!

Please take it easy Okemutie! Sandra said.

That is why we are here! Please give us names!
But first of all, are you one of them? I mean which cult doo you belong to?

I don’t belong to any cult here! Kumalo answered.

Do you belong to any cult any where? Peter asked.

I be Egbesu boy for home! That na normal runs for home. Jumbo and I are members! Oga!

The thing wey this boys do so na big insult to Egbesu! It is better they vamoose from this earth before I well o!

Stop talking like that Okemutie! Do you realize we are police detectives? Sandra cautioned.

Na today? Kumalo asked. Which kind police detective? Where were you guys when we were shot? You never see the Nigerian police when ever you need them! He said
But the police saw you and brought you here nah? Sandra countered.

The police did not see me first else i would be dead by now! Kumalo corrected. It was a hunter that saw me! The man just left here now, he comes here daily to see me.

The man told me that the police collected two thousand naira from him to fuel their Van before they brought me here. When i regained consciousness, i realized that all the money in my pocket, my wrist watch and my neck chain were not on me and the hospital said the police did not give them any of my belongings.

Only my school ID card was left in my wallet, even the two pieces of gold circle condom that i always carried in my wallet was gone! Taken by your men!

Peter shook his head sadly. I am sorry Okemutie, please can you give me the address of the hunter that rescued you? We will need to meet with him.

I don’t know his number but you can get it from the nurses here, they have his contact detail. Kumalo said.

Okay! Now back to why we are here, kindly give us the full gist of what led to the attack on you and your younger brother!