The many creek villages around Bonny and its Bight exist on fishing, so that night, many Ijaw fishermen were out on their canoes. They had heard the sound of the burning plane overhead and seen it crash into the water. ‘My brother, look at the aeroplane that had fire in one side. It will soon … Continue reading The Rising Glint Part 3
Ngozi’s temperature was higher and her natural colouring turned to grey. Her moans, once so loud, had quietened which scared her parents more. There was a stench of death in the air mixed with aviation kerosene and fear. Many felt the end was near. Clement pushed the wheelbarrow towards a queue in front of the tent, where … Continue reading The Rising Glint Part 2
December 1968 Ogbete Coal Mine Digging was continuing in spite of flooding in many chambers. Sweltering temperatures and cramped, claustrophobic conditions, meant the miners could hardly breathe, yet the work had to be done. Ogbete, the most productive coal mine in the whole of Nigeria, had scaled down production because of the civil war. Deep … Continue reading The Rising Glint Part 1
Slowly the sun rose, burning up the haze, allowing the building to come into view. An ugly monstrosity with a size incongruous with the surrounding areas. This was Shando. In 2011, OK Security had approached the British government about helping it reduce the cost of prison services. What this company offered, was to take foreign prisoners from Britain to … Continue reading Shando Hilton
I scare myself as I get older. Memories that seem not that long ago, turn out to be years into the past. My children had laid hands on some old family pictures and were laughing at the hair styles and fashions that seemed so hip at the time. There was nothing wrong with the follow up to … Continue reading The Receipt
Two states away, the Sword rose into the air and turned north east. It’s uncanny like GPS navigation system settled at 270 kph miles an hour and 500 metres in altitude, avoiding natural or man made obstacles. Manuel had struggled to find the machine’s preferred solid state fuel, but had found a bio diesel alternate, which caused … Continue reading The Sword And White Stuff – Part Two – AlabaOk
‘It will go well, Insha Allah’ said the man the group knew as Omar Fadir. Mohammed Isas, the eldest amongst the men sat on the ground, replied ‘We wish it so. As soon we receive the money from your people, through our intermediary in Dubai, the product will be delivered through the agreed route, within one … Continue reading The Sword And White Stuff Part 1 – AlabaOk
The blistering sun made Ebele turned the air-conditioning up, as the Third Mainland Bridge traffic crept along. Her high cheek bones, slim profile and intense facial features made for a formidable person. She wanted to crank down the window but was aware of area boys lurking around. Looking around, she thought she saw a familiar … Continue reading Expired Playa…..AOk
Many travellers checking in at the Kuwaiti Airlines counter carried Christmas presents for families and friends but Kola just had his bags, as it was a working trip for him. Kola Olu was on his way to Kuwait City to run a course for a local oil organisation, and as it was the Christmas season, had been offered double … Continue reading An airport, five countries and a tale…AOk
With Dele asleep, he installed the tiny transmitter on his home line and another inside her mobile phone, which she had left on the dining table before she went to bed. The monitoring machine went into his desk drawer in the office. Now, whatever she was up to, he would soon find out. What if she was having … Continue reading Speak Softly and Carry A Big Stick 2- AOk
The haulage truck missed Supo by a whisker as he huffed cycling uphill towards the council estate where he lived in west London. It was winter 1990 and Supo Cole with his family were just settling in as newly arrived immigrants in England. With his wife Dele and 3 year old son, Olu, the bitter … Continue reading Speak Softly and Carry A Big Stick 1 – AOk
The 747 banked sharply, giving passengers sat in its left side a panoramic view of Los Angeles. The smog LA was renowned for, cast its dirty wisps on the windows, as the plane lined up to land at the airport and another ten seconds later, with barely a bump touched down with its mighty engines … Continue reading Flower Of The Sea – AOk
‘Oakland Tower, Two Zero Tango at Runway 11, ready for take off’ ‘Two Zero Tango, please hold and you are number five for take off behind the Go Places Fokker 28’ ‘Roger Oakland, number five for take off and I have the little Fokker in sight!’ ‘Ha ha, nice one skipper. Tower can’t bust you for … Continue reading Two Zero Tango – Alaba Okuyiga
‘Tum du du dum dum- tum dum dum’ Debo hummed as he walked home earlier than usual from the church. For the last 12 months, 10 year old Debo spent his Saturday afternoons the same way. Late 1960’s Yaba was a hub of activity. Noon meant choir practice at the All Soul’s Church followed by … Continue reading Bonanza – Alaba Okuyiga
Shimmering water slurped on the edge of the footpath as the sun beat down on the Marina. Oni’s sandaled feet shuffled in the hot weather as he stared at the ships on the other side of the docks. The vessels included tramp steamers, oil barges and even the ferries that carried people from Apapa across … Continue reading Oni’s Apapa Odessey – Alaba Okuyiga