Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

JAMA

It’s been six months already at Bonny Camp for Jama. As a Second lieutenant here, life has been fairly routine, home to office and back. Noting special. Nneka had visited him severally for the first two months, but stopped completely from the third month. But last week Saturday she show up at his door apologizing for leaving him in the dark with respect to her whereabouts.


Probed on the reason for the cut in contact, she said her mother discovered she was pregnant even before she understood the changes in her body, and decided she left Lagos for her home state where she terminated it. Only her mother who arranged the whole termination knew about the pregnancy. Her siblings and Dad are unaware of the pregnancy and its subsequent termination.

She explained she wouldn’t be able to see him again, because that was the condition given to her by her mother to keep it away from her dad.



According to her “For both our own good, the relationship has to end”. Although he wasn’t exactly in love with her, he pretended her was sad about the breakup. They still had a “break up s*x” before she left later that evening.


****


The time was 8:30pm and Jama la!d on his couch watching a tv show when he heard two firm knocks on his door. “Who’s there?” he asked not standing up
“Captain. Yakubu” a deep voice answered him.
He jumped up from the couch, tripping in the process of running to the door, he got back up and ran to get the door. Captain Sule, his townsman was also his platoon commander at Bonny Cantonment and he worked directly under his office. Wondering what was the reason for the unusual visit, he opened the door and saw the Captain and Lt Col. Sule the cantonment’s 2ic (second in command).



Saluting both his superior officers starting with the Lt Col and then the captain, he was asked to be at ease by the Captain.
“Won’t you let us in?” Lt Col. Sule asked the still surprised Jama in hausa
“Sorry sirs, please come in sirs” he apologized and moved away from the entrance to his apartment so they could come in. “Please have a seat” he offered after closing the door behind them.


The Lt Col sat on the bigger couch while captain Yakubu sat down on a smaller couch.



The Lt Col began. “I understand you are from the same town with Captain Yakubu right here son?”
“Yes sir. My grandmother and his were cousins” Jama responded standing with his hands behind his back. Captain Yakubu usually referred to him as a younger brother in their local plateau language
“Which makes you what? fouth cousins?” the Lt. Col. joked.
“Something like that sir” Jama reaffirmed with a little smile
“Good. Now you are definitely wondering why l and Captain Yakubu are in your apartment, especially at this hour” he paused. But Jama said nothing. He wasn’t supposed to. So the Lt Col. continued
“You underwent your commando training and marine warfare tactics successfully and came out tops. In view of this, and from the instructions the Base commander, I’ve been mandated to put together a team. A team of our best commandos for a rescue operation which you’ll be briefed on with the rest of the team tomorrow”. He paused and watched Jama’s facial expression which still showed a bit of confusion.
“Yea, you’re probably wondering why aren’t we waiting to brief you tomorrow like the rest then. Now, while you’ll get your full instructions about the official mission tomorrow, there’s an unofficial reason why you are going on this mission which will be led by Captain Yakubu here.



On the personal instructions of the Base commander, you are to recover a package from the vessel…….” The Lt Col. went on to brief Jama on his role when the main mission is underway.



He was made to understand his selection was based on the recommendations and trust the Captain had in him on one hand and their relationship as townsmen on the other hand.


****


Second lieutenant Jama, seven other officers of the same rank and training,q and Captain Yakubu were assembled together Sunday morning for a briefing in the base missions briefing room.


They were awaiting the arrival of the Base commander. Captain Yakubu joked with the boys as they awaited their superiors. The time was 7am.


Some 10 minutes later, the Major General and Lt Col. Sule, the Cantonment Base commander and 2i/c respectively, came in. The officers on the command of Captain Yakubu stood up and saluted their superiors. “At ease” said Lt Col Sule.



The Major General began; “Good morning gentlemen. You have been assembled here on such short notice because of the task we have at hand. You’re going to embark on a rescue mission aboard a vessel that would later today cross the Nigerian waters, some 80 miles away from the coast of Lagos. The vessel would be departing Cotonou later tonight and is bound for China. He paused to take a look at their faces before continuing.
“Officially, the vessel is known for the sole purpose of bringing in used cars and clothing from Europe to Benin republic, while also returning with fresh fruits from Benin Republic to China, and subsequently conveying new cars back to Europe. But it has been discovered to be moonlighting as a slave vessel. More like a vessel for human trafficking. This means it takes teenage girls mostly smuggled into Benin Republic from Nigeria back to China and Singapore. From where together with new cars, it takes illegal immigrants from China back to Europe to work as cheap labour.


Turning to face his second in command, Lt Col Sule, he said “Col please” while pointing at the projector indicating he should take over the briefing.
“Lieutenant David, turn off the lights” Lt Col Sule began by instructing an officer closer to the light switches. Picking up the remote control of the projector, he began displaying a picture slideshow.



The first picture that showed up was that of two girls. They were the definition of beauty and Elegance. Probably between ages 16-18 Jama thought. The Lt Col. began; “This is Folake and Biodun Williams. Ages 17 and 19. They are the daughters of billionaire banker Chief Adekunle Williams, personal friend and Classmate of the Governor of the state. They were kidnapped on their way home from school two week ago, with their driver shot dead. For those of you who listen to the news, you must have heard about it.


While the police are busy fooling around, our contacts were able to establish that the girls were taken across border to Benin Republic.



There, they were sold to international s*x slavers who are shipping them later tonight to China.


While the kidnapping is as a result of business rivalry which ain’t your business, your duty is to make sure those girls and other girls are rescued unscathed.


Besides Chief Williams being the governor’s friend and a Nigerian, there other girls whose parents are nobodies but deserve to have their children back. So this mission is to get every single girl on that ship back home to their parents”. With that he called on Captain Yakubu to come brief the boys.


Captain Sule began; “Alright boys, it is believed the girls were all bought by the Beijing Brotherhood with the initials Bb, which is led by Liu Kang Li”. Clicking the projector remote control, a picture of the mafia’s initials Bb and the leader Lui Kang Li came on the screen.



He proceeded “While the Beijing brotherhood are known for their transpacific drug trade, you’re definitely wrong to think that they depend on the drug trade alone for survival. With their South American counterparts from Mexico and the likes competing for the US market, they had to look for other business fronts and sources of income. This led to human trafficking, preferably virgin teenage girls.” He paused as one of the junior officers raised his hand to ask a question
“Yes, Lieutenant Emmanuel?” he responded to the raised hand
“Why the preference for virgins Captain?” Lieutenant Emmanuel asked
“This is because virgin s*x slaves go for far higher prices than their non-virgin counterparts.



It is generally believed by Chinese business men that their businesses tends to grow exponentially whenever they have s*x with virgins. Hence, such girls are sold for as little as $500 with the girls passing through all forms S#xual torture” Captain Yakubu answered the lieutenant.
Proceeding, he said “This is Doctor Idrisu, a Togolese citizen and screwed up Doctor who’s would be on the ship. His duty is to confirm by examination the presence of a hymen and if it’s genuine. He carries out all necessary blood tests to ascertain the health status of the girls, this as you can all guess is because their buyers don’t get to use any form of protection. We’re to take him alive with the rest of the crew….


Before proceeding, he left the floor open for questioning. After answering all their questions with the General and Lt Col Sule chipping in every now and then.



Captain Yakubu then went on to give details of the weapons on board the ship, the crew members details, the level of hostility to expect, the complete map of the ship etc.. Also, he stated their entry method, their own arms, departure time etc..


The mission was to remain a secret till completion and they left the briefing room at 8:30 to reassemble by 20:00 hours.


****


So what was Jama’s other mission on the vessel?