Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

20:00 hours, 2nd Lt Jama and the rest of the commando team selected for the mission where at the briefing room awaiting further directives.



They all had their mission gear with them in their bags except the weapons they would make use of. Captain Yakubu came in some 10 minutes later and asked them to go back home and reconvene at 22:00 hours because Immigrations have been informed and are now part of the mission. They would do the mop up job and clear the girls from the vessel.


*******
“Get dressed gentlemen” captain Yakubu who was already kitted said to them as soon as they walked in. Within fifteen minutes, the were all properly dressed up for the mission. Five minutes later, Lt Col Sule and the Base commander came in and were followed by four warrant officers carrying two boxes which he instructed them to place on the table.
“Go get the boats ready” the Base commander then instructed the Warrant officers who immediately left the room.


Captain Yakubu stepped forward and opened the boxes one after the other to reveal their weapons for the mission. The Belgian FN FNC assault rifles with night vision. They had all trained with the rifle during their various training programs and where familiar with it.
“Gentlemen, please” Captain Yakubu instructed them to help themselves.


Rifles, side arms, knives, night vision goggles, extra cartridges, the boys all armed themselves.


Done with that, the Lt Col Sule began the final briefing. “Gentlemen, your mission is simple, you go in, take out the armed men, secure the vessel and arrest the crew and the doctor, locate the girls and then await Immigrations who would be hanging around.


Now as you all know, their navigation screen would definitely pick up any boat approaching them which would put them on high alert and put us in a disadvantaged position. Lt Jama, you’ll lead the attack from the air. Your mission is to secure the perimeter of the ship before Captain Yakubu’s team and the immigration boys come in with the boat. Their boat would berth some 5 miles away from the vessel’s course and would decoy as a fishing boat.


Once you land and take your positions on the ship, you’re both expected to hold while the rest of the team mount the vessel. We’re expecting say about 20 to 30 hostiles. We can’t take chances and hence you should consider all crew members hostiles…..


We’ve gotten less than 40 minutes to wrap this up and stop the ship from leaving Nigerian waters. Because should they cross into the international waters, we be violating the rules of engagement. So you must catch them while they are still in your compound”
He went on to brief them before rounding up saying, “Lieutenants, the driver outside would take you to the Air force base for your flight.



Before then, a word from the General” Lt Col Sule called on the Base commander after he had finished briefing the boys
“This should be a piece of cake boys, I expect you to be back before 2am to fvck the women you left alone in bed. Good luck boys” The Base commander said and left the room.


******


It took some 35 minutes before 2nd Lt Jama and the boys got to the Air force base in Ikeja. The Group Captain who was the base commander was on hand to receive them. He had already been briefed about the mission earlier. He was to provide and clear the plane with which Jama and his team were to sky dive from unto the vessel.


The Air force base commander took them straight to the tarmac where a NAF C-130 cargo plane was being fueled up. While they waited, the were each handed a chute and an oxygen bottle and began to gear up.



Done fueling the plane, the pilot started the plane just as Jama led the team to enter the plane through the back ramp. Adding to the weight of their initial gear and firearms, the chute, oxygen bottle and their helmets added more pounds on their body. But it’s part of what they had been trained for.



Once inside, one of the plane’s crew pushed a button to close the open ramp as plane began to taxi on the tarmac for take off. It would take about 15 minutes to get to the altitude and the diving location.


*****


Captain Yakubu and the rest of his team comprising some Warrant officers and Immigration officials had set sail. It took them another 1 hour 30 minutes to get to their waiting position. They had already received confirmation that the vessel had left Cotonou port. The time was 23:45 hours and they were able to pick up the Vessel on their navigation system. They then sent the signal to the the cargo plane carrying the boys.

*****


For the past 15 minutes, the pilot kept circling off the coast of Lagos and their diving site. He avoided being seen in the vessel’s navigation screen. When he got the signal, he climbed to the right altitude which would only look like a plane departing Lagos even if they appear on the vessel’s navigation system.


Talking into the mic to the boys to get ready, they all began to recheck their gear. They checked if their their chutes were properly mounted, checked their helmets, fixed their oxygen mask and began to line up with Jama leading. The red lights came on just as the ramp began to open.



Completely open, the yellow light came on.



Finally the green light which was the “go” signal came on as Jama jumped out of the plane.


****


Jama knew his job was already cut out for him and he is expected to take any action that would lead to both missions success. He was chosen to lead the team because of the mission given to him directly by the base commander.



Looking at his sky diving watch as the height decreased rapidly, he could see the beauty of the illuminated Nigerian capital city, Lagos. A little while later, the vessel came into view and then his diving watch indicated he was at the altitude to pull out his chute. Talking into his mic, he notified his team as they all pulled out their chutes.


Controlling his movement and descent, he landed on the loaded containers. Inside some of these containers, the girls were locked.