My Own Experience With SARS By Adiemea Obed

I was just 21 years old, very small me. Those days at 21 I was looking like 15. I had just finished year 3 after passing my first ever MB exams.

I had my few months old laptop which was my biggest asset then. It was my Library, my TV, my girlfriend, and playmate. I hid that baby inside my big box covered with my clothes.

I was traveling home for that few weeks holidays before we start clinicals. From Rumuokoro to Omoku, we passed through Obirikwerre 

Police stopped us along that road for a search. Innocent me that didn't have anything to be afraid of, I was the youngest person in the Car, everyone was scared except me. I haven't heard about SARS Until that day.

I gladly opened my big box, they searched and brought out my laptop, that was where gbege started.

They asked for the receipt I didn't have it. My mouth was sharp. I didn't know that in Nigeria to carry a laptop without the receipt was a crime. 

They labelled me a criminal, that I stole the laptop. You look like those boys that stole a car around uniport yesterday, we have caught you" they said. (Yahoo Yahoo wasn't rampant then, they would have called me Yahoo boy)

Oga I am a medical student. He refused to look at my ID card. Oya open the laptop to see evidence that it's my own. He refused, said I am trying him. 

My mind was still strong, before I knew it, he cocked the gun, handcuffed me with my hands to the back, and was pushing me to put me into the booth of their small car, that was when fear gripped me. 

I started shedding tears, my fellow passengers started begging them to collect money from me, they put me on the back seat instead. I told them to drive me to my house so I can show them the receipt. Passengers told me to shut up that I was making them angry the more, that only Money will bail me out.

They threatened me, that they will waste me and nothing will happen. That they are not ordinary police, that they are Special Anti-robbery squad from Abuja. (First time I heard of SARS). I became afraid for my life.

I had less than #1000 in my pocket, no money in my bank account. My driver came and asked where I was from to try and identify me. 

Fortunately, one woman passenger I didn't know was from my place knew my mum, that was how she begged them to collect a certain amount I can't remember and they let me go. After my mum had to refund the woman her money.

From There till we got to Omoku I didn't make one comment. I felt molested and robbed by the same people that should make me feel secure at a young age.

What was on my mind "Na so I for take die? perhaps I would have slept for some days in the cell, what evil did I commit?

I Never ever followed that Obirikwerre road to Omoku again all through my days in school until Just 2 years ago when the East-west road became a death trap.

That is why if I hear talks like "Only criminals fear SARS", My Mind will be preparing the thunder that will fire the person before the Christ in me restrains it from coming out of my mouth.

And then I pray for the person that He doesn't get a SARs Treatment to change mouth.

#SARSMUSTEND #ENDSARSNOW #ENDSWATNOW