I Nearly Went Nuts

Is it a coincidence that I had an awful experience at my apartment that nearly made me nuts that I had to flee my apartment for a week. Well, coincidence or not I'm just going to get on with telling my story of a night i nearly went nuts.

Last week Saturday was a day that started out like every other Saturday in my life. After the house chores and thorough cleaning of the day. I stepped out in the evening for an evening stroll. Since I've been in the house all day I decided to stretch my legs a little by taking a stroll down my street and get in some fresh air et al.

I ended up stopping by at my laundry man's place to get my clothes and also to my barbershop to cut my hair. All these were in preparation for church service the next day.

At 7pm on the dot, I was back at home. I made dinner, took a cold bath and finally tucked myself in bed for a good night's sleep. And before I knew it I was already drifting away to sleep like a baby in its mother's arms.

I've known myself not to be a deep sleeper. The slightest noise around me can wake me up from my slumber. And that night wasn't an exception.

Just after midnight, when it is said that the veil between the real world and the supernatural is at its thinnest. I woke to the sound of mischievous noises and unfamiliar voices downstairs. It was coming from the main gate that led directly into the compound. Since my room was just above the gate I could clearly hear the voices speak even though it was in whispers.

"Guy calm down, you dey make noise. I dey try open am na" I heard one of the voices say in pidgin english.
Guy, take it easy. You're making noise. I'm trying to open it.

"Be fast," another voice said.

Immediately my instinct told me that those voices were not from the occupants of my apartment. I quickly jumped up from my bed and looked down from my window and all I could see with the little flicker of light from the neighbouring compound were shadows of eight hefty men at the gate.

By now they had cut the padlock and gained access into the compound by pushing the gate wide open. Then one of them, who was armed, fired into the air.

I needed no soothsayer to tell me that my compound had been invaded. I picked up my phone to check the time and it was exactly.

'1:35am'

To be honest, to say I was scared would be an understatement. I was utterly terrified. I nearly shit my pants

It was my first time experiencing such an incident , hence at that moment Ideas of what to do or who to call at that odd hour were lost in my head.

Since there's no known emergency number in my state of residence. I tried calling for help from my friends and families and a friend of mine who was a cop residing in the same state as me.

With shaky hands I dialled every available number on my phone. Alas, there was no network reception. It felt like my service providers swore to frustrate me that night.

I could swear I went nuts at that hour. It was a cold night but I was sweating, my feet were shaking and my head spinning.

Last minute thoughts, I quickly remembered to hide some of my costly gadgets and one of my phones which contained vital information in my WC and held the less costly phones in my hands. At least, it's better to take that one without hurting me, than for me to hide everything and they hurt me when they couldn't find anything to take.

Now, I could hear them trying to break into my neighbour's apartment. I could hear their screams and cries of fear and pain. I could hear her pleading in-between sobs.

"Please, please not the laptop, I have all my works in there"*

"Shut up ". The intruders commanded.

Soon, I heard loud bangs at my door, they were trying to break into my apartment. In a few seconds my door flung open and this group of hefty guys barged into my room.

I laid there on the floor, praying and pleading just like my neighbor. Scared of what might happen in the next minute. Lucky enough they didn't hurt me. They took my phone and searched my house and somehow they found the gadgets I hid. When they were sure there was nothing else to take, they left for the next apartment.

While at the door I heard one of them say to me.

"O boy, you get luck say you no struggle with us. We for wound you like we wound your neighbour".
You're lucky you didn't struggle with us we would have hurt you like we hurt your neighbours

The next morning, I packed my bags and fled to my uncle's house. For days I found it hard to sleep at night. And any little noise sends shivers down my spine.

I've always known that life comes with several experiences, but I'm sure that this one experience will linger with me for a long time.

Now I'm back to my apartment and everything seems to be calm. Like my dad will always say; "a true king doesn't run from his throne even when his community is in chaos".