My heart was palpitating, beads of sweat formed on my forehead and cheeks. My mouth was getting foamy and I wondered why my saliva tasted like sour Cassava even though I just had noodles for breakfast. Motionless, dazed, I tried in vain to appear unnerved. My legs were visibly jittery yet I kept muttering “no shaking “ to feign an act  of bravado.  For two agonizing hours, I found myself trapped in a stifling aluminum container with two market women—one middle-aged and one elderly. Desperate to save our lives, we sought refuge in a provision kiosk and remained still and silent for three excruciating hours. This was the only way to escape or we would have ended up as dead meat  for traditional ritual sacrifice . This didn’t happen in some remote interior areas in northern Nigeria or some time in the 90’s . This was my predicament on the 21st of February 2023 at exactly 10 am in a well known area  in Lagos Mainland. Never in my entire life did I have a clue that practices as this still thrived in parts of Lagos. Don’t get me wrong, I am a born Lagos babe. Lived my whole life here but I was in no way prepared for this culture shock . In those fleeting hours, my mind could barely process the whole scene. This palaver started only a couple of months back.

It was a few weeks to my 29th birthday and I just had it up to my neck staying in my father’s house . I come from a  very disciplinary home. Typically, women were expected to get married before permanently leaving the house. Well I wasn’t having that anymore. I badly needed my space , some freedom to think and live independently. Besides, the neighborhood I grew up in was becoming cringeworthy .  The street, the people ,my mother’s incessant calls and my frustrated “Yes Mom!” retorts. I was tired of people like “Aunty Ify” the loud mouthed street gossip, Daddy Joe, the nosy Old neighbor who never ceased  to give a snide remark on every new piece of clothing I wore or any male guest who came around. Not to mention our tenant’s  ill mannered and promiscuous teenage daughters who gave ‘it’ cheerfully to any male who cared to ask.I was emotionally and mentally exhausted by my surroundings. A new phase of my life was long overdue. So one memorable morning, I browsed through the internet for house agents and found one, an unfortunate and fraudulent one.I fell victim because he sensed my sheer urgency and took advantage of it. In the months that  followed I realized that this harbinger of doom in the guise of an agent signed me up as an unwilling actor in a 3D gothic horror drama. That same day I inspected the property he advertised and foolishly paid in full. This marked the beginning of my eerie experiences in the ancient traditional town of Igando. 

Part II: 

The Oro Festival is a well-known ritual festival throughout Yoruba land. Growing up, I heard frightening tales of how Oro had the ability to call a child's name at night using their mother's voice. I guarded this secret fear in my childish heart. I made rules not to answer any call once it was past day time, not even my father’s ! There were stories circulating about this mystical creature that we dreaded as children. One story that stuck with me the longest was about a certain Ijeoma Whose lifeless body was found on the roadside with both breasts chopped off. The tale went that Ijeoma was a rebellious child who sneaked out of the house for a midnight party and fell victim to the occultic procession on her way back. The school I attended only intensified my fears. During the Oro Festival season, they would close early and instruct us to walk home in groups. My young heart was consumed by dread for this mysterious creature or whatever it might be. However, I never imagined that I would find myself in a direct face-off with it, not even in my wildest dreams.

(If you enjoyed this story, please like and share your comments. I need your support to win this competition. Share it with your friends and keep the likes coming. Once I reach 50 likes, I will continue with the episodes of what happened next to me and the two women. Thank you all, and lots of love! 😘)