A SELFLESS SERVICE TO AN UNGRATEFUL NATION (Narrative Poem)
One sunny day,
while on Rapid respond Squad
Patrol along Oshodi / Apapa
Expressway we had a
distress call that men of
the underworld are having
a field day at matori
we made a you turn
at Toyota and head
for Matori.
On approaching Ladipo Market,
we at the back of
the patrol van:
a ford Ranger, disabuse
and continue with bounce by bounce
movement toward our location
we had barely pass
the second warehouse
in the market when
this heavy firing
started coming from
all quarters: it was an Ambush.
After about ten minutes,
when they didn't hear
or see any movement
in or around the patrol
vehicle,
they started coming out
from their hide out
in hanger position.
On three!
We fire rapidly at them
after five minutes
of firing;
we left six of them dead
two seriously injured
with bullet wounds.
On our side,
the driver was still
battling with breath
The team leader sgt Ogunike
took nineteen bullets
in the chest.
The vehicle was shelled
beyond recognition & the
communication gadget damaged
so we have to reach base
on cell phone for backup
and ambulance.
And then drama started
unfolding itself.
First was a young man
of about twenty three
his reaction when he saw
us trying to bring out
the remains of sgt Ogunike
was shocking.
He was like 'Ha,
they even kill police.
this guys try O! '
and then he calls
out to another guy
saying 'This boys too young oh'.
Police self, look how they
just waste their lives'.
An elderly woman
shouted at us from
the now growing crowd
'Those boys you killed
are people's children o! '
and then she started
cursing in Yoruba Language
I was dumb fold.
This boys they are talking
about just open fire
on a police patrol vehicle
and killing two police officers
These boys fired the
first shot.
They draw the first
blood.
They look life first,
and nobody cares
cause we are police.
Perhaps our lives are worthless.
If we hadn't respond
to their distress call
they would criticize us
of incompetency
now they are criticizing
us for defending our lives.
The society has decay.
They place values on rogues:
nobody cares when
a policeman dies,
nobody cares if he
have children waiting
for him:
wives who have turn
widows
a force that doesn't give
a damn about the welfare
of her personnel's and the
most painful of all:
a selfless service to an
ungrateful nation.
For John Festus Utazi
poem by Matthias Pantaleon
Added by Poetry Lover
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