A Thief Is a Thief

 



A thief is a thief. Thieves do not mind being petty; a thief is a thief. I write this piece with sadness, sadness at how poorly we (some of us think) sometimes think and how petty we can become. We are all struggling, surviving, and trying to live. Yet it is deeply unfortunate how some unscrupulous elements (excuse my choice of words) in our society pay little or no attention to the consequences of their actions.


Just recently, I boarded a keke to get to my destination. There were two passengers at the rear seat and the driver in front. There was space for one or two more passengers, as is typical. I became mildly suspicious when the driver repeatedly refused to stop for people flagging him down along the road. Still, I kept calm and grew extra observant. He did not stop at the exact place I asked to alight, and the stop itself was too abrupt.


As I stepped down, one of the supposed passengers beside me picked my phone and concealed his hand between his thighs. The driver was already set to zoom off. But I was quick. I dragged the phone from him and demanded an explanation. I was already outside the keke with my phone in hand. Fearing a crowd, the driver sped off without even collecting his fare. It was then it dawned on me, they were a gang of thieves.


Many thoughts raced through my mind as I replayed the event. Everything happened so fast. What if I had not alighted in a public place with people around? What if I had been clueless about the unusual sequence of events? What if they had succeeded?


That last question is one I do not even want to dwell on. Getting another phone would have taken time, effort, and scarce resources. My SIM cards, my contacts, my data, everything would have been a heavy blow. I would have been shattered. But Alhamdulillah, their plan failed.


It was a market day. This gang was roaming the roads like honest hustlers, operating under the disguise of daily survival, hunting unsuspecting victims. I may not be wrong to assume they could cause harm if things went wrong, especially in isolated areas. From morning till evening, many would likely fall prey.


So what is the problem? You have a keke to earn an honest living. Many people feed their families through this same hustle. But to this gang, the keke is merely a tool for extortion and snatching wares from customers without regard for the damage done to individuals and their families.


Aja oñu aw'iléyi anya, anya kpa, akohi dabi alo. (We came to this world to trade, when we're done, we'll return with our respective reports).


Evil is evil. It should and must be condemned. I hope they find redemption, and the courage to change for good.


®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ 

#Uloko

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