Chapter 5: Wrong Suspects, Real Devil

That time for Nigeria, police believe say serial killer dey pick only one kind victim: some dey kill only women, others only children.

For training, dem teach say killer get "type." But this one na chameleon. Nobody understand im own type.

But this killer dey kill adult women and small girls; e kill girls, now e don start dey kill boys. Which kind wicked person be this? Which kind person fit dey reason sexual violence for different kind people?

E never happen for Naija before. Police dey confused, Musa dey restless.

Police begin suspect say e be homosexual or ritualist, but now dem dey reason say maybe na real mad man.

Some officers dey talk, "E fit be ogboni, e fit be mad man from market side." Everybody get opinion, but no answer.

Musa agree say na the biggest challenge for im career. The danger and wahala wey this hidden enemy bring don pass wetin criminal psychology sabi that time.

For Musa, na now im mind strong reach breaking point. E swear say if e no catch this person, e go resign.

Na that time, case take sharp turn: dem arrest the killer.

People dey dance for station. "We don catch am! We don catch am!" Newspaper run headline.

E be like say everything don end?

Everybody relax small, but Musa mind no still rest. E dey ask, "We sure say na the right person?"

——Altogether, 24 dead bodies; the killer don start dey remove all the organs, dey disgrace the dead bodies.

People begin talk say, "The killer na spirit. E no be ordinary eye."

Musa meet the so-called "killer" for prison: one young man wey no too get sense.

As e enter cell, e see the boy dey tremble, e eye red, e mouth dey shake. The boy no even fit look Musa for face.

But as Musa see am, e know say na wrong person.

E just dey pity am. E reason say, "This one no fit plan evil, talk less of hide body."

The real killer dey do everything carefully, no dey leave any clue. Person wey no too get sense no fit do that kain thing.

E no add up. Musa dey vex, but e hide am. E no want make junior officers see am weak.

But police no send.

For Naija, once dem don ready to close file, nobody fit stop dem. E be like say everybody dey look for escape.

Pressure to solve the case too much, dem just need person to blame.

Newspaper dey shout every day. IG of Police dey call, "Update me! Update me!"

Dem no allow the young man sleep, dey torture am turn by turn.

E dey shout, "No be me! No be me!" but nobody dey listen. Every morning, e dey collect slap and beating. E body full wound.

To avoid more beating, the young man confess say na im kill 11 people—even pass wetin police ask.

E just want make everything finish. E dey talk anything, dey call name wey e no even know.

Everything dey perfect for police. Dem just need to find "evidence" now to close case.

For Naija, once person confess, e hard to clear im name. Police dey dance, dey celebrate.

The young man look like the perfect suspect: no too get sense, dey use danfo, and most important, e don confess. If e no do am, why e go confess?

Na so neighbour begin dey look am like demon. Im family begin dey hide face for street.

Police begin carry am go crime scene to "identify" place.

E be like film trick. Camera dey follow, police dey pose, dey show how dem "work."

The thing funny. E no even sabi where the thing happen.

E dey point bush, dey laugh, dey look police face, dey nod as dem dey talk.

Police carry am go area, e just dey waka anyhow.

Even local hunter dey laugh say, "Dis one no sabi anything."

With police help, the young man go smile, point one place say na there.

E even point burial ground, say na there e bury person. People wey live for area dey shout, "Lie!"

Wetin shock Musa pass be say, before this one, some other suspects wey no too get sense don already die for police hand.

E pain am, e swear say e no go let this one die like that.

If Musa no find the real killer, this young man go die for nothing.

Im conscience no go let am rest. Musa tell im wife, "If this boy die, na my hand e dey."

That night, Musa kneel for room, whisper, "God, abeg, no let this boy die for my hand."

Worst part, more dead bodies dey show.

Killer dey use their wahala play ludo—every new body na like move for game wey only devil fit win.

As police dey parade wrong suspect, e dey kill more. Na shame for police.

But as Musa dey reason the case for midnight, e no know say devil dey plan next move just two streets away.