Chapter 1: The Day Devil Enter Express

As I dey drive for express, hot breeze dey slap my face, fuel smell dey hang for air, danfo horn dey echo far. I set speed steady with cruise control—new car wahala—na so Naija road be. Na im I realize say brake don fail.

Inside the hot afternoon sun, with Lagos traffic for my mind, I adjust myself for driver seat, dey reason say today go soft. But as I set speed steady with cruise control—new car wahala—na so Naija road be—na so my leg jam brake pedal, e be like say juju tie am. I press, press—nothing. I sweat small, my heart begin pound like generator for compound.

No matter how I press brake pedal, the speed just dey steady for one hundred kilometers per hour.

E be like say the devil no gree me rest. I tap, tap brake, but nothing gree shift. My mind dey scatter, sweat begin full my palm, the kind one wey dey make steering wheel dey slippery.

For front, one big trailer dey block right side.

The trailer dey there like ogbonge mountain, slow like say e dey carry load from Kano go Port Harcourt. I glance side mirror, see say the trailer dey move sluggish, with big bold inscription for back: 'God Dey'.

For left, one white small car dey crawl for fast lane, just dey move like snail beside the trailer.

I dey vex, because for Naija express, na only people wey no get respect for road dey do like that. I dey bite my lip, dey pray make the car waka commot road, but e still dey block my lane, dey form boss for fast lane.

My wife dey back seat, dey give our pikin small chops. As she notice say wahala dey come, she ask why I never slow down.

She bend small, dey peel banana for our pikin. Suddenly, she notice say we no dey slow, she frown, tap me for shoulder. “You wan do Formula 1 for Lagos? Abeg, slow down o!” Her voice get small fear inside, but she dey try act calm for our pikin sake.

I turn my head look her.

As I glance am through mirror, na so her eye red small, like person wey wan cry but no wan break down. Na wetin marriage dey cause—she sabi when her husband dey hide fear.

Our eyes jam for rearview mirror, I talk with heavy heart, “Abeg, wear your seatbelt well and hold tight. And... I love you.”

Her hand shake, she quick check her seatbelt, adjust am well, then hold our pikin closer. She whisper, “I love you too.” Na that kind thing wey dey pass meaning—like prayer wey no get words.

I begin horn anyhow, but my wife don already sabi wetin dey happen.

I jam horn as if say the horn go suddenly bring angel come help us. People for Naija road sabi wahala; if you horn too much, dem fit even vex. My wife just dey look road, her body dey stiff, she don read the panic for my face.

The car for front still dey move slow—maybe na seventy-something km/h.

I dey wish say I fit shift that car with ordinary eye. Na so I dey whisper, “Baba God, abeg, touch this driver heart, make e move.” Inside me, I dey call all my ancestors join, dey beg make road open. The traffic dey crawl, express dey turn to village road.

I no dey like people wey dey block fast lane dey crawl.

Na real wahala. If you dey block express for Lagos, you go hear all kind curse. Sometimes dem go even call you 'olodo driver' or 'spirit driver'.

I no gree stop to horn. Na so the white car manage increase speed small.

Na my persistent horn force am. The driver look mirror, see as my own car dey press am. E press pedal small, I see light change for e tail, speed increase just a little.

Before I fit relax, wahala burst.

Just as my mind wan rest small, e be like say devil dey do meeting for that expressway.

The white car brake light flash.

I surprise, because e no get reason to brake. For Naija road, that kind move fit cause wahala. My eye wide, I grip steering, dey ready for anything.

Nothing dey for front o, but because my horn dey disturb am, e just brake anyhow to scare me.

For this country, some people just dey drive with vex for body. If dem no like your horn, dem fit use car take teach you lesson. Na wah.

But my own wahala be say, I no fit brake at all.

I dey shout inside, dey beg car make e hear me. For this kain moment, you go remember all your village people.

Gbam! My car jam am from back.

The impact loud. Na so everything wey dey car jump—my wife grab our pikin, biscuit fly go dashboard. Sound dey like thunder, like when NEPA transformer blow for street.

The car shake scatter. My wife hold the handle tight, I hold steering like say na my life dey there. If I just shift small, na trailer go carry us.

You no go understand fear until you see trailer dey pass you like say e dey carry your obituary follow body.

Na God save say the white car just wan fear me. The driver match brake, then sharp sharp jam accelerator.

True true, God dey. Instead make wahala finish us, na so the driver recover, press pedal, the car lurch forward, escape our bumper.

So as I jam am, e shock, press accelerator, zoom go front.

I thank God say the impact no block road finish. The white car move, my mind rest small, but I know say e no go end for there.

We pass the trailer. The white car wind down, one man dey wave hand like conductor, mouth dey run: “You dey craze? Na your papa get road?”

Na typical Naija wahala. The man, face dey squeeze like person wey drink bitterleaf, begin wave hand for air, dey pour me all kinds of curse. “Thunder fire you! Na you dey spoil road for everybody!”

E begin enter next lane, dey show say make I park.

The guy dey form James Bond, dey do hand sign, dey call me make I park. For my mind, I dey reason if e get sense at all. For express?

My wife roll down window, shout say our brake don spoil.

Her voice crack, “Our brake don spoil o!” She dey wave hand like person wey dey signal for help.

But with breeze wey dey blow, her voice no reach anywhere.

Express breeze loud, sound dey scatter words. The man no even hear anything, just dey gesture.

As I no stop, the white car chase us again.

The matter no rest. E rush come back, dey block my lane. My wife dey hold pikin tight, I dey pray inside my heart, “Baba God, protect us.”

The man vex well. Na him dey crawl for fast lane, dey brake anyhow, but now e dey act like say na we do bad, dey show me middle finger.

For this Nigeria, some people dey like to cause wahala, then turn victim. The man flash middle finger, dey make mouth, dey form agbero for express.

E jam accelerator, cut me front again. E wan try that brake-check wahala again for express.

Na so e dey play dangerous game. I dey fear for my life, but I gats protect my family.

People wey no get sense for road na like death for innocent family.

No be everybody for road get conscience o. Some people go see you dey beg for life, still go dey use you play.

As e block me, I jam am again.

Another heavy gbam! Na so car body twist, engine groan, my chest nearly hit steering. My wife scream, pikin cry.

Another gbam! E car front scatter, my own car fly go front. The force wan make car lose balance, but I sharp activate lane assist, hold steering like say na my papa property.

I dey thank God say technology dey. Lane assist grip the road, I hold steering, refuse let fear scatter my head. I dey reason, "If I panic now, na finish be that."

The faster you dey go, the more you no suppose panic. One small mistake, na finish be that.

I dey recite Psalm 23 for my mind, steady. In Nigeria, na only calmness dey save man for wahala.

My wife dey back, dey cry dey shout: “Why we go jam person like this?”

Her voice dey break, her face full of fear, hand dey tremble. "Why we go jam person like this, eh God?" Na question she dey ask God and me together.

If no be say God dey look, I for show am pepper.

I clench teeth, veins dey show for my neck. For my mind, I dey plot how I go meet that man, how I go show am say Naija man no dey take nonsense.

My wife and pikin dey inside o.

Nothing pain pass to see your family dey suffer. My wife dey squeeze our pikin like say na last born, I dey feel guilty but powerless.

We just dey manage survive, but e no go gree say na e fault. E go dey reason say na we jam am and run.

I know the game. For Naija, na who first talk, na e dey win. If e call police first, na we go suffer.

True true, the white car soon catch up again.

E dey like devil wey no wan free person. The car, even as e body bend, still dey push to block us.

E car front don scatter, but e still no wan free us.

Wetin dey inside that man's mind, I no fit tell. The headlight don dey blink, bumper dey drag ground, but e no send.

My speed lock for one hundred. E jam accelerator, rush go front again.

The man dey do race, I dey sweat. I dey pray inside: “God, no let us die for express.”

My mind just dey fall—bad feeling dey come.

Heart dey beat like drum, my throat dry, even with AC, sweat dey drip for my back.

Suddenly, e wind down window.

I think say e wan curse me again, but e get plan. For Naija, when person start dey wind down window for express, wahala dey.

From e car, e throw one bucket of instant noodles wey e just chop, land straight for my windscreen.

Omo! The thing land with kpa, noodle water and pepper oil just dey pour everywhere. My mind burst.

Noodle soup just spread everywhere, I no fit see road again.

I nearly shout “blood of Jesus!” The soup dey drip, peppery smell fill car, my vision blind.

I rush put wiper, but the thing just dey smear oil everywhere.

Wiper dey dance, but the thing worse. Noodle thread dey drag left and right, wiper blade dey cry.

Na so our life enter God hand.

I hold steering, close eye small, beg God say make I see road. My heart dey do "kpo kpo kpo" like generator wey no get oil.

The more I wipe, the worse e be. I just use hand comot the noodles first, leave the rest make breeze dry am small, so I fit see road small.

I dey stretch hand out window, dey use palm dey pack noodle. Oil dey stain my hand, pepper dey burn eye. I dey cough, dey pray, dey curse the white car driver inside my head.

My wife dey shake, dey cry, but she quick use phone call road safety people.

Her voice dey quiver, but she use all her sense. She dey search bag for phone, hands dey shake like person wey NEPA just take light. She dial Federal Road Safety, thumb dey shake, eyes red.

“My husband and I dey express, our brake don spoil.”

She dey breathe hard, tears dey drop. "Our brake don spoil, abeg, help us!"

“One car dey disturb us, dey brake-check us, even throw noodles for our windscreen.”

She dey explain like say na exam she dey write. She dey stammer small, but she refuse to drop phone.

“Abeg, officer... abeg help us, our family dey danger.”

She sob, “Abeg officer, we dey danger. Na only God fit save us.”

She wipe tears, connect phone to Bluetooth, dey sob: “Honey, police dey ask where we dey, but I no know.”

Her hand dey shake, she press button anyhow, finally connect phone. Her voice crack, “Dem dey ask for location, I no fit think straight.”

I connect Bluetooth, talk: “We just pass Umuola express exit, dey go south, dey comot town.”

My voice dry, but I force am. "We dey Umuola side, dey head south, express go Aba side."

Police ask: “Which colour and plate number your car get?”

Na normal question, but I dey reason say time dey go. Police voice sharp, e dey press for details.

“Matte grey, plate number 72C32.”

I shout am two times, “Matte grey, 72C32, abeg, officer!”

“We go block all the express entrance for front, send patrol come your side. You fit see the plate number of the car wey dey disturb you? We go call am make e park.”

Police dey try help, but my mind dey shake. All dem fit do na delay—only God dey control express.

“I no sabi e plate, I no fit see am now. E dey drive beside me.”

I dey squint, but noodle stain, blood for my eye, nothing clear. “I no fit see, officer. E dey beside me now.”

“Okay, we go check camera sharp sharp. Just dey drive.”

The officer try calm me, "Just dey go, we dey follow you for camera. No panic."

I swallow, ask the main question: “How far emergency lane dey from us?”

My mouth dey dry. I dey beg say make emergency lane just show for next corner.

Silence small, then: “Eighty kilometers. We go do everything to protect you.”

I nearly faint. "Eighty?" That one na journey. My body cold, hope just vanish.

Na so hope just die for my mind.

For Naija, hope fit die quick. From hope to hopelessness, na one call away.

Eighty kilometers—na almost two towns apart.

E fit reach from Ikeja go Ibadan. My mind just blank. If to say I dey alone, I go jump comot car.

The white car still dey beside me, the driver dey curse steady.

I see the man lip dey move, eyes red, hand dey wave, but no sound dey reach me. Only anger dey radiate from him.

I no dey hear wetin e dey talk, but I sabi say na bad thing.

Na the kind curse wey dey enter seven generations. If Naija man dey vex, curse fit pass word.

Most important, emergency lane dey show for front.

I dey see faint sign say one small break dey come up ahead. Na my only chance be that.

If I fit shift enter am now, chance of survival go high.

For Naija express, emergency lane na like small oasis for Sahara. Even LASTMA no dey disturb for there, na pure freedom zone. I dey pray, "God, abeg, make this man move."

But the white car block right side, dey move same speed, I no fit enter.

The man dey do bodyguard, dey match me km for km. I dey reason say, "Na which kain enemy be this one?"

My wife wipe her tears, then just unbuckle seatbelt: “Honey, you on lane assist?”

She dey reason sharp. For her mind, plan dey. Even inside wahala, Naija woman dey reason solution.

“Yes.”

I manage whisper. My hand dey shake, sweat dey drop, but I gats answer her.

“Quickly, come out, make I drive.”

She dey talk fast, desperation for her voice. "Make I handle am, you dey shake."

I look up, look my wife face for mirror.

Her eye dey red, tears full am, but courage still dey inside. For her mind, better make she die than see me go first.

She dey cry: “Back seat dey safer. Make I drive.”

She dey beg, her voice crack, but I know say e pain her. “Make I drive, you go survive pass me.”

I no talk, just hold steering strong.

My hand dey shake, but I refuse shift. For my mind, if person wan die, make e be my cross, not my wife own.

She dey beg: “If you die, how I go take raise our daughter? You better survive pass me.”

She dey use family take plead, like Naija woman wey know say love no be only mouth. Her body dey shake, but she no gree drop hope.

I look our pikin.

I turn, see my small girl, round cheeks, biscuit crumbs for mouth. My heart break.

She still dey play, no even know say wahala dey.

Small pikin no dey understand danger. Her innocent laughter dey pain me pass anything.

She hold small biscuit, dey wave hand, dey laugh.

Her laughter sweet like song for village. My mind just dey scatter—hope and regret dey fight for inside.

I force smile, tell am, “Baby, call ‘Daddy.’”

My throat choke, voice break. I dey use last strength beg pikin, just to hear small joy before anything happen.

She never call me ‘Daddy’ before.

This one na special request. If I go go, make I carry joy for my spirit.

If I go die here today, make I hear am once.

I dey beg God, “Baba, just this one thing.”

My daughter just dey laugh, dey wave biscuit, dey babble, “ah-poo, ah-poo.”

Her mouth dey sweet, but the word never clear. My heart dey ache, but I still dey smile, dey pretend.

As I no gree change seat, my wife try drag my cloth.

She dey struggle, try pull me, her voice dey crack. I hold steering strong, no let go.

My nose just dey pepper me, I whisper: “No use pikin take talk. Abeg hear me...”

I dey choke, voice low. Tears dey for my face, but I no gree look her eye.

I wipe tears, voice don choke.

I dey fight tears, for my mind, I dey remember how we start, how we reach here.

“I never believe ghost before, but if I see you again, I go still choose you.”

I drop am like last will. My wife mouth open, she no fit talk. The weight heavy.

My wife just dey look me, shock.

She freeze, tears dey flow. Her heart dey hear everything. The express, the wahala, everything pause for split second.

But my heart jump.

As I dey talk, my chest tight, my eye dey shine, I dey sense wahala for side mirror.

Because the white car dey overtake from right again.

My body stiff. I dey watch as the man plan new trouble. My hand tighten for steering.

I no know wetin e wan do, but anything e do dey make me fear.

For Naija, you go sabi person wey dey look for trouble. This one, e body language bad.

I sabi the kind person wey I provoke.

Some people no dey send life. Wetin dey their mind, only God fit know.

Person wey fit crawl for fast lane, na either mumu or e no send life.

Na true. Either spirit follow am, or na only God fit explain why e dey act like that.

From wetin e dey do, e no value life at all.

If no be say e dey craze, na pure wickedness. Nigeria dey breed all kind character.

E open window again, throw something.

E dey search bag, I see e hand move. My mind dey scatter, I dey ready for anything.

Before I fit see, my windscreen scatter.

Na so glass explode. My heart jump enter mouth.

My wife scream.

Her scream loud, cut through all other sound. The pain inside dey pierce my soul.

I turn, shock.

Blood dey my eye, I dey see red. Fear and anger dey wrestle for my chest.

One screwdriver pierce windscreen—no just break glass, but at one hundred km/h, e fly enter passenger seat, go pin my wife shoulder.

I shout, “Jesus!” The thing dey for my wife body, blood dey rush. My mind blank. My pikin voice join, her cry loud, my body weak.

I look back, see my wife, screwdriver don pin am for seat, blood dey rush from shoulder.

The blood dey red, dey spread quick. Her hand dey tremble, her face dey pale. I dey fear say she go faint.

My mind blank.

I dey reason, "God, why?" The road dey blur, my life dey slow down.

Only one thing dey my head.

Survival. I dey reason how to save my family, even if I no go make am.

Make I finish am.

I dey plot revenge for my head, but first, my family dey important.

My pikin wey dey laugh before, now start to cry serious. I see say small glass don cut her face, blood dey rush her cheek.

Her voice dey break heart. My baby dey cry, blood dey stain her cheek, my chest dey ache.

My wife dey pain, face white, but as she see our pikin injure, she force herself, pull screwdriver comot.

I dey shout, “No! No touch am!” But my wife strong, Naija woman, she pull am, blood gush more. Her face set, jaw strong—like woman wey fight for market price.

She jump go meet pikin, dey murmur, “Baby... no fear...”

She dey use all her strength. Even as blood dey flow, she dey comfort our pikin, her voice soft, hand dey shake. She hum small lullaby, “Sleep my baby, sleep, make angel guard you.”

She check pikin wound, cry tell me, “The baby face cut... glass still dey inside, I no fit touch am...”

Her tears dey flow. She dey whisper, “Sorry, sorry, sorry...” Her hand dey shake, she dey search bag for tissue, but nothing dey stop blood.

As I see all this for mirror, my heart dey cut.

Na so I dey remember all the good times. My family dey suffer because person get wicked mind for road.

Just now, my wife dey peel grapes for me, pikin dey play with biscuit.

Happiness turn to wahala in seconds. Life dey fragile for this Naija road.

Now, one get wound for shoulder, the other face full blood.

Tears dey my eye, but I gats focus. God abeg, give me strength.

I swear, if I survive, I go deal with that white car driver.

For my heart, I dey plan vengeance. Even if na court, I go carry am. My spirit no fit forgive am.

The right side glass don scatter, with the speed, glass just dey fly enter.

Sharp sharp, small glass dey cut my arm, floor dey full shards. My foot dey ginger, pain dey bite me small.

I dey drive, fear and anger dey my body.

Anger dey boil, fear dey freeze. I dey shake but I gats hold on. My family dey depend on me.

I don read news before, how small pikin go throw stone for express—smash glass, kill person instantly.

Na true life story. I dey remember how dem talk am for TV—now e reach my turn.

Today, na my family almost die like that.

Nobody ever think say e go reach im own. For Naija, e fit happen anytime.

If that screwdriver shift small, e for enter my wife head or heart.

I dey thank God say na only shoulder e hit. That small difference fit be life and death.

If na only me, I for ram the guy die.

My mind dey dark. If I dey alone, maybe I for risk everything. But my family dey here.

But my family dey here. I gats calm down, protect them.

I breathe, I pray, I focus. No time for revenge now.

Then, the white car go front, flash me middle finger again.

I see am. The man dey proud, like say e win lotto. For my mind, I dey reason say thunder go fire am one day.

Na that moment, I get one sharp idea.

Hope just spark for my head. I dey reason—maybe na way out dey here.

The white car like to stay front dey throw things—why I no just follow am tight, make e dey clear road for me?

My brain dey work sharp. If I dey behind, anything e see, na e go receive am first. If danger dey, na e go chop am.

If wahala dey front, na e go dodge first.

My plan be say, make I use e head clear road. As e dey try wickedness, I go use am shield.

If e brake, worst case, I jam am, use e brake and car weight stop myself.

For Naija, when push reach shove, you go use sense survive. Even if e pain person.

If e wan comot express, as long as I follow am, as e slow down, I go jam am, push am comot, make my family safe.

I dey reason like chess master. If I fit slow down, I fit survive.

As e be like buffer, na still way to save my family.

Sometimes for Naija road, e be who get sharp sense last.

I grit my teeth.

I dey ready. My blood dey hot, my mind dey focus like say I dey do WAEC.

I no wan harm innocent people.

I dey beg God, “No let my wahala fall innocent soul.”

But e drag me enter this wahala. As e be, make I carry am follow me, make e cushion my fall.

Wetin man go do? Na so I accept my fate, my plan dey set.

With that, I just turn steering, dey follow am bumper to bumper.

I move close, almost dey touch e boot. My eye no dey blink. My wife dey watch, dey hold her wound.

E no expect am. E switch left, I follow. E go right, I follow am right.

E dey panic now. E dey look mirror, see say I dey close like shadow. For Naija, e go say "this one no dey fear death".

The white car wey dey form boss, now e dey fear.

I see am dey look back, sweat dey e face, e no sure again.

My wife see wetin I dey do. She hold her wound, talk softly, “Husband, hold am tight.”

Her voice soft, but respect dey inside. Even with pain, she still dey support me.

I nod, focus.

I no even talk, I just dey concentrate. I dey pray, "God, help me complete this run."

The white car calm down, drive straight.

E stop e wahala, just dey go straight, no more swerving. E dey fear to risk e life.

But suddenly, wahala come.

Trouble no dey finish for Naija road. Suddenly, e switch up again.

The white car swerve left fast, almost jam barrier.

E sharp move, nearly lose control. My eye wide. My hand grip steering tight.

Na then I see big carton for road, maybe truck drop am.

I spot am late. Na the kind carton wey dey break axle, fit burst tyre. My heart jump.

The white car wan kill me.

Na setup. E dodge last minute, plan make I jam carton, make car flip.

E sharply dodge last minute, hope say I go jam am die.

E dey plan pure evil. No conscience.

Fear catch me, but I still follow am.

My heart beat wan break chest, but I refuse panic. I shift steering small, miss carton by whisker.

Danger dey, but na the only way.

Sometimes, for this life, na danger be your only road. I dey pray as I drive.

As e see say I stubborn, e begin slow down, but since I no fit brake, I jam am again.

Another gbam! Na so metal meet metal. Car bounce, my pikin cry louder. I dey fear say any more, car go break apart.

At that moment, I hold steering strong, e finally press brake.

The white car stop sharp, maybe e dey fear for im life too. My speed begin drop, na small relief.

My speed dey drop—one hundred, ninety, eighty.

Numbers dey dance for dashboard. I dey count every second, dey pray say this method go work.

If e continue, I fit use e car slow down finish.

Hope dey small. I dey calculate, dey ready for anything.

I even plan, as speed don drop, I go jam guardrail, hit tree, make tree stop me.

I dey reason say if e reach that stage, make tree chop me, make family survive. For Naija, papa dey sacrifice.

But na then the white car act up again.

Devil spirit no dey tire. The man sharp change style.

As I turn steering go guardrail, e speed up, change lane, my speed rise back.

Hope wey I dey gather just scatter. Car begin speed again, my chest tight.

I shout, “Hold tight!”

I scream, voice loud, my wife hug pikin, everybody brace.

Car jam guardrail hard.

Sound like thunder, glass break, metal bend. My head knock headrest, I dey see star.

Driver wey sabi go use passenger side take hit, but I no fit move—my family dey car.

My mind dey calculate: "If I turn, pikin fit wound. If I no turn, na me go chop am."

I use my own body take the hit.

Pain burst my chest, but I no gree shout. I dey bite teeth, dey pray for strength.

Bonnet scatter for guardrail. I force steering left, press car for guardrail to slow down.

Sparks dey fly, sound dey scatter. I dey drag steering with everything inside me.

Even like that, as we jam tree, na almost fifty km/h.

Impact strong, airbag dey ready to burst. My body dey tense.

Big crash, I try brace, but force throw me forward.

I hear bone creak, airbag slap me face, seatbelt jam my chest. Everything go black for small second.

Airbag burst, hit my chest, vision dark, I nearly suffocate.

Hot air, chemical smell, my head dey turn. I dey find air to breathe.

I try breathe, but something dey hook my chest. Heart dey race, head dey spin, eye dey blur.

I cough, blood for my mouth. Na so I dey feel say my chest go break.

I struggle turn check my wife and pikin.

My whole body pain, but I gats check my family. Na dem be my reason to fight.

My wife don faint, my pikin dey cry for car seat, face full blood, dey call me.

Tears dey my eye. Pikin voice dey weak, "Papa..." My wife no dey move. I dey fear say I don lose am.

I never see pain like this.

For my life, I never feel this kind pain. I dey shout inside, "God, abeg, no take my family."

I try unbuckle seatbelt, but crash don jam car, my leg trap.

I dey fight seatbelt, dashboard press my leg, I dey shout for help.

Worst part, the white car park for front.

I see the man come down, e body dey like say e win battle.

The driver come down, cross guardrail, dey come us.

E waka come with swag, e dey film with phone. No be to help, na to mock.

No be to help o. E carry phone, begin film us.

E dey do like blogger for Instagram. Face tight, smile wicked.

E reach my window, point camera for my face, dey laugh, “See this mumu, dey drive anyhow for express, jam me, wan run, now I catch am.”

E dey record everything, dey form hard man. I dey smell cigarette for e mouth.

As I think am, for e mind, na me be bad guy.

In Naija, e easy to twist story. Once e get video, na you be villain.

I roll down window, but before I talk, e grab my hair, slap me: “You still dey form hard guy! No be you dey horn? No be you dey run after jam? Now you jam person wey no dey pity.”

Slap land for my cheek. I taste blood, face hot. My mind dey burn, but body weak.

I no fit talk.

Pain hold my mouth, blood dey my lip. I dey shake, hand weak.

Because e dey use phone dey knock my mouth steady.

E poke phone for my mouth, dey record, dey curse. "Talk now! Talk!"

E dey curse: “Jam me, abi? Run, abi? Horn, abi?”

Every word na like knife. My pikin dey cry, my wife no dey move.

Blood full my mouth. Na then e see my wife and pikin for back.

E pause, look back, eye dey cold. E dey observe wounds, blood.

E talk coldly, “So your whole family dey? When you dey drive mad, dem no tell you? Now una dey together.”

E voice low, chilling. No pity for tone. E dey happy say family dey suffer.

E stretch body, still no help, sit down for stone, talk: “No wahala, just wait pay compensation.”

E act like king for market square, dey wait make victim pay fine. I dey vex, but no energy to talk.

I spit blood, talk weakly, “My brake don fail since. I no dey horn to rush you—I dey fear say I go jam you, but you no gree comot, even brake to scare me...”

My voice dey shake. I dey beg, "Oga, na brake spoil o. No be my fault."

“Abeg, abeg, abeg...” e cut me. “Na now brake fail? Na when you jam me brake fail?”

E no believe. E face hard, e dey spit, e no send.

I know, anything I talk na waste.

For Naija, if person don decide your fate, talk no dey enter. E no wan hear.

If person don decide say e go do you strong thing, any better excuse go sound like lie.

Truth dey die quick for express. Only video dey judge.

Now, na only my wife and pikin for back seat dey my mind.

I dey pray, "God, just let them survive."

Because I see say smoke dey come out from car.

Smoke dey rise, black like say egusi dey burn for pot. My heart dey skip.

I fear say fire go start.

My mind dey race. I dey reason say if flame catch, we fit roast alive.

I dey struggle to pull my leg, but dashboard hold am tight.

I dey twist, dey beg seat, dey drag leg. No movement. Pain dey bite.

My leg dey okay, but I no fit free am.

I dey thank God say bone no break, but dashboard pin me strong.

I try shift seat back, but car seat behind dey block am. If I push, I fit injure my pikin.

Everything jam. If I force, seat go hit my baby. I dey beg, "God, show me way."

The white car driver dey laugh: “See you now. Where your gra-gra?”

E dey mock me, dey clap. E dey enjoy the show. People wicked for this world.

I shout, “You no fit call ambulance? My wife and pikin dey inside!”

My voice loud. I dey beg, "Help us, call people!"

E just shrug: “If dem die, dem die. Na your wife and pikin, no be my own.”

E dey cold like night for Jos. No pity, no feeling.

E carry phone again, dey film: “See as this yeye car dey burn. Soon, the whole family go roast. Na so reckless driver dey end.”

E dey record, e dey show teeth, dey broadcast wickedness like say na skit e dey do for social media. E dey film, e go post for WhatsApp status, dey call me “Express madman.”

Anxiety wan kill me.

My chest dey beat, my eye dey wet. I dey beg God, "Make this fire no reach fuel tank."

If e continue, my family fit die here.

Tears dey flow, my spirit dey collapse. I dey think say na here life go end.

Then, my wife move.

Hope spark small. I see her body shake, her hand dey move.

She look me, weakly say, “Husband...”

Her voice weak, but I hear am like thunder. Hope dey small.

As I hear her, I shout, “Wife, car wan catch fire. Carry our pikin run!”

I dey plead, "Just save our pikin, leave me, abeg!"

She struggle sit up. Her right shoulder still dey bleed, she use left hand unbuckle our pikin seatbelt.

Blood dey drip, but her hand steady. Naija woman dey strong.

After e finally loose, she ask, “Why you never come out?”

She dey reason my life. Even inside pain, her mind dey for me.

“I dey stuck. Carry pikin go first.”

I dey beg, "Save baby, leave me."

My wife no waste time. She pick our pikin, open door, come out.

She jump comot, blood dey stain shirt, pikin dey wail. But she no send, she dey run.

As she come out, she dey cry, “Husband, come out now!”

Her cry loud, voice dey echo for express. She dey wave hand, beg me.

Fire don dey chop front of car.

Flame dey lick bonnet, black smoke dey rise. I dey cough, I dey beg.

I dey struggle, but e no gree.

I dey pull seat, kick dashboard, pain dey shoot leg. My eye dey hot, vision dey blur.

My wife shout for white car driver, “Why you just dey look? Na your fault! Why you no help?”

Her voice loud, pain and anger join. She dey wave hand, her blood dey drop for ground.

The guy just look my wife, waka go front of my car.

E just dey look like movie. E dey act like nothing dey happen. People heart fit hard for this life.

E bring out cigarette, put for mouth.

For my mind, I dey reason say thunder go strike am. E dey laugh, dey form boss.

E bend, use my car fire light am, dey laugh, “Next life, drive well.”

E puff smoke, face serious. My wife dey look am with hate and fear.

E just waka comot.

E dey bounce, no look back. No pity, just pure wickedness.

My wife panic, put pikin down, hold e hand: “Why you no help? How many times you wan hurt us?”

She dey cry, her face dey dirty, blood mix with sweat. Pikin dey wail, dey hold her leg.

The guy just slap my wife.

I see the slap land, my heart break. She fall, face ground, pikin dey scream.

She fall ground, e point nose, spit: “Na because your family na trash! All of una na problem for road! If I save am, who know how many people e go harm again!”

E dey curse, voice hard, spit dey fly for air. Neighbourhood agbero fit learn from am.

My wife hold face, dey cry: “Our brake spoil! But you brake for front!”

She dey beg, she dey explain, voice dey crack. She dey plead for mercy.

The guy just hiss: “No be your brake spoil, na your mind spoil.”

E cross arm, hiss long. E turn back, e no care again.

As I see my wife dey suffer, my anger reach peak.

I dey boil, I dey shake. If not for pain, I for reach am.

She still dey try save me, I shout, “No worry about me, carry our pikin!”

My voice crack, but e loud. I dey beg, “Save yourself and baby, abeg!”

Now wey my pikin don comot, I no fear crush am. I force seat back, car seat and driver seat dey jam, finally my legs free.

I push, I twist, pain dey bite bone, but I force am. Na so leg finally commot.

The white car driver still no rest. E just raise leg, kick my wife for face, dey shout: “If you no horn that time, nothing for happen! I hate people wey dey horn!”

The kick land, my wife roll for ground, pikin dey scream. My blood boil.

Na that time, my leg finally free.

I breathe, power enter me. Anger dey fuel my bone.

Car don catch fire. I feel heat, I crawl out.

Flame dey lick my shirt, smoke dey enter nose. I drag myself out, dey cough, eye red.

The guy see as I dey, e just dey laugh: “See as you be. Try drive like madman again!”

E dey record, phone dey face me. I dey spit blood, eye dey fire.

I dey gasp, dey waka go meet am.

I limp, pain for waist, but I no gree stop. My wife dey grab pikin, dey shift back.

E just dey proud: “Police go reach here soon. Na hit-and-run you do. You don finish! I go tell police everything!”

I dey think, "God, give me strength." Police siren dey sound faint for distance, but my fight never end. For Naija express, na only God be true judge. As red and blue light dey flash for mirror, I grip my last breath—because for this country, survival no dey ever get manual.