Chapter 2: When Wahala Jump Fence

For 1972, na Munich, West Germany host the 20th Olympic Games.

For Naija that year, people still dey talk about how Yakubu Gowon wan bring country together after civil war. Olympics dey on everybody mind, even small children dey try run their own race for compound, dey shout “Munich, Munich!” as dem dey chase each other with bare feet. Radio Nigeria dey follow event, people dey use ear press for transistor radio.

Na around 4:10 a.m. for September 5, eight people wey carry heavy weapon scale the fence enter Olympic Village as if na their papa house.

The way dem waka enter, e resemble those area boys wey no dey fear police, just dey move like say nothing fit touch dem. For that kain cold European midnight, na only person wey get strong mind fit try that kain stunt.

The theme for these Olympics na "Happy Olympics," but security na story—e no dey at all.

If na Naija, we go talk say dem just dey do 'eye service'. The security be like those mall guards wey go dey watch TV when thief dey enter back door. All these oyibo security people just dey smile, dey snap picture, dem no dey look well at all.

All those eight wey enter na members of Black September, one notorious and radical Palestinian militant group.

For Arab world, Black September get reputation pass area cult for Lagos. People dey fear their name, even police dey avoid their wahala.

Their plan clear: dem say dem go participate for the Olympics—on their own way.

Dem reason am say if the world no go recognize their struggle, dem go use force announce themselves. Their own Olympics na violence and wahala.

Before, the Palestinian Youth Federation don apply two times to join the Games, but nobody answer dem.

E be like when small club for Abuja dey beg make NFF allow dem play league, but nobody dey reply letter. E pain dem for body.

But their enemy, Israel, dey participate with full chest—openly, with pride. For Palestinians, na big insult be that.

Na so dem dey vex: "How our own enemy go dey shine for world stage, we go dey look?" Even for street for Gaza, dem dey curse as dem dey watch TV.

Black September leader, Iyad, come talk one kind chilling thing: "If dem no gree for us, why we no go participate our own way?"

Iyad words carry weight like chief priest for village. The way e talk am, you go know say e no dey joke. Street boys go say, "This guy head correct no be small."

Na these eight dem select as their "athletes," and na pure terrorist spirit dey push dem.

For dem mind, dem don train finish like say na Olympic gold be the reward. Dem dey recite code word, dey check weapon, dey ready for anything. You go even see as their leader dey pray before dem move, like say na warfront. He rub sand for palm, whisper prayer under breath—like soldier boy for Sambisa.

After dem scale the fence, dem waka straight go Apartment 31, where the Israeli delegation dey stay.

Olympic Village big, but dem sabi road. E be like say dem get correct informant. Some people talk say na cleaner wey dem bribe. The place still dey quiet, only fridge humming and some distant laughter from night watchman.

That time, Israeli wrestling referee, Gutfreund, dey sleep for second floor when e hear noise for outside him door.

Sleep wey dey sweet am, na so e shock wake, heart dey beat kpa-kpa-kpa like generator. You know as dream dey turn to nightmare? Na so e feel.

He stand up go check, and as he reach door, na masked men with submachine guns dey try break enter.

If na Lagos, Gutfreund for don shout, "Who dey knock for midnight?!" But as e open small, wahala don show. These men no be ordinary thief; their gun long pass Okoro shop umbrella. One glance, and body go chill.

As Gutfreund sense say wahala don land, he use him body block the door, shout: "Run! Terrorists dey!"

As e dey push, e dey pray: "God, abeg!" E use all him weight, like those Igbo men wey dey load cement for building site. Him voice loud so tey, people for down floor dey hear am.

Gutfreund big well—over 130 kilograms—so he manage hold the terrorists for small time.

E no easy at all. Even as sweat dey drip for him face, e no gree remove body. Na courage like that dey make people hail person for village square. "That referee get liver o!"

This small delay help weightlifting coach Sokolowski, wey break window, jump escape.

Na so Sokolowski, sharp guy, use moment of confusion jump window land for bush outside. If na Naija, e go say, "Na God save me today." Him leg scratch but e no send, e just dey run dey shout for help.

But Gutfreund no fit hold dem for long—dem overpower am quick.

Even as dem break through, Gutfreund still dey fight, dey try hold gun, but gunman use elbow nack am for chest. E fall like sack of garri, dem rush inside.

For another room, wrestling coach Weinberg chop bullet for mouth but survive. Dem force am lead dem go other rooms.

Blood full mouth, but Weinberg dey stubborn. E dey stagger, dey obey because if e form hard man, dem fit waste am immediately.

Weinberg, sharp guy, dodge Room 2, carry dem go Room 3.

You know as sharp Lagos conductor go do when LASTMA dey pursue am. Na so Weinberg use style dodge where shooting athletes dey—e hope say dem strong men for wrestling and weightlifting fit tackle these terrorists if chance show.

Room 2 na where shooting athletes dey, Room 3 na wrestling and weightlifting athletes—maybe Weinberg believe say the strong ones fit try resist.

For Room 3, the air hot with fear. You go see as everybody dey hide under bed, chest dey shake. Strong man for mat, but gun still na gun.

But for face of gun, muscle no get power.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger no fit fight person with loaded AK-47. People dey fear, some dey pray, some dey sweat like Christmas goat.

Romano wey dey Room 3 try fight back, dem kill am, even disgrace the body join. Dem fling am like old mattress, no respect at all. The rest athletes come turn captive.

Romano wey get heart like lion, na him first try wrestle gun from terrorist. Before anybody fit shout "hold am!", dem shoot am, then scatter him body on top ground. Others just freeze, no fit move again.

As Weinberg see say him plan no work, he try resist again, dem shoot am for head.

Na true Igbo spirit—never gree. As e try again, e receive bullet for head. That kain sacrifice, e go pain for home if dem hear.

But that small resistance cause confusion, one person use am escape.

One of the boys, sharp like Warri boy, use that scatter moment dash out, hide for dustbin till morning. Later, dem say na that small courage save am.

Within just 25 minutes, terrorists get full control.

Time just dey fly. 25 minutes, everywhere don quiet, all athletes for that block dey fear for their life. Some dey whisper psalms, others dey think of family back home. Some dey remember mama prayer, dey rub their pendant for neck.

Two people die, nine become hostages.

The air thick, smell of blood and fear everywhere. If you listen well, you go hear soft sobbing. Nine men chained by fate, two don join ancestors.

Meanwhile, security people for Olympic Village hear gunshot, but dem no send—dem think say na fireworks.

For Naija, even if knock-out blow, people dey run look. But these ones, dem just ignore, maybe dem think say oyibo no dey do juju. E shock!

Na after 20 minutes one security guard wey no carry gun come check.

Na this kain guard for Naija, people go call "Mallam Musa"—just waka come, empty hand, dey whistle. E look, e see masked man, fear catch am.

He see one masked man squat for door, still get mind ask, "Oga, you dey lost?"

You go think say na joke. The terrorist just look am like say, "If you talk one more word, I go waste you." The guard's heart cut, e waka jeje go call police.

The terrorist just bone am. Na that time the guard reason say wahala dey, he run call police.

As he reach outside, e nearly fall. E shout, "Abeg come o! Dem don dey fight for there!" Some people for security post dey laugh am, dem no believe.

Around 5 a.m., police show, but dem still dey confused.

Police gather, torchlight for hand, dey look each other. Dem dey whisper, "Who go enter first?" Fear just dey everywhere. If na Naija, dem go call vigilante. One officer whisper, "O boy, you go first. Me I get wife for house."

The apartment still get Uruguayan and Hong Kong delegations, but dem don run—na only the 11 Israelis remain wey nobody see.

Other country athletes don japa, leave slippers and bag. Only the Israelis dey, door locked, everywhere silent.

Clear say na Israelis be the target.

People begin whisper: "No be coincidence o." Everybody sabi say na that delegation dem dey find.

As expected, terrorists drop their demand: make Israel release 234 Palestinian prisoners, if not, dem go dey kill one hostage every hour, final deadline na 9 a.m.

Message reach, demand full everywhere. Radio, TV, even Telegram dey buzz. The world begin dey count down like say na election result.

To show say dem serious, dem throw Weinberg body come outside as warning.

Blood soak bedsheet as body land ground, people for street begin gather, some dey vomit. Police mouth wide, dem shock. That kind warning, na only war front you go see am.

News reach Israel, the whole world dey wait: Israel go release prisoners, or dem go let hostages die?

For Naija, men for beer parlour dey argue: "Dem suppose negotiate o!" Others dey shout: "If na my brother, I go move heaven and earth." All eyes dey on Israel, nobody sleep that night.