Adventure of Orjika Igbudu

THE ADVENTURE OF ORJIKA IGBUDU

"To plunder is bravery, but  to steal is a crime against the gods and humanity, and that's why we will be giving Orjika Igbudu his well deserved accolades for haven plundered Owe and Umudiana Community, and by so doing  have enriched our barn with spoils. "
That was Igwe Ukpabi commending Orjika Who had  raided and plundered the neighboring community and had brought home spoils . His fame puts fear on the neighboring communities, a known warrior of their times. He have enriched himself with  spoils of his raid, and have gotten larger expanse of land more than any other person in Umu-Owelle. He had brought an elephant tusk to the traditional ruler Igwe Ukpabi who have spoiled him with much respect. It's obvious that Orjika is no longer happy with Umu-Owelle for he Had so much  desires to be conferred with an ozo title so he will be parading himself as * Ozo Mba ama onyeukwu one of Umu- Owelle.
"Ozo fraternity, is a sacred institution from our forefathers and it will be trampled upon if a raider like  Orjika be initiated." said one of the elderly ozo who was seated  right Beside Igwe Ukpabi. Majority of the ozo titled elders also have kicked against Igwe Ukpabi's plan to grant Orjika's wish. 
Igwe Ukpabi stood up, holding the new elephant tusk that Orjika gave to him as he admires its smoothness.
"Elders of our land, Ukpabi addresses the elders again. "let us not  forget so soon how that Orjika have been the greatest warrior of our time, enemies trembles at his name, his sword had always been lifted high in victory and.... 
"...But he's still a raider, he had shed a lot of blood, separated homes and had coveted lands of the fatherless. Such is not fit for a such sacred ozo fraternity."
The next day,  another meeting was held in Igwe Ukpabi palace,  this time,  two women was killed by the raiders from  Oshokwu. The news came to the Igwe's notice, so he as a matter of urgency summoned his Ozo cabinets for a deliberation.  
"we'll have to send someone to Amaenyi Awka, we need  a dane guns and some well smitten machetes and spears  this time.  We need to protect our homes and farmlands from the Oshokwu community. We also have heard that the white men are coming close, not  for slave trade t'his time,  but to bring their own religion and government. Who will go to  Amaenyi Awka, 'the shire of the smiths'  for us?"  Igwe Ukpabi sat worried after he had made his demand. 
All  the elders kept mute, none making suggestion on how to go to Amaenyi Awka. After about a minute later, one of the elder stood up and cleared his  throat. 
"Elders of Umu-Owelle, since none of us is volunteering himself for  this journey, I suggest that  we should send  Orjika to go for us".
All the Ozo's started nodding in agreement with the suggestion. 
Igwe Ukpabi observed them keenly, and rose up with anger. "you see my point, you people have now regard Orjika's bravery,  none  wantkng to go on the mission but are here gallivanting on who merits ozo title and who do not"
"My point is this Igwe, whether a raider or robber, both commit crimes against humanity. The difference here is that  Orjika is not committing his crime within our community.  Remember our adage that says na mbosi oga eju nkita isi, otabeya onye nwuya 'the day the dog looses control, he won't even spare it's  owner." replied one of the elders who have bluntly disagree with  conferring Orjika an ozo title. After that the cabinets had unanimously agreed to  send Orjika,  they summoned him to the palace. 
Few minutes later,  Orjika were at the Palace, Igwe Ukpabi had disclosed to him the reason he were called.  Orjika, heavily built with huge muscle turned to the other side and refuses to go. "my wife is pregnant,  and I am expecting a baby any moment from now,  I can't leave her at this verge of delivery" he responded. 
"Orjika my good friend,  we all know that your wife is expecting a baby soon,  but our lives are in danger, we need to secure even the life of the unborn child.  You see, I and the elders have unanimously agreed that once you go on this journey and comes back successful,  that you will be conferred an  Ozo title "  pronounced Igwe ukpabi . Orjika, on hearing the offer of ozo title didn't give it a second thought before expressing his readiness to embark on the journey. 
One of the elders stood up to give his direction and caution to Orjika. "there are two ways with which you will go on this mission and both have rivers to cross. He paused and cleared his throat, "by your left is umunri-umuokpu route,  there is a river called Ezu Nawfia. By it side is this tributary known as Omala stream. Omala stream belongs to Umuriam Obunese, a village in Nawfia community. The people of Umuriam forbids killing of fish in omala stream,  it is a great taboo in their land, and they won't spare the life of anyone who violate this norm. Also by your right is Adazi-Agulu-Nise route.  There is this lake in Agulu, the people of Agulu also forbids the killing of Oba ngene, that is crocodile, in that lake. It is the deity they worship,  just as Idemmili forbids the killing of a snake. lastly, Awka forbids the killing of monkey, never you prey on any of these forbidden animals in these communities I have mentioned.   If you can avoid these, you will have a smooth journey to and fro  Awka. 
The next day,  Orjika took left for his mission. On reaching omala stream, after Ezu Nawfia,  he saw cat fishes, tilapia's and other species swimming in a shallow stream of omala. This was still unbelievable to him so  he could not resist the warning of the elderly man,  after all, no living being is around. He lifted his spear and killed one big fish. Two women who were coming to fetch water saw him and screamed, dropping their pots of water and ran back to report to the people of Umuriam Obunese of what they saw at the stream,  but before the community followed them back, Orjika has freed. 
At Ani Owelle, the people on their effort to stop the white men from entering their community, went right to Owe, before ogbujilekwe river and dug a pit, since they where told that the whites where already at Adazi community.  They dug the pit for the white men to fall inside whenever they plan to invade them. 
Orjika now at Amaenyi Awka, it happens to be a date for imo Oka festival, Nwangwu, a notable blacksmith of Oka community had left to Imo Awka square for the celebration. Orjika enters the compound and Picked  dane guns, machetes and spears. As he were about leaving, a monkey jump from a tree and started  fighting with  him. After serious confrontation with the monkey, he picked one of the guns and shut the monkey, the sound of the gun shut attracted some other monkeys. Orjika made haste and carted away with the weapons he have gathered. Knowing that he have committed a sacrilege at Umuriam Nawfia, he  followed Nise-Agulu-Adazi route. 
On reaching Adazi, near ogbujilekwe river, he saw a white man riding a bicycle from the hilly part of Adazi,  he ambushed the white man, hits him and pushed him out of the bicycle and made his way to Ani Owelle. From the manner he cycled  zigzagly  along the pathway, it's obvious he have  not ride a bicycle before. At a point, he couldn't control the bicycle, this puts fear on him, his brevity has failed him this time,  who would have taught Orjika the law of motion, that a body will continue in its present state of rest until acted upon by a force, His stolen weapons started falling from bicycle, one after the other until he fell into the pit dug by his brothers. In the pit was Orjika lying lifelessly, haven fractured his neck, hands, and legs.
A messenger and interpreter that's working with white men came to Ani Owelle community,  after describing a victim found in the dug pit,  He took Ugomma,  Orjika's pregnant wife to  Adazi where the missionaries were camping. 
"He's not dead yet, only that he fractured most of his joints" a female white nurse narates to  Ugomma, Orjika's wife, whose tears were running down her cheek in avalanche. She screams as her water burst on hearing the ugly news,  the white nurse took her in and have her delivered her babies.. 
"They  will be taken to the evil forest,  they will not stay" Ugomma lamented and refuses to see her  twins. 
"no one is killing your babies, killing of twins have long been abolished by Mary Slessor". replied the nurse.
When the news of Orjika and his wife being in the custody of the white missionaries, reach Ani Owelle,   Igwe ukpabi and his cabinet trekked to Adazi, to see things with their own eyes.
 That fateful day, Orjika still bandaged, he could barely speak nor walk. He stood by the centre, the missionaries by the right, while Ukpabi and his cabinet stood by the left. 
" Orjika, what are we hearing? How was your mission? Is it true that your wife gave birth to twins? Why are you here with the white?" Igwe Ukpabi was brandishing these questions to Orjika who were staring at every corner.
A white man walked through from a corner with some court men who  were all with long barrel gun. They stood at attention at the district officer and then  at ease. 
" I bring to you the message from Queen Elizabeth the Second" the district office addresses the Ani-Owelle people who stood in awe, looking at the  court men with guns. They  all sheath their machetes. 
"Kedu Ife ona ako ako, what is he saying?" asked Ukpabi,  who found the district officer babbling. The interpreter walked  out to interpret to them. After his interpretations, the People of Ani Owelle started making noise and the interpreter ask them to keep quiet. 
"no body charge me, Igwe Ukpabi, the Owelle of Umu Owelle to keep my mouth shut." roared Ukpabi to the interpreter. "by the way, Orjika, where are the weapons you were sent for. 
"They have it  when I fell inside the pit you dug." Replied Orjika in a weak voice. 
"where are those taboos, bring them with us, so we can go and appease the go.... "
"...no one is having my babies, I can't allow you people take them to the evil forest. If they be a taboo, let it be upon my head" said Ugomma,  who could not allow Igwe Ukpabi to finish. She then turned to her husband. 
"Orjika remember how they mocked you,  calling you all sorts of names. Remember our twelve years of childlesness, remember how many dibia's that we consulted for these past years.  No  we're not allowing them to take my babies." She cried. 
Ukpabi cleared his throat, "Orjika, Nwoke nwanyi na afulu oja, na ama aja ndi muo. Consider the penalty that we follow if you refuses to appease the gods of our land. Will you stand the shame of being ostracized? Consider also, the Ozo title that you've so much wanted?  Will you rather stay here with these people and worship their own gods?  No, I know you wont."
Orjika stood so confused,  being in a dilemma of choices, not knowing whom to follow. He thought about the long awaited babies,  the benevolence of the missionaries who regardless of his wickedness still treat his wounds in a manner he had never seen. On the second part,  he thought about him being ostracized,  and not conferred with ozo title again  . He turned and walked back to the tent, Ugomma followed him while Ukpabi and his cabinet went back disappointed. 
"These missionaries meant good for us, see how they treat your wounds, not minding that you tried to hurt them. Look at how they are caring about our new born babies.  They have showered us with gift of clothes,  beverages and babies food." Ugomma commends. 
" I know,  I have  seen with my eyes, the only problem I have is their strange gods." Orjika replied. 
"If their God can save my babies, then I am going with them,  they meant good for us and the kids." Ugomma affirmed .

Later,  Orjika followed the white,  and refused to  kill his twins,  the first man to spare twins  in  Umu-Owelle community. 
The district Officer later appointed him to be a warrant chief of Um- Owelle, Orjika became famous. He became the first man to own a bicycle in Umu- Owelle. 

THE END

A fiction work from  BelieveGod Omengboji
@June 2018

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