Hail Warning

Boko Haram Enclave — Jungle near Lagos, Nigeria

There was no funeral for Afua Diambu because there was no physical body to bury — Baako hadn’t told anyone that Afua had died. That detail was unnecessary to share because the men on the beach who bore witness to Afua’s grisly death had been killed in the explosion. Thus, Baako could quietly assume his brother’s identity, life and role within the Boko Haram as leader.

But, now things would be different with a true Christian leading the Boko Haram.

The first thing Baako did was convene a meeting with his lieutenants. The new caliphate had traveled deep into the jungle to meet with his men in one of the Boko Haram camps. Baako had been shown to a large wooden chair positioned in front of a massive fire pit.

Baako stood and addressed the men in English.

“Beginning today, we will change how things are done.”

Baako stared into the inquisitive looks on his hardened lieutenants’ faces. His hand rested on a 9mm handgun stuffed into a holster attached to his belt. It was his brother’s gun that he wore during his days leading the Boko Haram.

“And we are going to start by freeing the women we had kidnapped from the school so many years ago.”

A rumbling of dissension erupted from his men — some had married the girls Baako was referencing.

“What if they are our women — our wives?” one of his senior lieutenants asked.

“Each of the women will come before me. I will ask them if they would like to stay or if they would rather leave. If the answer is leave, they will be permitted to depart without fear of punishment of any type. Have I made myself clear?”

The sounds of agitated men filled the forest.

The same man asked a simple question.

“Why?”

“Because we have had them long enough,” Baako barked at him. “It’s time to move on to other business. We can’t let this one mission define us. We can’t let kidnapping women be what puts on the map — the only reason for which we are

known. We are better than this, and it is time to move forward. These women will no longer define our organization. We will be known for far better things we will accomplish.”

Baako’s words seemed to appease the men and put a damper on the open hostility that had flared up within the group.

Baako watched the men talk amongst themselves. After a moment or two, he told the men, “Now, get the women out here. Let’s see who wants to stay and who wants to go.”