The Effectiveness Of Fear

Some days, I struggle to come up with what to write, which idea is worth exploring or what to talk about. Other days, the idea hits me like a freight train going at maximum speed. And this is one of those ideas.

Photo credit: Mikhail Nilov
Source: pexels.com 

I don't know if you know that I live in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, or if you are aware of the sit-at-home order every Monday imposed on the region by IPOB. The sit-at-home order has been on since August 2021, and towards the end of the year, it became sort of inconsequential. Although I avoided leaving my immediate environs on Mondays, I sometimes go out to visit friends or run errands. When the new year came around, I truly believed that the sit-at-home was over, and I was not the only one with that train of thought, what we didn't know was that whoever gave that order had put measures in place to ensure we complied and that brings me to my story for today.

After talking with a few friends and classmates,  we decided to go for postings on Monday, just so we can meet the minimum requirements for attendance.  Others decided not to risk going out because we are not sure of what the outside would be like, in fact, someone warned me particularly not to go to school but as a proud member of the coconut head generation, I went out. As I went on my normal route to school, I could see the city back to the way it used to be without the sit-at-home order, the public buses were on the road, stores and shops were open, everyone was going about their daily business. At Amokwe (the bus stop I usually waited to get a bus to Ituku), there was no bus going to Ituku that morning and I decided to stall instead of going to Gariki (a major park) to get a bus going to Ituku.  It was in that waiting that I was joined by another of my classmates. We got tired of waiting for a bus and being unsuccessful in our attempts to persuade other bus drivers to take us to Ituku, so we decided to go to Gariki at the end of the day. We didn't want to get to the hospital late after all.

My bus route that morning.
Source: Google Maps.

Three of us boarded a bus at Amokwe, and by the time we reached Mayor Market, the woman that got on the bus with us came down, her reason was simple, she was told something was going on at Gariki and was warned to return home. The bus driver was a bit disturbed by that news but continued on his way to Gariki. We noticed as we were going further that there were a lot more vehicles going in the opposite direction, and when we got to One Day Bus Stop, it became clear that what the woman told us was true. Everyone was turning around and returning to the town, people were trying their hardest to close down their stores and every other person was running as fast as they came trying to find somewhere to hide, so our drier did the next best thing, turned into One Day, find a place to park his bus, wound up his window and prayed for whatever is going on to end. 

We started making phone calls to people we know trying to warn them to stay at home, also informing them we were in the middle of a sticky situation. We also called people we believed would be around Gariki to be sure of the situation report we had received, that IPOB members had shown up on motorcycles at Gariki and started shooting, was real or a fear tactic. At this time, my friends were not picking up their phones, and I was beginning to get worried. We didn't want to remain where we were because we were not certain of the progression of events, so the bus driver decided to take us back to Amokwe, and he did his best to avoid the main road. 

So we started our journey back, linking our way back from one street to another and at some point, we noticed people turning around again. I believe you know the drill now, find somewhere to pack, wind up the glass and wait for something new to come up. The report we got now was something similar to what was happening at Mayor, and this time around the military was involved. I called my friends again and this time around, the call went through, at least Zita and Diri. I told them what was going on and they in turn made me promise to call them when I get home and Diri went a step further making me promise to never leave my apartment on Mondays again.

We continued our journey and the driver stopped us somewhere where we could find a way back to Amokwe. When we got to Amokwe, the difference was obvious, everywhere was closed, and the people at the bus stop were agitated, hoping to find a bus to get them home. The bus that took me back to my last bus stop refused to go any further, and that was it. The fear of something that horrid coming their way was enough to make everyone remain home. Again, Nigeria is not worth dying for, right? I got home safely and when I went to school the next day, the bus passed through Gariki and I was on the lookout for signs that something went wrong, but in all honesty, I found nothing out of place. Although, I am not sure what I was looking for.

Source: Unsplash.com

And that's what I have realized about fear, it is very efficient in holding people back, controlling and maybe becoming a tool for dictators. Fear isn't always a bad thing, it can serve as a safeguard against our instinct and prevent us from potentially harming ourselves. But it can be harnessed to keep people in line and control their actions, and if you grew up in these climes, you will realize that is a major key in training and discipline. We were taught to be afraid, and I believe fear is not a healthy way of enforcing discipline. Perhaps that is a story for another day, but today is another Monday, and I am sitting at home not out of fear though, but because I know nothing is happening outside, and I am not in the mood for a repeat of last Monday. 

So, what has been your craziest experience born out of fear?

Please leave it in the comment section below or send a mail to theestherian@gmail.com. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Have a blessed week.

With love,

The Estherian