Stranded, Sick, and Stuck: My 17-Hour Journey to Enugu
It was a 17-hour journey! A journey that was supposed to be 9 hours on a good day! This was one of my worst experiences travelling by road since I was born. If I had access to turn back to Lagos, I would have chosen that after seeing the red signal, but the situation was so terrible that there was no going back or going forward but just remaining completely stagnant for 5 hours at a spot. What a journey!
Life is full of experience, but there are some experiences I don't even pray for my enemies to encounter; however, we can only find a way to pull through when such experiences surface.
Yesterday, I traveled to Enugu with my son to see a particular consultant by recommendation over his health challenge. The journey started so smoothly because we left very early in the morning. Around 10 am, we were already at Ore, a place where passengers usually rest and eat before continuing their journey.
Just about 30 minutes after we left, heading down, we met other vehicles on both the left and right sides of the road, packed and without movement. There was no vehicle coming from the front or turning back; all drivers were queuing up once they reached the location until the line piled up, very lengthy. I knew there was a problem; we waited until we all came down, seeing others just seated and moving along by the roadside.
Upon inquiry, it was disclosed that at our front, let's say a 20-minute trek to the scene, Edo communities were protesting over killings in their land by the Fulani herdsmen. According to what we were told, the Fulani herdsmen killed many Edo women at their farm, just like the way they parade in communities and kill innocent souls without reason. They stormed Edo with their killing mentality; unfortunately, Edo people couldn't take it. They brought out the corpses of those women that were killed and lined them up along the road, saying no human being will drive past their community yesterday. Every traveler must share in their pain!
They were seriously protesting, chanting songs, burning tires, and well equipped with sharp objects. Some policemen, after like two hours of their protest, went to the scene to plead with them to give travelers access, but surprisingly, their women naked themselves in anger and said, "Over our bodies will they do such things. No road. Let's share with their pain..." Hmmm.The stress on the road was getting real. My son was so uncomfortable; I was equally weak. It was 4 hours then, still no movement. But then, somehow, the commissioner of police was informed, and he came with many soldiers and calmed the community down...carried the corpse too to the station, and that was when we were given access. Overall, we stayed at a spot from 11am to 4pm...5 hours of waiting!!
Moving down, our tyre burst again along the road. Bad enough, our driver had no complete instruments to fix the spare. We had to wait for a very long time for another driver to come to our aid; it was a total mess. My family member called more than 100 times, sharing in my worry; their encouragement kept me going. I used to have motion sickness too; I was throwing up so badly. I lose the strength to talk or pick up their calls. I had no strength left in me to look after my son, but some good hearts in our bus made sure he was just fine.
Overall, we reached Enugu town around 11 pm; my twin brother immediately picked us up to take us to his house, and we freshened up and slept.
Despite all the ups and downs, I am grateful to God that we were safe after all.
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Oh so sorry my sister it was indeed a painful one keeping you people on the road till that late in the night is was a risky one but thank goodness you reached safely
Yea..it was just God🙌
The most important thing was that you arrived at your destination successfully. If we start looking at so many things happening in Nigeria, it would only toggle with our mental health.
I am happy to see your boy, the Lord will continue to strengthen you the family.
Yesoo George ..that's what matters
Security issues in Nigeria has gone bad ..just seeing how messy it is
Wasting lives
Thank God for journey mercies and for safe arrivals...
But those Benin people no try at all o. Wetin concern agbero with overload? The travelers were not the ones who caused the deaths so why block the road... mtchewww. Ndi Ara everywhere.
Sorry about your stress. Hopefully, what you went for will yield result 👍
Like, it was so odd...we were just suffering for what we know nothing about
I pray so oo
Thanks for the curation
Sorry to hear about your long grueling day. I hope after arriving at your brother’s home - you recovered quickly. Such long trips are hard enough with traffic jams.
All the best wishes for your son’s visit to the consultant.
Yea...I recovered from the stress via his warm welcome, warm bath, food and others ..lol
It was an annoying delay , suffering for what I know nothing about
Thanks momo💞💖
I dislike late night journeys more than anything. Having to remain sitted for hours all in the name of travelling is not a joke. But unfortunately, being in Nigeria further increases the likeness of it happening.
This Fulani herdsmen are becoming a pain in the ass. How can people just go around killing their fellow humans like their lives doesn't matter??? I won't really blame the Edo people who decided to take matters into their hands.
I'm just glad you arrived safely at your destination even though it was late. God did ☺️
Nigeria security needs an upgrade , until then, the masses will continue to suffer
17 hours means huge time. My longest journey was nearly 10 hours. You lost a lot of time in the middle and it's very irritating.
Whatever, you reached to the destination and that's a relief.
!LUVA
It was so irritating but good enough , I arrived safely after all
The rate of killing by these herds men is getting out of hand.
Sometime ago during the period of cash scarcity I remember traveling from Warri to Abeokuta and spent about 3 hours on a spot at Okada still in Edo state, the worse of all is that there's no alternative routes to that area.
Thank God you arrived safely
No alternative route my dear...it's so bad!!!
Sorry for the stress, and we thank God for the journey mercies. I hope you were able to meet the consultant.
Yea...I succeeded in everything