Innocence lost: The story of Emeka’s unjust fate

Emeka was on his way to visit his sister, Ada, who had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. His heart swelled with pride and excitement as he made his way through the crowded streets, eager to meet his newborn niece for the first time.

He carried with him gifts: 10 large sachets of Golden Morn, a big tin of milk and chocolate, diapers, and baby formula.

As he joyfully walked through the streets with his packages, he stumbled upon a scene of chaos and brutality. A mob had gathered around a young man, their fists raised in anger and accusation.

“What did he do?” Emeka asked, his voice trembling with fear and confusion as he edged closer to the crowd.

“He’s a thief! He stole from my store!” someone shouted. The angry mob turned towards Emeka, murmuring amongst themselves.

“Me, a thief? How?” Emeka asked the woman who accused him.

“Yes, he stole my Golden Morn, 10 sachets,” she insisted.

“No, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m innocent. I don’t even know you, madam,” Emeka protested.

Emeka’s heart sank as he realised the gravity of the situation. He had stumbled upon a case of mistaken identity, and the consequences could be dire.

Immediately, they dragged the bag he was carrying, forcefully opened it, and ransacked it. Lo and behold, it was confirmed.

“It’s not just Golden Morn, this man is a real thief! Look, there’s milk, chocolate, diapers, and formula!” a random thug shouted as they emptied Emeka’s bag.

“Oh no,” everyone echoed as the items were brought out one by one.

“I’m innocent. I bought all of these with my own money. I didn’t steal them,” Emeka stammered in shock at the allegations.

“Madam, are you sure these items belong to you? You were complaining about Golden Morn, what about the milk and diapers?” another thug asked, seeking clarification.

The woman insisted the possessions were hers and accused Emeka firmly.

Before Emeka could react, the mob descended upon him like a pack of wild animals, raining merciless blows upon him.

“Stop! Please, I’m innocent!” Emeka cried out from within the crowd, but his pleas were drowned out by their deafening roar.

“Please, I’m innocent,” he tried to say amidst the pain and terror as the blows continued relentlessly, each one pushing him closer to unconsciousness.

Just as Emeka felt himself slipping away, the mob dragged him to the ground and set him ablaze, flames licking at his skin with searing heat.

In that moment of agony and despair, Emeka’s thoughts turned to his sister, Ada, and the newborn niece he would never get to meet. He prayed for their safety, knowing he would never see them again.

Meanwhile, Ada anxiously awaited her brother’s arrival, her heart filled with joy and anticipation at the thought of introducing him to her newborn daughter. But as the hours passed and Emeka failed to appear, a sense of unease settled over her like a dark cloud.

“What’s happening? He should have arrived by now. The last time we spoke, he said he was already on my street. It’s been almost an hour. What’s going on?” Ada wondered aloud.

Then, just as she was about to lose hope, she heard commotion outside her door. A crowd had gathered, their voices raised in anger and accusation.

With a sinking heart, Ada rushed outside, her eyes widening in horror as she saw the scene before her: her brother Emeka, lying motionless on the ground, his body engulfed in flames.

“No! Emeka!” Ada screamed, her voice raw with grief and disbelief as she pushed through the crowd to reach him.

But it was too late. By the time she reached his side, Emeka’s life had already slipped away, his body a charred husk of what it once was.

“What happened? Who did this to my brother?” Ada demanded, but everyone remained silent, staring at her in solemnity.

“Your brother is a thief. He stole Golden Morn, just Golden Morn,” a bystander finally spoke up.

“No, my brother is innocent… He was coming to visit me,” Ada cried out in despair.

As Ada cradled her brother’s lifeless body in her arms, tears streaming down her face, a little boy ran towards the crowd, looking for his mother.

“Mummy, mummy,” the boy said as he ran to her.

“Ik, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. Come, take this provision to the store,” the woman who had accused Emeka commanded her son.

“Aunty Ik asked me to follow her home so she could pay me for the Golden Morn she bought,” the boy explained innocently.

With that revelation, the crowd dispersed, leaving Ada kneeling beside her brother’s lifeless body on the ground.