Nonso Ileagu: Last Moments
On December 28, 2021, I met a friend of mine at the wedding of our secondary schoolmate. We were all from the same hometown — Abatete.
It’s been years since we last saw each other.
The wedding reception was at a hotel just at the border of our hometown and Ogidi. When the activity had ended, we stayed back at the outside bar to catch up.
He told me that he was looking forward to a good 2022. He got a job as an engineer in a federal parastatal in Abuja. He was also building his own business from scratch with next to nothing. He told me he had a contract in the pipeline that could be a life-changer for him and his business partner.
One striking thing that he told me during our conversation was that if I had the opportunity that I should leave the country. I was quick to cut in and tell him how it was once my dream to leave, but since my dad passed earlier in the year, I had shelved the idea. He told me the same thing again, this time noting that things were not getting any better. He said in a grim manner making it stick to my head.
His mom called him to tell him that it was getting late. Some minutes later my mother called me as well informing me about the security risks of being out after sunset in Anambra state. Since we had already finished our drinks, and Nonso’s younger brother — Ifeanyi who would be driving us home had already arrived at the hotel, we decided that it was time to leave and called the attendant for the bill.
He had brought out his card to pay when I stopped him and insisted that I paid instead. “I got this” I remember telling him. He chuckled characteristically and kept back his card.
We went down to the cooling van where his elder brother — Emeka was helping the bridegroom to take care of the drinks. He told us that we are waiting for the groom to bring his car, so we can load up the remaining items, so we can all leave at once.
Final Moments
There were no seats near the cooling van, so we went back to the bar where we had been seating. In front, a group of people was sitting two tables away from us, while another group of older men was sitting about the same distance to our left.
The shooting started around 19:52. I heard the sound of a firecracker (knockout/banger) dangerously close by and looked up to wondering who was foolish enough to be blowing then so close to where people were. It wasn’t a firecracker, it was a hit! The pillar in front of me blocked the whole view but I could see a gun pointed at someone's head and the sound was coming from it.
I kicked away my seat while telling my buddy what was going on…
We both ran towards the parking lot (near where the cooling van was), away from the shooter’s line of sight. Shots were still being fired as we ran. As we ran, we told the other people there what was going on.
I ducked behind a car, checking myself for any wetness that could indicate that I’ve been shot. I didn’t feel any. At that same moment, I heard more shots nearby some yards from the car I was squatting behind. And then more shots further away. While the shooting was going on the music was still playing. Folks had to tell the DJ to stop playing.
I was wondering whether I had enough cover where I was, so I moved away towards another part of the compound, which happened to be more exposed. It was a foolish decision, but thankfully the shooters had gone by then. I went towards where we were sitting and saw “the target person” seated there lifeless… I was moving closer when I heard the bridegroom screaming that my buddy has been shot. I could sense the seriousness from the look on the groom’s face.
I went towards the direction the groom was coming from, I saw Nonso lying there in the pool of his own blood. He was already losing consciousness. He had been shot in the abdomen. He was not looking good at all (His situation was too graphic for me to describe here). I quickly ran to him, his younger brother was also there. He brought their car immediately and with the help of someone nearby, we managed to get him into the back seat. In less than 1 minute we were speeding towards Iyienu Hospital in Ogidi, it was the best hospital we know that’s close by.
We got there in less than 15 minutes. Horning frantically as we approached the emergency unit. The personnel on duty were a bit hesitant to show out, so I dashed into the reception and dragged down the stretcher by myself causing some disturbance in the process. The doctors and nurses followed closely behind.
The doctor did not let us put him on the stretcher before declaring him dead.
We begged him for CPR or something, anything… He told us that even if, there is nothing they could do for him.
Sunset at dawn
My legs stopped functioning properly momentarily, and I dropped on the culvert in front of the building face-down, asking myself whether it was a movie, because it was unreal.
Emeka — Nonso’s elder brother joined us then, and Ifeanyi broke the news to him, his legs gave way as well. Nothing makes sense at that moment.
More people with gunshot injuries were brought into the emergency unit. It looked like they would survive (I hope they did).
The hospital staff advised us to take him to the mortuary, which was within the compound. We could not believe it. How do we tell his parents?
Aftermath
We learned that 2 more people were shot dead at the market square of our hometown. They were shot in their car. We also learned that the shooting was politically motivated. My buddy was not a target, not even remotely. He was just there… The groom told us that the policemen came to the hotel about 2 hours later, and then left. No crime-scene management, nothing… they just left.
I was traumatized. I could not sleep alone. I keep replaying our scenarios in my head. I remember how he told me to leave the country if I get the chance. Now it feels like part of his final mission was to deliver that message to me…
May your soul rest in peace, buddy.
