Chapter 5: Justice for Zainab

As people hear wetin happen to Zainab, neighbors dey come my shop dey ask for Musa house, say dem wan help Aunty Hanatu find justice.

Some boys dey gather, dey plan, "Make we just teach am small lesson." Old women dey pray inside shop, dey beg God for mercy. My mind dey heavy.

But law no dey allow make dem release address of small pikin wey commit crime. Police warn me say if I talk, I go enter wahala join.

One officer meet me, voice low, "Oga, abeg, nor use your mouth spoil your tomorrow. If you talk, dem go lock you. Think of your family."

Few days later, Aunty Hanatu come my shop, tears full her face, say police wan close the case.

She no wear makeup, wrapper tie anyhow. Her eyes red, voice croak. People for shop just dey look am, pity dey everybody body.

Reason be say Musa never reach twelve, so law no fit hold am. Police just dey follow law, dem no fit do more than that.

My mouth open, no words come out. How pikin fit kill person, law go say nothing dey happen?

I shock. Musa kill person clear, but e no go jail, e no even go court. Which kind law be this? For this our country, sometimes law dey protect who no suppose chop am. Na only God dey see everything.

I remember one old man for street, Baba Onome, wey always talk, "Na for Nigeria, justice dey sleep."

"Police talk say even if I carry am go court by myself, prosecutor no go accept the case. At most, na to sue Musa parents make dem pay compensation... But who go give me justice for my pikin..." Aunty Hanatu cry sotay blood dey come out from her eye corner.

My wife carry handkerchief, wipe her face. Everybody for shop just dey shake head. The pain dey heavy for air.

Wetin pain pass be say Musa parents no even say sorry, talk less of pay anything. Now, dem no dey pick Aunty Hanatu call again.

One day, I see Musa mama for junction, she just face ground, waka pass quick. Some people talk say dem even plan to move comot from our area.

Even when police help reach them, dem say dem too busy to talk.

My wife no fit bear am. She make soup for Aunty Hanatu. "We all be mother. Sometimes, when bad thing happen, nothing person fit do. You still young—try find another man, born another pikin. Just think say Zainab don come back as new pikin."

She press her shoulder, voice soft. Women gather, dey murmur prayers. "God go comfort you, Hanatu."

Aunty Hanatu voice don crack. "I no fit forget... Now, anytime I close eye, I dey hear my pikin dey cry for me, say she never rest. My heart dey pain me like say person dey use knife cut am every time..."

Some women dey wipe their eye too. The pain touch everybody. Even stubborn boys for street dey quiet for days.

We all be parent, so we understand as Aunty Hanatu dey feel. We tell her make she carry her pikin body come house first, do burial, before she think of court matter.

One elder organize small prayer, Imam come pray for house. Children dey sing soft song for Zainab. The air full with pain and silent prayers. Some women dey sprinkle water for ground, dey call Zainab name make her spirit rest.

Dem set up mourning for Aunty Hanatu bakery. All neighbors come, but everybody just dey repeat the same comfort talk. Aunty Hanatu cry sotay her tears finish.

Women bring fufu, men bring palm wine. But joy no dey. Even sun wey dey shine look dull for that day.

As we dey chop burial rice, Baba Sola wey dey sell roast goat meat talk say na Aunty Hanatu fault too, say she no careful. Women for there vex, surround am: "You wey be man, try look after pikin for one day. You no go chop or drink for twenty-four hours?"

Mama Ngozi raise voice, "Abeg, if you no get better talk, shut up! No be everything person dey blame woman for!" Baba Sola just quiet.

Big Musa the butcher dey vex, smoke dey his mouth. "If na me, even if I go prison, I for don cut that devil small small. E pain me say Aunty Hanatu na good woman but no man to fight for her."

He pound table, people dey nod. For Naija, everybody sabi defend their own, especially for pikin matter.

Aunty Hanatu no too get family, so as e busy, me and my wife help her.

We dey run up and down, buy things, help with guests. Even my wife dey pray for Hanatu every night.

My daughter dey play alone for door. I call her, tell her make she no run about. She just nod, no talk much.

I walk near her, touch her cheek. "Hope you dey hear wetin I dey talk?" She nod again, eye still shine small, but no joy.

I surprise. This my pikin, she dey always talk back. Why she quiet today?

She come smile, open mouth, show me say chocolate dey her teeth. This pikin get bad teeth, we no dey let her chop sweet.

She dey laugh, but the thing worry me. I collect the wrapper from her hand.

"Na Auntie Hanatu give you?"

My daughter shake head. "The big brother give me."

My chest cold. Sweat just burst for my forehead, my hand begin shake, mouth dry. "Which big brother?"

"The one wey carry Zainab go. He talk say Zainab no finish her chocolate, so e give me."

For that moment, I feel my blood freeze. My hand begin shake. I hug my pikin tight.