Sadness and dread in Maiduguri

It all happened at a time when Maiduguri residents would be thinking of peace returning to their beleaguered city. How sad, though, those hopes were once again dealt a big and bloody blow. Indeed the Maiduguri Monday Market was their target; the biggest market in Maiduguri, a market that daily features thousands of buyers and […]

It all happened at a time when Maiduguri residents would be thinking of peace returning to their beleaguered city. How sad, though, those hopes were once again dealt a big and bloody blow.
Indeed the Maiduguri Monday Market was their target; the biggest market in Maiduguri, a market that daily features thousands of buyers and sellers; it is arguably the commercial nerve-centre of the city. Two female bombers who were apparently heading to the market detonated their deadly straps hidden under their voluminous hijabs, with the mission of killing as many people as they are able; they succeeded; some 40 people or more lay dead.
At the other end at the city is the University of Maiduguri; there, it was a different story as thousands of newly-admitted students had gathered for the ritual of matriculation. The students, in their joyous and euphoric mood, busied themselves dancing and taking pictures in anticipation for a better future, hardly aware of the tragedy unfolding across the other side of town. Unknown to some of them the vicious hand of the enemy of the state was at work, unleashing mayhem on people who otherwise would have been joyous onlookers at the matriculating undergraduates. Soon though, the shocking news spread, and the atmosphere was instantly tempered with apprehension and uncertainty about what was in store for them, because the longer these constant symbols of death destruction dominate the deeper the fear for the future.  At the end of it all, the hopes for a better future, the hopes for a better career and the hope for a better life, would be nothing but a dream. But these are the hopes for peace that we all must cling unto.

Joshua Jesse Kelvin, student, University of Maiduguri<[email protected]>;