A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 3: THE MISSING CHILDREN

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwOQKJjE0T

Chapter 3: The Missing Children

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn9bqunPj5

The rain began shortly after midnight.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja2ezGTgiz

Heavy drops struck the zinc rooftops of the village, creating a rhythm that should have been comforting. Instead, it only deepened the uneasiness many residents already felt.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KvQyZoaMp

For months, rumors had spread from village to village.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFo7DSIwRv

Children were disappearing.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqar2WJybz

Some vanished on their way to school.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpaOz1vH7r

Others disappeared while running errands.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafEFf4bBFc

A few were taken from their homes in the middle of the night.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92fYjTQ4mH

No one knew exactly who was responsible.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N8S9ywkHS

No one knew where the children were being taken.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOetUWtr1I

But every parent knew one thing.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IlBNAscKU

Fear had become their constant companion.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ8vbQxyT7

In the small village of Umudara, fourteen-year-old Chiamaka sat beside a lantern, studying for her examinations.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkvXDRSDHD

She dreamed of becoming a doctor someday.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpjsLGNevk

Her father often joked that she would be the first person to treat him free of charge.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn2o8hjEWK

Each time, she laughed and promised she would.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AYlGPKb6Y

Her mother watched proudly from across the room.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuRQlhyVgK

"You spend too much time reading," she said.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxdpOa9BCl

Chiamaka smiled.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2ZRR6oTib

"One day I'll make you proud."

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ne2V4wkcK

"You already do."

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA28YtlOZLo

The family shared a quiet meal before preparing for bed.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTq9QZqb5d

None of them knew it would be the last peaceful night they would ever spend together.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY21aetEhc

---

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDkulEbw13

Before dawn, screams shattered the silence.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6rKkJ428o

Gunshots echoed through the village.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1SNEw7AJS

Doors burst open.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3VjqGZ4z3

People ran into the darkness.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBGr0gvQyN

Children cried.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyZIgS2BTs

Women shouted prayers.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbID4S05BC

Men grabbed whatever they could use to defend their families.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3se9kPLTJV

Armed men stormed through the community like a plague.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHX9JSVADn

Faces covered.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRcyX9201

Weapons raised.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA36IxKL5bl

Merciless.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uMv7cdmYs

Chiamaka woke in terror.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV2PZYYfsD

The sound of gunfire seemed to come from every direction.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sa3FwzXxY

Her father rushed into the room.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNMRf0C6FK

"Stay behind me!"

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgukyi4ETJB

The family huddled together.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIHA8AReBk

Then their front door exploded inward.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzhR3wzFkO

The attackers entered.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK0OHG0R4u

Within seconds, chaos consumed the house.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJJlOLYMld

Chiamaka's mother screamed.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQvNffOxEv

Her father fought desperately.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Aa5PRhnJt

But he was no match for armed criminals.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5VIpOF6Lm

The men dragged Chiamaka outside.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SnuomksXL

She struggled.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXAB0SAkGW

She cried.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMvTyoYopg

She called for her parents.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF95GklIZT

No one could save her.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7npOSAhwy6

All around the village, similar scenes unfolded.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjWH0RPYGi

Children were being taken.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcbsav5FZo

Some barely ten years old.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeEaqfMnO3

Others younger.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nd7M5mNyu

By sunrise, the attackers were gone.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4DkhEVdVU

So were twenty-three children.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYINHbseB8

---

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy6NCGW1ID

The village became a place of mourning.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3OtC7fgl1

Parents searched the surrounding forests.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10hMK5Ng9h

Volunteers organized rescue teams.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxekmKEYBu

Religious leaders held prayer gatherings.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUTkJNqNBf

Yet no trace of the children was found.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3BIyPsxum

Days passed.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsdPGKIGvG

Then weeks.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavTlucS5BD

The pain grew heavier.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lYYAI6308

Mothers stopped sleeping.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYuG06rQDg

Fathers stopped smiling.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIvh9O77XJ

Entire families lived between hope and despair.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZe1KP0CCG

Every ringing phone brought fear.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzK6D43OVf

Every unknown number brought panic.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNI1PtqPVVL

Would it be ransom demands?

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0laXr78nw

Would it be terrible news?

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DuD5L0WB9

Or would there be nothing at all?

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYRnlFrFJb

---

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwopCLsGgqI

News of the kidnapping spread across the country.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKGEMBE9Eu

Television stations covered the story.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NCdcA5Uj7

Politicians expressed sympathy.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk6JPpspSl

Government officials promised action.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBwxVSssHW

The same promises people had heard countless times before.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooagk0pKtY

The same promises that rarely changed anything.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGnc6HaavY

Daniel watched the reports from his home.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jk0nREdO7

The faces of the missing children filled the television screen.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVBTDyZ0Uu

One photograph caught his attention.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY5zv1BOuy

A young girl with bright eyes and a hopeful smile.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbb0n7uYVCW

Chiamaka.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2kPD12IlM

She looked no older than Grace, his younger sister.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGqOrjX6nO

The thought made him sick.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps5RsxIIaP

What kind of nation allowed its children to disappear?

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO32vRGtHXt

What kind of leaders could sleep peacefully while parents suffered like this?

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhGgA5Tkth

For the first time, Daniel felt something stronger than frustration.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLRYFdEdxT

He felt anger.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WXmXi9qgC

Not the kind that fades after a few hours.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCOFAOAnJV

The kind that settles deep within the soul.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBPdtXVAvJ

The kind that demands action.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF5T9MQPGg

---

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeAglg4h7v

One evening, Daniel visited the village with a group of volunteers.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDdq1EvSFl

The atmosphere was heartbreaking.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuCQoFQQdL

Empty classrooms.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagckA5oqkl

Silent playgrounds.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UqKKq1r1M

Desperate families.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPfNm0l6JL

Everywhere he looked, grief lingered.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId807YujLN

He met Chiamaka's mother outside her home.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EzFwDLVxY

The woman looked years older than she had in the photographs.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdjee6H97i

Pain had transformed her face.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwTcIgOdIV

"Have they found her?" Daniel asked softly.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu87EGHDnZl

The woman shook her head.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEnWwxApVG

Tears filled her eyes.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnlZg1FkHo

"My daughter wanted to become a doctor."

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlz4imio8v

Her voice cracked.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6vttJ6YKX

"Every night I pray she is alive."

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEQmcpqmpr

Daniel struggled to respond.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm9Wxe3uCn

There were no words powerful enough.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwoho7KEtZ

No words capable of healing such wounds.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZMrgO6OLG

Only silence.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQaAnldpvI

The silence of a nation watching its future disappear.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdroKPqS7FU

---

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS73weB6ezX

That night, Daniel sat beneath a tree near the village square.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06cM1coIkj

The stars filled the sky above him.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN54rfGsfy

Children should have been laughing nearby.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Y2HfWFgG

Families should have been enjoying the cool evening breeze.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPCKwJsKc8

Instead, fear ruled everything.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofovikn4E8

He thought about the missing children.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7KWiIlAZv

He thought about the broken families.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2vjeIS11A

He thought about the leaders who spoke beautifully but acted slowly.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYzeQmVlcQ

And for the first time, he understood something.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLejyMreb6A

The bleeding of a nation was not measured by money lost.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV4DyJoyhM

It was measured by dreams stolen.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW6zC7KR0m

By innocent lives destroyed.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzBIx0rAMX

By children who disappeared without a trace.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48KM4G62dy

As the wind swept through the dark village, Daniel made another promise.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlpKgtNv4d

He would not forget their names.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM122728K5

He would not ignore their stories.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgMSCUwDV8

Because a nation that forgets its children has already begun to lose its future.

17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqehk0uhZ0

And Nigeria's future was vanishing one child at a time.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVycjToQlyN

ns216.73.216.204da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically