After undergoing the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, orientation in Taraba, it was time for ADEKUNLE TIMOTHY to return to Ibadan where he has been redeployed. The trip which started on August 16 ended on August 18. Here, the English graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, reveals what he has in his diary.
We left the National Youth Service, NYSC, orientation camp, Sibre Jalingo, yesterday (August 16) and we headed to NCCF (Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship) family house where we were hosted for the night. We were treated really well. Then our driver was to come to the lodge at about 5:00 a.m. (and he deceived himself not me) and came at about 6:00 a.m. We left the lodge for the park at 6:58 a.m. and left the park at 8:00 a.m.
August 17, 2021 (11:40am)
We’ve been on this journey since 8 a.m. and we are still in Taraba/Jalingo despite the top speed. So something happened today during the NCCF morning devotion. I was outside waiting for the bus to arrive when I heard a shout in the church. Na so I carry leg run go there o. When I got there, they carried a guy out of the church who seemed to have been electrocuted because we were hearing “where is the cut out?”, “switch off the lights”. The guy they carried looked stiff, we were all scared. Some of us were praying already while some were looking for the key of the bus. Some were already in tears, I was praying and the name ‘Jesus’ filled the air.
All of a sudden, we just saw that people came down from the bus and placed the ‘affected person’ on the floor and started laughing. We then learnt that the drama unit usually have a performance to scare all the new corp members who come to the family house after the orientation service. The performance was so real that even the people who knew about what they do normally fell for it too. That’s the end of my story. I miss them mehn. Some of my friends were in tears as we left.
August 17, 2021 (12:38pm)
We just got to Benue now. Report wey dey reach me now be say we go carry our bus on top boat this time.
August 17, 2021 (1:21pm)
We have gotten to the river where we’ll need a boat to carry our bus.
August 18, 2021 (5:44am)
Good morning viewers, we just moved from Kogi now. Safe trip!
August 18, 2021 (9:34am)
From Kogi, na so I sleep on my friend till we go to Ondo. So na Ondo we dey.
August 18, 2021 (3:35pm)
Just got to Ibadan. Thank God for safe trip, no casualties, no life lost, nothing’s missing and nothing’s broken.
August 18, 2021 (7:20pm)
Omo, e be like say I dey get PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) because every sound I hear, na the bugle instrument I dey hear for my ear. Even when I’m sleeping, I hear paranran ‘dmm-dms-smsmddd’. They’ve spoilt my sleeping order. While in camp, in one night I can wake up more than seven times to check time just to see if was 3:00 a.m. already. NYSC kai! I need to treat myself with drugs and take Hollandia yoghurt and ice cream drip.
Having spent the last few weeks in the midst of people that have grown to be my second family, I’ve come to the realisation that family isn’t about the ones tied to you by blood.
I saw the beauty in diversity of languages and cultures, we looked out for each other, despite our various backgrounds and tribes, I found brothers and sisters that speak a universal language of love.
I’ll give anything to be in the same place with these people over and over again.
