Looking for a safe haven.

Today being the sixth day of June makes it almost a week since I last wrote on this platform. Aside from having to take care of problems in the real world, I admit that I have become a bit lazy and laid back that I found it hard to write anything or event have a chat on my social media. I just do some work, eat and sleep... not to even mention the thoughts that have been plaguing my brain, both intrusive ones and otherwise. Of these thoughts are something I read this morning.

Before I go on, I just wanted to ask, how are you doing dear reader? Good? Bad? However you're doing I pray you remain happy!

So I was reading something on the internet this morning, a sad story of how people were killed when they were worshipping God yesterday in their holy place. A church in the town of Owo, ondo state Nigeria, was raided by gunmen, leaving people killed and the community in distraught. They were conducting mass and didn't finish early since yesterday was pentecostal Sunday when they heard a gunshot, it was loud enough to be anything ranging from a burst tyre or anything else that could produce that sound, although it was loud they didn't think much of it. Then came the second gunshot from the outside and at that point they knew something was terribly wrong. These armed men opened fire on the church through the windows since the doors were shut, killing adults and children in the process. Sadder it is that many of whom were killed were children as they must have panicked and got caught in the crossfire when trying to run to their mothers. Those who were lucky enough to have access what was about to happen laid flat on their faces and were saved from the bullets of these trigger-happy individuals, the terrorists. The sad thing is that such happenings aren't news anymore as they happen quite frequently in the south western and middle belt Nigeria. They aren't safe.

The other day, the news alongside a gruesome and tear provoking video of a Northern woman who was killed in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, alongside her four children, none of which were up to 10 years old reached my ear and my eyes. She was killed simply because she wasn't from the region.

Northerners aren't safe in the south anymore. Likewise southerners aren't safe in the North as there might be a retaliation or a "revenge" for their brothers from them. An issue or tribalism here.

Again, a girl was killed in a northern state not long ago for allegedly committing blasphemy. She wasn't just killed but burnt to death over a whatsapp voice note. I can only imagine how beautiful lie would have been here if part of the energy we channel into religion is used to fight corrupt leaders in power. The culprits were known, not hidden...

Christians aren't safe in Muslim states and I think same can be said for the Muslims in Christian states, especially those from the North.

What does all these show? It shows that the country isn't safe anymore! This isn't to create panic or propaganda but a truth that's glaring at us in the face. As I am seeing it, although we don't pray for anything bad, it is only a matter of time before things go wrong, that's if no action is taking and sadly for all these sad events, no action has ever been taken, just a twitter war and debate with hashtags spanning from days to months depending on how interesting the happening is, then the politicians...hmmm, they are the best at "condemning" terrorist attacks but do very nothing to stop them.

I am from the north and live in Kano, one of the core northern states in the country. I live in Sabon Gari, a region predominantly made up of southerners and Christians and things aren't really as they used to be. There are rumours flying around which might be true, but I refuse to believe in any for now.

When I look at the world in general, it isn't a safe place anymore. Look what's happening in some countries in Europe, the Middle East, India and some other Asian states, things are really messed up and it's only getting worse.

My prayer for all of us is that we make some money, live well and only die when God is pleased with us.

Thanks for reading.

Yours Layly,

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