By Nigerian author Amara Chidinma Ezediniru

The chants of unison filled the air

Many clenched fists supported by youthful arms in the air

A scene never before seen

Of thousands of colleens and Joes

Nigerians whose faces were different but altogether distraught

On the road

Feet stomped

One by one

Group by group

Defying the scourging sun

Eyes on one goal

Enough is Enough was their song.

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Seen a smoldering fire?

That is the Nigerian situation

Suffering and smiling

Gathering but not growing

Existing instead of living

Tiring

Stifling

Exasperating

The placards say it all

Having impunity as a revered neighbour was no longer to be

“Reform” they bellowed

“Be accountable” they screamed

“End police brutality” they yelled.

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One day

Two days

The marched continued

Four days

Five days

The president gave unsatisfactory answers

Nine days

Ten days

The cries increased

The nation became agog

The leaders unsure of what next

They consulted their evil brains

Terror was unleashed as always

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‘Peace, peace’ the youths reminded

We came in peace

There was neither a spear nor a sword

We had only clenched fists

A symbol of our resolve

We used our voices

We pledged to the nation

We sang the anthem

It was the darkest night

In the already dark country

The leaders listened not

Their fingers were on the trigger

What a deadly 20.10.2020

Some of our young left the earth untimely

Our government killed her own

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We are in mourning

Oh, when will we see the morning?

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Amara Chidinma Ezediniru is a business administrator, human resource manager and a certified teacher. She is widely traveled, a compassionate Rotarian, an author of three books, and a mother. She is the managing consultant of Rald and Vid Consulting Ltd.