Sunday Vanguard’s reporter wasted no time in establishing communication with Evans – an act considered a breach of protocol. But he was an experienced crime editor, with decades of experience, risking it all just to get his scoop.
The encounter:
Sunday Vanguard: Evans, (he raised his head eagerly looking at the reporter).
I just spoke with your wife and kids in Ghana.
Evans: It is not true.
Evans wife, Uchenna and kids
It can’t be my wife.
Sunday Vanguard: (Showing him the front page of the copy of Saturday Vanguard with the photograph of his wife and kids weeping) Look at them here.
Your son in particular, crying his hearts out.
Evans: (He quickly retraced his steps, looked intently at the photograph). Suddenly, his countenance changed.
(He became speechless upon seeing the photograph clearly).
Sunday Vanguard: Are the people in the photograph not your wife and kids?
Evans: (Looking downcast and in deep thought, maintained a studied silence).
Sunday Vanguard: Just look at what what you have done to your family. The many lives of innocent people you have ruined with your activities. Look at your beautiful kids crying their hearts out just for…
His hostile stare towards the reporter spoke volumes.
Were it possible, he would have grabbed the riffle from the policemen and shot at the reporter.
Sunday Vanguard: Evans, you are a very wicked man. See what you have done to your family. This is judgement time.
Meanwhile, this encounter may appear smooth and easy, but it was more like passing through the eye of the needle while it lasted because the policemen, though decorous, did not particularly cooperate and were angry.
At this stage, the policemen pounced on the reporter with guns drawn for a kill.
“Oga, if you don want trouble, leave this place now. (They snatched the newspaper forcefully from the reporter and ordered one of their armed colleagues to escort him out to the gate).
As the reporter was being led out, it was noticed that the copy of Saturday Vanguard was being passed from one eager hand to another as they quickly threw Evans back to the cell where they were taken him to.