Sunday, 8 September 2013

BLOOD IN THE SLURB





 

Ka-gboommm!!! The sound exploded above their heads. Fear whistling in their bellies as they fought to stay calm. Weeks of half sleeps and eventful nightmares flashed before their eyes like a pantomime, as a fresh fount of sweat beads broke on his forehead and stung his eyes and he blinked them back as fast as he could. His wife and six children stared at him, their frightened eyes asking; what is the next move? A dry patch warmed his throat and he swallowed a slush of tasteless saliva to quench it, tilting his head in the process. Then he saw it, an avalanche of wooden splinters, shards of metal wrings, and debris caving in on their heads. Tomorrow the news reads: Family of Eight Buried Alive!!!
This is just one of the scenarios bedeviling the Nigerian community, especially in the suburb, where the prevalence of collapsed buildings wrestles for headlines-spots with terror activities in the Northeast. Like terrorism the problem still lingers and despite many calls by government agencies, professionals and private individuals for structural tests to be conducted on all buildings, the action remains silent until another loud crash is heard, Ka-gboom.

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