The bandits had blocked their bus and opened fire on it for about 45 minutes after which six persons were killed and many others, including her, were seriously wounded.

The incident happened at Zamfara-Sokoto boarder between 9 and10 O’clock in the morning, after they have had a hitch-free all night journey.

The attack

Each time I remember that incident, I feel very strange. But I thank God who saved my life that day, not because I am more important to those who died, but because of his grace upon my life. He just chose to make me live.

A sound echoed like that of gunshot and I thought that our tyre had burst. Somebody in the bus told us that it was a gunshot. We all lay down on the floor of the vehicle. After a while, the driver and the conductor ran to the back of the vehicle to take cover. Those shooting were outside and for about 45 minutes they were still spraying bullets on the vehicle. They probably wanted to ensure that .every living thing in that bus was dead before they came in to rob. If not, why should people just open fire on travellers who did not resist them?

They were speaking languages we could not understand. The doors of the vehicle were wide open and they did not enter. They just kept shooting at the vehicle like people who had made up their mind to kill every one inside before coming in.

At that juncture, the conductor just ran out and told them to shoot him instead of shooting us as we are only youth corpers. They stopped shooting and ordered us to come down from the bus and we all came down. But by this time three people had already died inside the vehicle.

Then they saw an Hausa boy that had a dagger hanging on his left shoulder and shot him on the spot, making the number of dead persons four on the spot.

Before we got to the hospital, two other people died, making the number of dead people six, all boys. While we were on the ground, where we lay face down, we heard gunshot and I thought that they were shooting us one after the other, not knowing that it was policemen who were coming to our rescue. There was exchange of fire between them after which the robbers ran away. While we were outside, they entered the vehicle and were carting away our luggage, tearing them with their knives and searching for money and other valuables. They collected phones, but I was lucky that my phone fell down on the step by the door side and they did not see it.

My bullet wound

While I was inside the vehicle, I felt some sharp pains when they were shooting. I looked at it and saw myself in my own pool of blood. I removed my scarf and tied it on the spot to stop the bleeding. At that time the pain was not felt much. After that I called my pastor on phone and he assured me that nothing would happen to me. I noticed that the bullet in my arm was moving about. The police people, who came, took us to the hospital and called NYSC officials who came and transferred us to Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. There, they started giving us treatment and booked a date to operate on me and brought out the bullets.

On the appointed date, I was operated upon and the bullets, about six of them, were removed from my hand and that was after a week and three days. But unknown to me one was still lodging in my head. After six days, I felt like scratching a portion of my head that was making me uncomfortable.

While I was doing that one of the bullets fell down from my head, followed by blood. My fellow corpers started shouting and they took me to the clinic where I was given first aid after which I went to the hospital where I was treated.

When I saw the list that I would be serving in Sokoto State, I was not happy because I had prayed and hoped that I would be posted to Delta State or any of the mid-western states. I felt that since there are many companies there, if I am posted there, I might be retained in the company I served.

But when the posting came out and I knew that there was nothing else I could do, I prayed to God to lead me safely to the place. However, on Saturday, preceding the Sunday that I was to travel, I saw myself in a hospital in the dream, with a big hole in my hand and I was being treated. I was not shown what brought about the wound.

When I woke up, I told my elder sister about it and she rebuked me, saying that it was like the service had gone into my head. That did I think that I was the first person that has gone for service. Because of what she said, I just prayed ordinarily, not going extra mile as would have done in situation of that nature.

The journey

On Sunday morning, at about 8 O’clock, I left our house to Ezenwata transport, which goes to Sokoto, purchased my ticket and was told to come back before 4p.m and so we should try to be at the terminal before 4 O’clock. I went back to church at Kingdom Citizens Ministries and waited till after service. Then, around 3:00p.m, I went back to the bus terminal and by 4p.m., we took off.

I prayed in the Church and was sure that God would see me through. Ours was a direct bus to Sokoto and we travelled peacefully throughout the night into the next morning. At about 9-10 O’clock, I noticed that our vehicle had stopped between Zamfara –Sokoto boarder and the hoodlums struck.

When we got to the hospital, I phoned my uncle and told him, but asked him not to allow my mother to know about it, because if she does, she would not believe that I was still alive and she might kill herself before I come back.

My uncle encouraged me to be strong that he would be praying for me, and he was calling me every day till the day I came out from the theatre.

It was NYSC that paid the bill for the treatment. On the appointed date, I was operated upon, after a week and three days.

In all, I thank God who did not allow me to be shot dead by the robbers. If not for him, I would have been dead by now. I was the only girl that was shot. However, I thank NYSC officials in Sokoto State for taking good care of me and my colleagues who went out of their way to show me love. I know that some of them will read this interview, and I want them to know that I appreciate every bit of their assistance to me and to tell them that God will surely reward them for their kind gesture.