This is Part 3 and the final chapter of my 3 days journey From Zaria to Adamawa.
Read the previous Part here: My 3 days journey From Zaria to Adamawa: Part 2
There’s a directive that they’ll be no vehicular movement starting from 12 am to 6 pm that day(25 February) Because of the election and it’s already 10 pm and we are still in Darazo, we weren’t so bothered about that since we are with a Major in the army, and he has a genuine excuse on why he’s on transit that particular night. So we can use the entire night for the journey while we reach our various homes on the morning of February 25. By that, we still have a chance to participate in the election.
There’s a dense bush between Darazo and Gombe, and our car tyre burst in the middle of the bush, we stopped and offload the luggage in the boot to remove the spare trye, we did that in a hurry since it’s a bush and can’t be safe for us. Finally, we fix it and continue with our journey.
We reach another Checkpoint. The Soldier on duty recognizes Major. In excitement, he shouts na san ka(I know you). We met in one Operation in a forest in Katsina, Major smiled and answered yes, they greeted each other and we proceeded with our journey.
We reached another Checkpoint, there are quite a lot of checkpoints between Gombe and Darazo. The soldiers on duty stopped us and asked Major to come down and open his car boot.
Let me allow them to buy the small market, Major Said.
He picked up his ID and go out the to Open the boot, however, I don’t know what transpired between him and those soldiers since he came back to the car early, I sense he show them his ID before Opening the car boot.
He entered the car and we continue with our journey we enter Duku town there is the presence of heavy security personnel and the movement of election material it was 12 am already 25 February and the day of the election. The hope of reaching Adamawa for Abdul and me, Taraba for Agnes and Joseph has dashed considering we are using a spare tire and for sure that can’t make it to Adamawa or Taraba.
We pass Duku town and we come across another military checkpoint, the soldiers on duty seem to be playing some games, Major attempts to pass the checkpoint since they haven’t stopped us two of the soldiers charge toward us and yelled go back, go back, Major press the break and go reverse a little the two soldiers come closer, Major Lower his window and on the light inside the car. Am Major SM Gama Gera, Major tells one of the soldiers that as he comes closer, he didn’t hear him well, the soldier asks you said? He responded Am major SM Gama Gera. Major remove his ID card and show the soldier.
The soldier went cold, Major said you didn’t ask me to stop and I refuse, even if it’s a civilian you’re not supposed to yell at him since you didn’t ask him to stop. The soldier answers it’s the commander that asks us to stop every car starting from 12 am. Major answered him, but you allow some cars to pass here just now. Indeed the soldier allows some politician cars to pass, the cars pass us a few metres away from the Checkpoint. He kept quiet, Major ask him how’s work the soldier respond it’s fine sir, Major tell him he was on transfer. Major presses the accelerator we proceed to leave after the little drama.
After we get a little far from the Checkpoint the spare tire burst, this time around there was no spare tyre again, what a nightmare, was this journey meant to happen? We all begin to ask ourselves. Major move out to check, there’s nothing we can do. Major stop a Hummer bus passing, by the check the tire but there’s nothing they can do. So they told us Major there’s a village at the front let us manage the tyre like that.
Major entered the car and started driving. We were moving very slowly, and due to the tyre issue, the tyre completely ruptured. We were just using the wheel to move. After several minutes we reached the village. And we met some people sitting at the roadside who were waiting for some politician.
We stopped and greeted them and asked them if there was any vulcanizer around. They said yes. We pleaded with them to help us call him, and they did. He came there’s an Extra tyre (the one we change in Missau) that will need to be fixed on the wheel. The vulcanizer did that and felt that there was little leakage between the tyre and wheel. We put the luggage back in the car boot and asked him to refill the tyre again. Major entered the car we proceed.
We continue the journey, we already accept our fate of not going home or participating in the election. That day it’s already 1 am (night) and we are just getting closer to Gombe. This time around we can see the light from the Gombe metropolis.
We came across a police checkpoint the police were sitting beside, the road was closed, and the police expect the driver to drop and at least scratch his back(pay some fee) before allowing us to pass but Major didn’t go out after waiting for a moment the police proceed to meet us, major open the light inside the car. He asked from where?
Major answered from Kaduna, I’m on a transfer to Taraba state, the police ask Major in what?
Major answered him Major in the army, the policeman answer ahh Babban mutum ne fa(it’s a Big Man o). Welcome sir, you’ve entered the night. Major answered our car has an issue. He opens the road and we pass.
We Enter Gombe
After several minutes we enter Gombe, it was silent only security where on the streets. Major began to contemplate which hotel we should go to, Joseph recommend to him we go to Tumfure, he said there were cheaper hotels there. We proceed, to Tumfure, after reaching Tumfure we begin to check the signboard around for hotels, we come across one and take a turn to one street that lead to the hotel, we went to evolution hotel in Gombe, Major went and book a room for us, it’s 3 am
Major spent at least 36k for the 2 rooms, he did spend a lot of money on us, we entered to take our bath and sleep for a while, it’s February 25 the election Day. No vehicular movement allowed, Major called a friend to take his car to the mechanic. Joseph told us there was no sign of us leaving Gombe that day, and spending a night will be a burden to Major as he’ll have to spend another fee. So we decided I, Agnes, and Abdul will that day after the election is concluded.
Joseph won’t leave with us as Major isn’t very familiar with the road so he’ll have to wait to leave together with Major so he can show him the direction to Taraba.
I, Major, Abdul, and Joseph went to buy something to eat. There are few shops open. We later found a shop to buy what we wanted and bring it to our hotel room to eat.
We spent our time watching the election Live on channels TV, while Major and Joseph play Major Ps5.
We Left Gombe
In the evening around 5 pm I and Abdul went to the car park to enquire if we would get the car to Adamawa and Taraba, the guys at the park told us yes we would get the car since vehicular movement starts at 6 pm. We went back and tell Agnes. And we get our stuff ready we want to tell Major Joseph say we shouldn’t worry he’ll do that, and he did. I and Abdul went out to look for a motorcycle, Agnes’ luggage was plenty and she couldn’t carry it to the main road for us to get a bike there.
We kind of delay before getting the Finally we got two and tell them we would carry someone at the hotel, plus the luggage, they take us to the hotel we park our load. We went to Major room to tell him we are leaving but he was not inside. So we tell Joseph to let him know we left when he comes back.
I and Abdul climb one Okada (Bike) while Agnes climbs the other. Immediately we started moving we met Major, the Okada stopped we tell Major we are leaving he wish us a safe journey and we left.
On reaching the park the guys at the park told us Yola’s car just left now, so we’ll have to wait, then there comes another car to Yola, however, Agnes is heading to Taraba there’s one Hummer bus going to Taraba the guys at the park told us they ain’t sure the car is leaving that day.
We advise Agnes since the car is heading to Yola let her take the car and stop in Numan to get Taraba’s car. She thought that was a brilliant idea.
Am stopping at Lafiya Lamurde, my town is the first town one will enter when going to Adamawa from Gombe using the Yola- Gombe road. We enter the car and Begin the journey. We reach Lafiya around 8 pm my brother was at the roadside waiting for me. I drop Agnes congratulate me on reaching home after 3 days. I wish them well for the remaining trip.
Agnes couldn’t find a car at Numan, she have to go to Yola to pass the night.
It’s a 3-day Zaria to Adamawa journey for me and Abdul and a 4-day Zaria – Taraba journey.
We spent a day (February 23) from Zaria – Kano, and a day from Kano to Gombe (February 24). Then travel to Adamawa after the election on the 25.
This is Kalayiro Linus Dominic experience on a 3-day journey from ZARIA to Adamawa
