LASTING TALK - by The Jotter Keeper

LASTING TALK With The Jotter Keeper Good morning, children of the world! Welcome to our monthly story-time. I’m your host for today, and my name is The Jotter Keeper. We don’t have much on our agenda today. We just want to go over one particular story, one that might leave you questioning how a single decision can change the course of several lives. Y’all might have an idea of what’s coming, and y’all might not. Either way, y’all gon’ stay fed! Now, let’s get into it. Yesterday, at exactly 2:00 p.m., we received a rather disturbing call about a young man who allegedly attempted to make away with a car he was supposed to test-drive. According to eyewitness accounts reported to Punch News, alongside an official statement released by the auto shop, the suspect, identified as Mr. Azeem Oladunjoye, had walked into the dealership at exactly 1:30 p.m. He requested a tour of the premises while looking around for a car he might be interested in purchasing. They hadn’t even gone far when something caught his attention. A white Mercedes-Benz GLE 4MATIC, sitting elegantly among other vehicles in the middle section of the showroom. Azeem immediately expressed interest. He informed the manager that he would like to inspect both the interior and exterior of the vehicle before taking it out for a test drive. Without hesitation, the manager handed him the keys. After all, what could possibly go wrong? The manager seemed quite confident in Azeem. Besides, it wasn’t the first time a potential customer had requested a test drive. Several customers had done so in the past, and they had all returned without complications. But Azeem? Azeem had other plans. The moment he settled into the driver’s seat and pressed his foot against the accelerator, he made a dash for it! He burst into hysterical laughter as the vehicle roared to life, speeding past the manager and heading straight towards the expressway. For a moment, the manager stood there, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. Then reality struck. He immediately reached for his phone, made a few urgent calls, and jumped into his own vehicle to pursue Azeem. Within minutes, the distant wailing of police sirens pierced through the atmosphere. Apparently, the manager had contacted the Managing Director (MD), who wasted no time alerting the local authorities. Meanwhile, Azeem was beginning to realise that his little adventure wasn’t going according to plan. He glanced into his rear-view mirror. Police vehicles. Flashing lights. Sirens. And they were gaining on him. A cold sensation travelled down his spine. For the first time since leaving the dealership, fear began to replace his excitement. But rather than surrender, Azeem did the unthinkable. He accelerated even further. The faster he drove, the more desperate he became. And the more desperate he became, the less control he had over the vehicle. It was almost as though nemesis itself had taken the wheel. Then, in one horrifying moment, everything went wrong. Azeem lost control. The vehicle swerved violently, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. By the time the chaos subsided, six innocent lives had been lost. Two pregnant women. A mentally unstable man. And three sisters who were returning from their WAEC examination centre. Six lives. Six different stories. Six futures that would never be written. And all because one man decided that stealing a car was worth more than the lives of those around him. But the chase wasn’t over. Azeem somehow managed to regain control of the vehicle and continued his desperate escape. Unfortunately for him, luck had already packed its bags. He eventually ran into heavy traffic along the Lekki Expressway. Cars were lined up ahead of him, bumper to bumper. There was nowhere left to drive. And with police vehicles closing in from behind, Azeem realised he had reached the end of the road. Quite literally. He abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. But he barely made it far. Two gunshots rang out. Both struck his leg, sending him crashing to the ground. The officers immediately apprehended him, placing handcuffs around his wrists before transporting him to the hospital under police supervision. Even there, his freedom remained a distant dream. His hands and legs were restrained as he received treatment. After recovering from his injuries and being discharged from the hospital, Azeem was arraigned before the court on charges of attempted vehicle theft and murder. And that was when the weight of his actions finally began to settle on his shoulders. Throughout the proceedings, Azeem desperately attempted to talk his way out of the situation. He pleaded. He cried. He begged. At some point, he began shouting: ”¡Lo siento! ¡Lo siento!” Over and over again. But his apologies could not bring back the dead. His pleas fell on deaf ears. After reviewing the evidence presented before the court, the judge delivered the verdict. Azeem was found guilty. He received a sentence of 120 years’ imprisonment for the killings and an additional 50 years for the attempted theft. That’s 170 years behind bars! One hundred and seventy years. For a car he never even owned. For a journey he never completed. And for a decision he could never undo. The moment the sentence was pronounced, Azeem froze. His eyes widened. His knees weakened. And before anyone could fully comprehend what was happening, he collapsed right there in the courtroom. He had fainted. Following medical attention, he was transferred to Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where he would spend the remainder of his natural life. Azeem had walked into an auto shop hoping to drive away with a Mercedes-Benz. Instead, he drove himself into a lifetime of imprisonment. And six innocent people paid the ultimate price. ⸻ And that’s how Azeem dug his own grave. Literally! One decision. One reckless adventure. One hundred and seventy years to think about it. And that, children of the world, is why not every opportunity deserves to be taken. Sometimes, the road you choose to escape through becomes the very road that leads to your downfall. Well, that’ll be all for now! We’ve got so many stories packed up for you, and trust me, you don’t want to miss what’s coming next. Just tune in to TWOSCENTS FM whenever you’re ready for another ride. Until then, stay safe, stay curious, and remember that every action has a consequence. See y’all next month! I’m your lovely host, The Jotter Keeper. Ciao! ⸻ MEANINGS Lo siento — Spanish for “I’m sorry.”

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