Mercy Bassey, whose husband, Bassey Sardauna, was murdered by ex-students of Government Day Secondary School Model, Jalingo, speaks to VICTORIA EDEME, about the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.
How and when did you get the news of your husband’s death?
My name is Mercy Bassey. I am 42 years old. My husband and I hail from Karim Lamido Llocal Government in Taraba. My husband was 45. He was a teacher at Government Day Secondary School Model, Jalingo. We have three children. It happened on Thursday, November 9, 2023. I got the news at about 1 pm. My mother was on admission at a specialist hospital, so I was with her when my father-in-law called me to say that I should rush to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. He told me that he received a call that my husband was rushed there from work. I told my mother what I was told, then left for FMC. I thought he may have collapsed while at work, so I was very confused. On my way there, I called one of his colleagues, Madam Mary. They were always together at the office and she lived not far away from us. When I called her to enquire where they were, she told me that they were at the emergency unit in FMC. I hung up the call and went straight to the emergency ward. On arrival, I saw so many people around there. I went straight to the door and found it locked. I heard someone saying, ‘that’s his wife’. I tried opening the door but was not allowed entry, as I was told that he was in critical condition. Some people there were trying to calm me down, not knowing that before my arrival, he was already dead. I heard the screams of Madam Mary from inside the ward. I then jumped up from my seat and tried opening the door again. Policemen and other security operatives who were there stopped me. I told them I knew something was wrong with my husband. I then saw one of his students whom I had once met. I asked him if he was part of those who brought my husband to the hospital, and he replied in the affirmative. I told the student to narrate what happened because nobody was telling me what happened. The student then told me that some ex-students stabbed him. I was so shocked. That was when I shouted that they should let me see my husband. One of our family friends and her husband were with my husband inside the ward. The family friend then came out and tried to shift my attention from the entire situation. She said that we should go home and pick fresh clothes for my husband because the clothes he wore were soaked with blood. Deep down within me, I knew that he was already dead. She and her husband took me home to bring the clothes. Her husband then drove back to call my pastor, so that he (my pastor) would come and finally break the news to me. After picking up the clothes, I told her that we should go back to the hospital but she said we should wait for her husband. I insisted that we should go there by tricycle (Keke) because I wanted to be with my husband. A few minutes later, my pastor came and said that the inevitable had happened and he would not cover it up. He then broke the news to me about my husband’s death.
How did you feel upon hearing the news?
It was an unexplainable feeling. I just burst into tears and cried out. People came around to ask what happened. I was just shouting, ‘they have killed my husband’. Within me, something just whispered to me that I should calm down for the sake of the children.
Where were your children at that time?
They were there, watching me. Immediately I saw them, I had to calm down. Right from there, they knew what had happened and also burst into tears. The whole thing was just painful.
How did you find out what led to your husband’s death? What were you told?
Apart from what that student told me at the hospital, I later found out that there was a misunderstanding between him and some ex-students in the school. That Thursday was their school inspection day, and he was the housemaster. His portion of the house was towards the gate. The students had finished cleaning up and they were on the line. Then some ex-male students came into the school. There was a particular path they were supposed to pass but some of them broke into the queue where the students were lined up. As they followed in between the students, my husband shouted at them and queried them for disturbing the students on the line. One of the guys turned back and followed the right path but a fellow ex-student was against his colleague for obeying my husband because they were no longer students of the school. The rest of the students then reacted to the situation by faulting the ex-student for speaking about their teacher in such a manner. The issue led to an uproar and they tried to manage the situation, so they said. The teachers could not control the situation, so they called the vigilantes. The vigilantes came and they were able to send those ex-students out of the school. They tried to calm the situation and continue with their activities, not knowing that those guys were lurking around. When school was over and he was on his way home, I was told that some teachers escorted him to where he would enter keke. Immediately he entered the keke, those ex-students then attacked him. Those teachers tried to come back and rescue him but he told them that they should run for their lives. He told them not to come near him so they wouldn’t get injured because of him, so I was told. I wasn’t sure if he was stabbed inside or outside the keke, because there were different versions of the story.
How did other members of the family receive the news of your husband’s death?
After the pastor broke the news to me, I went back to the hospital. They opened the door for me and I went to see him. I saw him lying down. He was covered in blood from his chest to his legs. From his neck upward, there was no injury. From there, they took me back to the family house. His mother was not at home when we came. We met only the father and Baba, as I call him, was just crying. My husband was the breadwinner of the house. Among all the eight boys Baba had, my husband was the only one working and supporting the family. Baba was crying and shouting that his ‘eyes’ were gone. The whole house was in a state of confusion.
How would you describe your husband?
He was my best friend before we got married. We went to church together and were always seen together. At home, he always assisted me with the chores. Though we had little differences sometimes, he was the best. People normally said I was a strong woman but I always told them that he was the secret behind that strength. Now, I don’t know how it’s going to be, but God has been helping thus far. I thought I could not live without him. It had not been easy, because everything I did reminded me of him. My husband’s killers have dealt with me seriously. I accept it in good faith, because if God did not permit it to happen, who is that boy to come closer to my husband? He was a very healthy man, full of energy and life. They just took him away from me, just like that.
Aside from teaching, what other activities was your husband involved in?
He was a Master of Ceremonies. He studied agriculture in his NCE days, so he also reared goats and chickens. He sold them too.
How have you and your children been faring since your husband’s demise?
I am a teacher and a tailor. I also make snacks. We’ve been getting support from people in the community and church members.
Have you reported the death to local law enforcement, and if so, what has been their response or progress in the investigation?
The police are aware of the situation. The day after his death, they came to the family house and gave their condolences. They said they were on top of the situation and would fish out the culprits. Since then, we’ve not heard anything from them, till now.
How has your husband’s death affected you mentally?
I am struggling. I am a final year student of Guardians and Counselling at the Taraba State University. I have been struggling with my studies since the incident. Assimilation is difficult because I have frequent mood swings. Since my husband’s death, I have not been able to sew any clothes as I lack concentration. As a counsellor in the making, I know I have to help myself. I do have emotional breakdowns but I ensure that it’s not in my children’s presence. When I’m having such breakdowns, I run to my neighbour’s room, cry out my eyes, wipe my tears, and go back to my house. Nobody knows this except my neighbour and me.
How have your children been managing the death of their father?
One thing I prayed to God, when I was struggling to overcome my pain was that my children should accept it in good faith. My children know that their father is gone and will not come back. What I’m praying to God is that He takes out anger and vengeance away from their hearts. My eldest son once angrily asked me what his father did to the boys that killed him. I calmed him down and told him not to see it that way, that it was time for my husband to leave and that was why God took him. I’ve forgiven my husband’s killers. From the depths of my heart, I have nothing against them. I leave vengeance for God. So I also talk to my children too, to leave everything to God.
What kind of support has your family received in dealing with this tragic event?
The government and teachers’ union have done their part. They helped in the burial arrangements. My husband was buried on November 21, 2023. The state government promised to sponsor my three children to school. They didn’t tell me how long the sponsorship would cover, but said they’d get back to me.
What kind of support has the school given to your family?
Before the burial, they came with some drinks and other items to support us. Since the burial, we’ve not heard from them.
How has the community reacted to your brother’s death?
Everybody is still in shock because he did a lot for the community. There is a borehole in our area where every resident fetches water. Whenever the borehole got spoilt, my husband always made sure that it was repaired. Even, if it meant he had to go house to house to get support so we would not lack water in the area. He played with the children and ensured orderliness around the borehole. A few days ago, they fought in the borehole area and somebody said that if my husband was around, such would not have happened. The community misses him.
What are your expectations from the government regarding your husband’s killing?
I expect justice for my husband. My real concern is not for the culprits to be punished, but to avoid recurrence. Those boys are dangerous to the society. My husband is gone and won’t come back. The main reason I want justice for my husband is for his death to put a stop to bad behaviour from those boys. Let his death bring a lasting solution to this kind of issue. Recently, I learned that they killed somebody again in a keke. Because nothing has been done about those perpetrators, they continue their evil deeds. I want justice so that we can be able to walk freely within our communities. That is my greatest concern.
How can your community assist you in getting justice?
They can help in any way they can by reminding the government of the need to do something about it and not being silent. I think it will help and go a long way. As it is, the issue is gradually being swept under the carpet. But when the community lends its voice, it will go a long way to remind the government about the case.
What specific help are you seeking from the police?
They should come out and tell us what happened. We need to know the situation of things and how they are handling it. What level is the investigation? The police should meet us officially and give us a report on what they’re doing about the case, and how far they’ve gone in the investigation.
What support do you need?
I need financial support. We were planning to own a house by next year. The place we are living is not comfortable at all. I also need support for my husband’s parents. I want my husband’s brothers to get jobs to support the family.
Editor’s note: Our correspondent reached out to the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, who stated that one of the suspects had been apprehended and was facing charges in court. Usman also claimed that the family was being carried along in the investigation.
