87

Eyitayo, still in her housecoat, held her phone to her ear. In her right hand she held a pen over an open notebook on a stool in front of her.

Gabriel stood, bent over her, his phone also pressed against his ear, reading what Eyitayo had written and relaying it over the phone.

Eyitayo crossed out Abike Animashaun, like she had crossed out Bisola Durosinmi Etti Drive above it. On a new line she wrote: Ayo Jagun Street. Then, after listening, she added 28B in front of the street name and underlined the address.

Ibrahim took the phone away from his ear and covered the mouthpiece with his hand. His body rocked in the front cab of the police van speeding down Ahmadu Bello. He shouted over the noise of the sirens: ‘28B, Ayo Jagun Street.’

Bakare, his driver, shunted out from behind a white Peugeot 504 and floored the throttle. In the open back of the van, armed police held on to whatever they could grip to stop being thrown onto the road. The driver of the Peugeot beeped his horn in protest at the dangerous manoeuvre. Sergeant Hot-Temper in the back of the van pointed his AK-47 at the motorist’s windscreen. The Peugeot screeched to a halt on the road, other cars swerved to avoid running into it, and the police van sped on, siren blaring and lights flashing.