DESTINY ESTATE, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
D-DAY
11:30 P.M.
The armed robbers parked their car a few miles away from the estate, to facilitate a noiseless intrusion, and made the rest of the journey on foot. They successfully entered the estate from one of the vulnerable areas that Savior had discovered when he was studying the estate a couple of weeks ago.
Even though it was night, the estate was illuminated with solar-powered street lights. Dogs barked from several houses. With the little knowledge he had about domestic animals, Savior concluded that half of the dogs might be German Shepherds.
As they continued navigating stealthily into the estate, more dogs began barking frantically. But to the utter amazement of the armed robbers, the residents did not turn on their porch light, peek through their windows or even step out to see what had gotten their dogs rattled.
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Then it dawned on Savior and his gang that it was either the residence had gotten used to their dogs barking whenever they detected motion, or they had become lackadaisical and totally left anything that had to do with their security exclusively to the estate security personnel. How pathetic. Either way, it was obviously playing to the advantage of the armed robbers and they hoped it would remain that way. Although, after this night, nothing would remain the same.
---
Oblivious to the imminent danger prowling the streets of her estate, Ayanate was enjoying her time in the presence of God.
At the moment, she was doing what the Bible instructed in Ephesians 5:19 and she was loving every minute of it .
Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; She was having a great, intoxicating koinonia with Jesus Christ, and she just wanted to keep basking in the euphoria of the moment forever.
After singing 'What a mighty God I serve', another song came to mind. She opened her mouth and began singing.
In Christ alone my hope is found
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He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm...
---
The armed robbers quietly made their way behind rows of houses, occasionally crouching behind lush and freshly-manicured flowers, blending into the shadows.
They got to the end of one road and quickly navigated another route.
The security guys were actively making their rounds, but having prepared for scenarios like this, the armed robbers were careful not to appear on the radar screen of the security personnel.
Still moving, they almost collided with one of the security men who was rounding the corner, but they expeditiously ducked just in time as the security personnel pointed his flashlight towards the spot they were standing a few seconds ago.
Not noticing anything suspicious, the security personnel walked on, oblivious to what had just taken place, or better still, what he had just missed.
Savior and his boys came out of hiding, releasing a torrent of expletives from their lips as they did. After mumbling a few more choice words at the security personnel who had almost seen them, they continued with their mission.
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For now, nothing would interrupt them. The operation was still very much on.
---
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand...
---
The armed robbers continued in silence for a while until one of the gang members, who was also one of the guys Savior had plans for that night, spoke up.
"Oh boy, we get Luck o, na 'im make we come quick quick. All these yamayama security people don't wake up o. Assuming say we delay this operation peren, we for don peme," the young man said in the Nigerian pidgin English.
Savior scoffed. The fool wasn't even out of the woods yet and he counted himself lucky. The poor guy wasn't lucky at all, at least, not where Savior was concerned.
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The guy's statement was followed with silence. Clueless, he opened his mouth to speak again, and Savior shot him a glare that could kill.
"See, bros, if I hear any word from you again, I swear, you no go like me o. You dey hear?" Savior asked in a bone-chilling tone.
Both men held their gaze for a while before the younger one finally wavered.
"I say, you hear me? before I go match you now to the ground," Savior drawled, bringing his face a few inches closer to the guy's.
His voice quivered as he replied. "I hear you, boss. No vex."
Satisfied with the reply, Savior began to retreat slowly, but not before he noted, with satisfaction, the fear in the eyes of the other gang members.
Very good, he thought. Let them continue to be afraid of me.
Fear was one of the most effective tools. And right now, that was the leverage he had over them.
---
In Christ alone who took on flesh
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Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save...
---
The armed robbers walked for a few minutes more before Savior pointed behind a row of houses that were dark. "Comrades, make we go conclude our final preparations for that safe corner."
"Boss, we dey your back," they replied as they trailed behind him.
Savior led the group to an inky dark spot where he was sure even a cat would have to do a double take to be able to see them.
"You have less than sixty seconds," he told them. They began wearing their gloves and dressing in their camouflaged dark uniform. The gloves were a precaution to mask their fingerprints so that the police wouldn't track them down with it. The camouflage was meant to disguise the outline of their figure so that anyone who saw them would not be able to give accurate descriptions of what they looked like to the police.
---
Till on that cross as Jesus died
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The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live...
---
Time seemed to abruptly move in slow motion as Savior began hearing a melodious song from one of the nearby houses. The voice sounded hauntingly sonorous. It was too good to be real that he began wondering if the melody was coming from his heart. He looked at his fellow gang members and from the way they were reacting, he knew that it was for real.
At first, the voice sounded faint, but soon after, they could distinctly hear it. Not long after, they could also make out the words.
---
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again...
Savior was momentarily distracted. The other gang members were also getting distracted, and Savior didn't like it.
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This wasn't good, not good at all, but there was no denying the fact that some people had wonderful voices that could make a man lose concentration. And losing focus was not allowed in this line of work. No, no, no, the stakes were too high for it. Every lost second hand grave consequences.
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ…
What a sweet voice! And what a bad timing! If he didn't know better, he would have thought that the voice was a booby trap meant specifically for them. Surely, he was in trouble now because the voice could just be the death of his plan.
Clearly taken by the melodious voice, the other gang members began whistling slowly, making a few catcalls and dropping side comments.
One of the boys said something that jerked back his concentration.
"What did you say?" Savior asked him.
"I was saying that we should start our operation with that house so that we can see the face behind that beautiful voice," the boy replied, smiling with a lustful glint in his eyes.
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But Savior didn't smile. "Rapist!" he snarled. Then, wagging his fingers at all the gang members, he said, "I’ll warn you all very clearly for the last time. Tonight is no night for silly games. We have a mission and don’t you dare mess it up."
Grudgingly, they all murmured, "Yes, boss," and began shuffling to get the last bit of their gears ready.
Satisfied, Savior forced himself to tune out the still-singing voice that was like that of an angel’s and focused on his mission.
As the gang began filing out stealthily, Savior made two decisions. In situ additions to his original plan. First, they wouldn't be carrying out their operation in that house; second, he would personally return for the mystery singer, whoever she was.
---
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
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Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
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