THE ROAD TO BECOMING A SUPERTAR

As Hamza and the other children were forcefully dragged out of the vehicle, the atmosphere grew oppressive. The masked men emerged, their faces concealed, yet their eyes betrayed a disturbing hunger for violence, sending a collective shiver through the group of children.

A sharp, commanding voice pierced the air, dividing the terrified children with a single decree, "Girls, left. Boys, right."

Hamza's heart raced as he cautiously moved to the right, his eyes scanning the group of girls to catch a glimpse of his sister. Amid his anxious search, a strong hand gripped his neck, causing him to spin around. There stood Shamshudeen, his face marked with bruises and battered resolve, silently communicating the horrors he had endured.

Desperate to know what had happened, Hamza leaned in closer to Shamshudeen, whispering urgently. But before he could receive an answer, a thunderous voice boomed, commanding them to action. "YIN SHIRU" (MOVE OUT).

Suddenly, the world snapped back into focus, and they moved forward like a flock of frightened sheep, each step echoing with the palpable fear of the unknown. Their captors instructed them to form a line as they meticulously counted heads, their watchful eyes never straying from the group of captive children.

The events unfolded rapidly, each moment etching itself in Hamza's memory with vivid intensity. The girls were ushered away, leaving the boys to squat down. A figure emerged, draped in a jalabiya with a turban wrapped around his neck, revealing a scar tracing his left eye. He addressed them, his words resonating with an unsettling gravity.

The boys were commanded to rise and follow as they embarked on a journey through a makeshift village of huts and scattered buildings. The unforgiving afternoon sun beat down upon them, its harsh rays offering no respite from the oppressive heat.

Arriving at a secluded area, groups of men unveiled crates, and the commanding figure ordered them to pick up the contents, his words spoken in Hausa. With a forceful kick, he sent one crate tumbling, revealing an arsenal of firearms. A heavy silence descended upon the assembled boys, a palpable tension hanging in the air.

Then, abruptly, the man seized one of the guns and fired it into the sky, the deafening report of BANG! BANG! BANG! Echoed by his followers who followed suit and shouted . Fear gripped the hearts of the captives as they watched the displays of firepower.

In the next instance, he barked another command, "Pick it up." This time, unlike before, they moved with a sense of urgency, hurriedly retrieving the guns. The man's chilling declaration hung in the air, sinking deep into their souls.

"From today, you have become soldiers of THE SHEKAU."