Comprehension: The Last Run of the Bandit

“Help! Help!! Help!!! the pregnant lady screamed at the top of her voice as her handbag was snatched from her arm.

Yekini, also called “Kilango”, had struck again. He was nicknamed “Kilangro” by his mates in the business. Yekini had run away from home at the tender age of ten to go into crime.

                   At times, Yekini took the lives of his victims, that was when he was bloodthirsty. At times, Yekini used the “gentle approach” to rob people. This was by suddenly stopping a well-dressed man at the bus stop or any other location, hugging him and addressing him with familiarity. However, while the victim was still wondering where he must have met this man, Yekini would hurriedly walk away. The surprised man would now realize that his wristwatch, money and jewellery had just disappeared.

                   Only God knew how Kilangro got the news that a young man who had stayed in the US for fifteen years would be arriving in the country for the first time. Yekini was positioned at the spot where he could monitor his target. That afternoon, Kilangro made away with about fifty thousand dollars. For the next few weeks, Yekini celebrated, spending money recklessly.

                   Kilangro was still enjoying the gains of his last robbery when he targeted another well-to-do businesswoman who went shopping in the market. Yekini revived the engine of his automatic motorcycle, and he snatched the woman’s handbag.

                   “Thief! Ole!! Thief!!!” the woman screamed at the top of her voice. Suddenly, a jeep coming behind Kilangro swerved skillfully and hit him. Yekini took to his heels as the mob pursued him. Kilangro ran the great race of his life.

                   At last, however, they got him, cornered him beside a fence and pounced on him. They beat the living daylights out of him and he was handed over to the police.

(The Guardian – September 25, 2010, page 12)