Caboose

This weekend I joined a large group of other VSOs and employees of various other organisations for a trip to Kabba, Kogi state.

We left work on Friday at lunchtime. The journey takes over three hours, the road from Abuja to Lokoja is known for accidents and the road from Lokoja to Kabba for potholes and armed robbers. Luckily Marebec and I had managed to cadge a lift with Ronan and some others in an air-conditioned LandCruiser, much more comfortable than public transport!

As you travel south from Abuja the landscape gets noticeably greener and just before Lokoja you cross the Niger river:

The purpose of the trip was to visit Fathers Noel and Leo, both missionaries in Kabba. They were having a party to celebrate Leo’s birthday at the centre where they both work. Here’s a picture of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and another of the house containing the infamous Hillie’s Bar.

(more…)

Got an email from the VSO programme office on Thursday, to tell us that one of the VSO drivers, Tadjudeen, had been killed in a car accident. I didn’t know him but he certainly seems to have been well liked by both programme staff and volunteers. He leaves a wife and five children.

There was some good news in the email. Kayode, one of the programme managers, was also in the car but escaped with cracked ribs and bruising.

People at home worry about illnesses, coups and other dramatic problems but travelling on the roads is the most dangerous thing we do here.