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The Weeping Lecturer

In the morning, the heavens opened and it began to rain. Bella grabbed her umbrella to get to school, as she walked out of the hostel the first

Ogbanje (Water spirit)

Onuwa, the daughter of Olisa, the granddaughter of Nuego, according to tradition of Ndielu village in Agunta autonomous community, she was sent by the water goddess Ukulele to serve the people. Onuwa was very beautiful with gap teeth. Always smiling. She never felt sad. She was very quiet but jovial, her voice was soft and couldn't be heard. 

Nwokocha married Onuwa and sent to his son, Somadina, without enquiring from the goddess. Ukulele's consent was
not sought for before the marriage. 

Now, Onuwa was living with Somadina in Lagos. Onuwa gave birth to first twin. For the second time, she gave birth to twin. The third time she gave birth to twin again—this was three times Onuwa put to bed and twins all through. It was scaring. The worst was that Somadina never sought for spiritual counselling.

Two years ago before her last twin, she fell sick, taken to the village where one traditionalist calmed down the water goddess when she came to take Onuwa away. Ths reoccurring strange ailment would only be subdued not cured whenever she got hold of Onuwa. 

It was two years after giving birth to her last twin, she fell very ill. It was strange and scary as if she was going to die the next minute. "Can't you see that this is Ogbanje symptom. Her body is hot like an oven," their neighbor said to Somadina in whisper. "I thought it's fever. And I have been giving her fever drugs," he said. The woman advised him to look for a spiritualist.

Few days later, Onuwa felt better. Somadina rejoiced that his wife had recovered. Onuwa began to bug him with the issue of travelling home with the kids for Christmas festive. 

At first, Somadina bluntly refused but later accepted to give in to her request. The following day, Somadina arranged things for their travelling. Two days after Onuwa and her kids were already on their way to the village. When the car approached river Niger, Onuwa began to weep. The driver thought it was tears of joy that she was finally going home. After this, the journey continued.

At the village, Onuwa began to hug everyone like a mad woman. She would end up falling on the ground with the person. She was talking non-pause. At first her husband's family members thought it was act of love. Not until she refused to eat but talking from morning till night and hitting the doors and everything within her reach, they knew something was not right. 

They took her to Nwanyowumiri, it didn't show any improvement. Instead, she would talk and talk, calling after passers-by and narrating to them with three fingers. People never understood the sign. 

After three days, her husband got a message and returned home, he found out that the traditionalist who usually calm the water goddess was still alive but Onuwa's mother said he was dead. 
Somadina took his wife there, the traditionalist lamented that they brought her late. "It's too late, the spirit has possessed her already but I will try my best," said the traditionalist. Her head was barbed to make sure the medicine would be effective. Her stay lasted for three days, on the third day, she was calmed, and inactive, gazing at everyone like a mad woman. 

Oluma, Somadina's niece came with them to help take care of Onuwa. She went to the stream that morning. "The woman you came here with is dead," was the message Oluma received. She took to her heels putting on a wet wrapper only to confirm it was true. "What a seven days ailment! Seven days of talking, no food, no water, no rest!!" Oluma lamented. 

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