When they got to Afor-Ntu market square, it was silence everywhere if not for a few yelping sounds that were coming from village women that were seated on the bare floor of Afor-Ntu market square. They kept offering greetings while the sorrowful women moved without giving back any response. It was cold shoulders coming from them. Their silence looked so scary that it became reasonable for one to break into it. Although the presence of women had assured them that if that night would be their last, it wouldn't be at Afor-Ntu market square.
In Igbo land, the presence of women was so respected that murder was hardly seen or heard committed in their presence. For their women, creating a scenario for it, or killing in their presence, means forcefully taking away their suckling children from their chest for slaughter. They never forgave murderers that performed in their presence. When such happens, it spells doom for the perpetrators. Igbo women would gather at the rising of the sun with their buttocks unwashed, go straight to the home of such murderers, make them come out, and in unison of words and actions they would utter curses, raise their wrappers up and throw open their sorrowful buttocks, from which all humanity comes forth into the world, and in that manner the fortunes of such person is buried. Even if men decided to eliminate someone for obvious reasons, women were still forbidden to be present, no matter the circumstances.
It was a taboo for a mother, whether married or unmarried, with a child of her own or with no child, to witness the gruesome murder of their children, no matter the nature of the crime they committed. They were seen as mothers of all.
A few minutes after passing the market square, they heard a roaring, yet a chilling voice coming from a few metres away. ''Olee ndi na aga ije a- who are walking there?'' those were the words that came as a frightening question beside them.'' Yeow, ndi be anyi, obu anyi- our people, we are the ones'' Ojiofor responded as they stopped to recognize the presence of the people that threw in the question. Unexpectedly, another voice came much closer away from them. It was about three metres from where they stood. ''Unu si na unu si ebe e- where did you say you were coming from?'' the nearer voice asked. ''Umunne- my brothers, we are returning from Uga'' Ojiofor replied, standing still.
In less than three minutes, four able-bodied men stood on their faces. Otika and Ojiofor could barely see their faces because the moon was not shining in fullness, except lightning that beamed from time to time as it was preparing to rain. ''Onye ka unu bu- who are you?'' one of the four indigenous people of Ntu asked. ''My brothers, it's me, Otika, and Ojiofor. We are returning from a trip'' Otika introduced replied. ''Hey, Otika, aka uzu na Ndi Ikpa- Otika, the hand that fabricates, in Ndi Ikpa. Please don't be angry or offended. Today in Ntu, our illustrious grandchild was gruesomely murdered by a yet-to-be-identified man, on his way to our Village, his maternal home'' the first speaker said. Otika and Ojiofor shook their heads in anger, sympathizing with them. ''Chai, obu ihe jogburu onwe ya- pity, it is a sacrilegious thing. Onwe ndi unu na ha no na ogu- are you at war with any people?'' Otika asked, trying to regain his composure.
''Onweghikwaghi- none'' the second speaker responded. ''Ihe a dikwanu ka uru ogu- this looks like war crime'' Otika said. ''That's what we are thinking'' the third speaker said. ''Ndonu- our condolences'' Otika and Ojiofor said in unison. ''However, you have to dig deeper to know where the evil came from'' Otika advised. ''We have to go now, and please, be strong'' Ojiofor said. ''Odi mma, ije oma nu- It's okay, safe journey'' the youths said responded.
Those minutes they spent discussing with the Ntu village youths looked like eons of years ago in the heart of Ojiofor Anochiam, whose family had no good reputation in Ntu village since after the second war of Oguno. Ihentuga, his father, committed a war crime against his in-laws of Ntu village. It became a story he grew up with. Ihentuga was said to have warned his family not to stay overnight or eat in Ntu village. And he also sternly warned them not to marry again from Ekwe kindred to avoid the repetition of Oguno between Ntu and Ndi Ikpa.