… After Aunt Magué’s funeral, which took place two days after her death, Koffi quickly returned to the city. His boss had refused his leave request to go to the village. But Koffi, who couldn’t miss seeing his beloved aunt one last time before her burial, insisted on going.

Upon returning to work, he was simply thrown out. Koffi found himself unemployed again. Four long and painful months passed, and Koffi had no choice but to do odd jobs on construction sites. On days when there was no work, he had to beg passers-by for food. His landlord had already kicked him out a month earlier.

After squatting at the bus station near his old home for a few weeks, he managed to convince a construction foreman to let him sleep in the same house as his apprentices until he could rent a place of his own. The foreman had a kind heart and even encouraged Koffi to attend the same church as him. One Sunday morning, as Koffi was returning from church, one of his former colleagues, Howe, spotted him in the street and approached him.

Howe: Hey Koffi. Long time no see. How are you doing?
Koffi: Hello Howe, I’m doing well, and you? Yes, it’s been quite a while. I hope you’re doing well too?
Howe: Yes, very well. So, you’ve become a Christian now?
Koffi: Ah, what choice do I have with all my problems? I can’t say no to anything anymore. One of my benefactors advised me to go to church, so I gave it a try.
Howe: Tell me, what work are you doing now?
Koffi: Nothing permanent. I take on small jobs here and there, and when I’m done, I start looking again until I find another.
Howe: I see. Listen, my older brother owns a security company that’s currently hiring. If you’re interested, I can recommend you.
Koffi: That’s great news! Of course I’m interested. What documents do I need to submit?
Howe: Mainly your birth certificate, ID card, a full-length photo, a passport photo, a medical check-up certificate, and a police clearance. Can you get them by next week at the latest?
Koffi: Hmm, dear colleague, my problem is money. I need funds to pay for the administrative fees and document authentications.
Howe: Don’t worry about that, I’ll help you. Just make a list of what’s needed and we’ll see how to handle it. Where do you live?
Koffi: Oh, just across from the ADOGBE bakery, on the other side of the main road.
Howe: I’ll stop by at 4 p.m. if that works for you, so we can go over everything and move forward.
Koffi: Oh! Thank you. That’s very kind of you.
Howe: Don’t mention it. The company DEDJIKPOHOUN & Associates is a security firm that’s been on the brink of bankruptcy for months, but the managers are doing everything they can to keep it alive.

Koffi’s recruitment was far from a miraculous opportunity; it was rather another flaw of a company used to hiring desperate or underqualified people in order to avoid paying proper wages. Koffi’s training lasted less than an hour in the office of DEDJIKPOHOUN’s team supervisor. A few minutes later, he was handed a uniform, a baton, a small can of pepper spray, black steel-toe boots, and a hat.

He was deployed the next day to start work and assigned to a money transfer agency. Koffi’s role was to stand by the door, allowing customers to enter and exit. Everything was going fine until the day that would plunge Koffi into a life experience most people would never wish for.

That Monday morning began like any other at “EKPAN Money Transfer”. Customers came and went through the glass doors, guarded by Koffi. Each time someone approached, Koffi would open or close the door, hoping for a small token of appreciation from wealthier clients. Some didn’t hesitate to slip him coins or bills in gratitude.

Koffi started that day, which would mark his life forever, with a bout of diarrhea. From the start of his shift, he had been running back and forth between the toilet and the agency’s entrance.

After a few minutes of respite, Koffi dashed back to the bathroom again. At that exact moment, two large black motorbikes with four masked men pulled up in front of EKPAN Money Transfer. Two of the men jumped off the bikes and rushed into the agency, pulling weapons from backpacks they had been carrying like ordinary passersby just seconds earlier.

In a matter of minutes, they overpowered all the clients and the three employees inside. They managed to access the cash register and took all the available money. It was a large sum, as the manager had not made a bank deposit in over a week due to a health issue and never entrusted others with the task.

A few minutes after the robbers left, picked up by their two accomplices outside who had kept the engines running, Koffi finally emerged from the bathroom, relieved of his stomach pains. It was the moment when the shocked customers were rushing out of the agency, shouting “Thieves!” Koffi was completely confused.

Koffi: Thieves? he asked a customer who had walked past him.
Customer: What? Aren’t you the security guard?
Koffi: Yes, of course. But I was in the bathroom because I wasn’t feeling well. Were there thieves inside?
Customer: There was a robbery. Four of them. Two went inside. But they’re already gone.

Koffi: Robbery?! Already weakened by his diarrhea, Koffi began to tremble all over. He could barely stand. He sat for a few minutes, got up, walked a few meters, sat again, then stood, holding his head in his hands. Koffi was overwhelmed.

He began to lament: “A robbery, here? And I had to be the one on duty for it to happen. What’s wrong with me? I now understand—I must be the most cursed man on earth. What have I done to deserve all this? And of course, the moment I leave my post, the robbers arrive. What will my boss say? Oh God, where are you?”

Koffi was in the middle of this inner torment when he was startled by the rough voice of the boss’s deputy, EKANMIA. EKANMIA had a habit of talking to people as if he were in a military camp. The boss’s reprimands had no effect, and colleagues eventually nicknamed him “Captain.”

EKANMIA: Koffi, the boss is calling you. He says to come immediately.
Koffi: The boss? Where is he?
EKANMIA: Koffi, what kind of question is that? You’re the security guard and your boss shows up, and you don’t even know. That’s how you handle security here. No wonder we got robbed.
Anyway, not my problem. I advise you to run to the boss’s office.

While Koffi was lost in thought, the boss had returned urgently and gone straight to his office. After speaking briefly with his deputy, he had him call Koffi.

Now, Koffi couldn’t even describe what was happening in his body. His heart pounded. Hot sweat soaked through his clothes. After hesitating a few minutes at the office door, he finally knocked.

The door opened and Koffi, trembling, stood before his boss. Mr. ANASSOU was a tall man known for his explosive temper. As soon as Koffi entered, the imposing man stood up and started the conversation in a threatening tone.

ANASSOU: So this is how you thank us, Koffi. Just because I turned down your loan request last month, you decided to rob us—with your friends!
Koffi: Me, a robber? How is that possible? Boss, I’m not a thief. I’ve never stolen in my life. I don’t even know what happened.
ANASSOU: Really? Aren’t you the one responsible for security during the day?
Koffi: Yes, of course, Boss.
ANASSOU: Then help me understand how my business was robbed of millions and you know nothing?
Koffi: Boss, I can explain. I had diarrhea and was in the bathroom when the robbery happened.
ANASSOU: Ah, now I get it. You made up the diarrhea story to give them free access, right?
Koffi: Noooo! I swear I’m innocent, Boss!
ANASSOU: You’ll explain that better to the police.

With those words, Mr. ANASSOU called the police, who came immediately and took Koffi into custody. He was jailed and later sent to the civil prison. When questioned by the public prosecutor, all the evidence pointed against him.
ANASSOU’s lawyers managed to convince the prosecutor that Koffi was an accomplice, and that he could get a reduced sentence if he gave up the names of the four other accomplices…

This text is an excerpt from the book “SCARS OF THE STARS: The Hidden Side of Fame (Volume 1)” written by Gildas S. TONOUKOIN.

We invite you to read the next article: “A DIFFICULT STRUGGLE”.

MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE. MISFORTUNE.