Words Untold

“Angola: Road to Recovery” is a raw and compelling narrative that follows the life of Dresinen,
a man ensnared in the throes of addiction. Set against the backdrop of Elimgbu, Nigeria, the
story begins with Dresinen’s dramatic arrest—a ruse orchestrated by his family to save him from
his self-destructive lifestyle. As he is taken to a notorious cell nicknamed Angola, Dresinen is
forced to confront the reality of his choices.

In the confines of Angola, Dresinen embarks on a harrowing journey of self-discovery and

redemption. The novel explores the intricate dynamics of family, addiction, and the struggle for
identity. It’s a story about the power of hope and the human capacity for change, as Dresinen
grapples with his past and the difficult path towards a better future.

Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, “Angola: Road to Recovery” promises to take
readers on an unforgettable journey that challenges our perceptions of right and wrong, and the
indomitable spirit of resilience.

Kendice Kennedy
Words Untold

Angola, to many people will be seen as a country in Africa filled with all kinds of
people and culture and traditions. Food and music must really be a thing in this
wonderful country called Angola that has become so popular. A certain niche of people
found themselves in a correctional center and decided that their experience there can be
qualified as being in Angola. It represents a place far from home, far from the world but
yet still in the world. A confined space where reflection becomes the connection to
reality. Bounded by chains and driven in shame, I had found myself in Angola.

*Clocking sound of a gun*

[Officer]

“Are you Dresinen? We have reliable information that you sell Marijuana on this street”

I immediately awoke from my sleep and looked above me. There were four men in
uniform dressed in black all wilding guns in their hands.

It was exactly 6:00AM on Saturday, 9th October 2021. I was just back from a crazy night
that began from a mixture of pleasures and then dwindled down to a night of disdain. I
was to retain my room at the Hotel back at Las Vegas Junction but I decided to go back
home. I had been at the hotel for 4 days already. In that time I had series of ladies come
and leave. It was the easiest thing to look for sexy and tempting ladies for hook up
online. I had this fantasy for girls that looked like the ones I see on pornography and I
was not going to back out until I found the one that pleased my imagination.

A long week at the hotel of Drugs, Sex and Nuisance came to a fast end when all my
money had been exhausted. I had virtually sold all that I had with me. My IPhone 11
and my MacBook Pro, I sold them within 24 hours of each other. I bought these gadgets
only on the 12th of September and by the end of my escapades, I had sold them off
(with the receipts). All of that money got spent on the altar of fantasy. I wanted to see
even the things that had clouded my thoughts and consequently my judgement.

Kendice Kennedy
Words Untold

As I went back home reluctantly that night, I met my aunt and her husband at home. I
ate Eguisi soup and garri and I slept off immediately hoping that all the money I had
lost I could still regain by some magic. The hope that kills.

[Dresinen]

“Sorry officer, I think you may have the wrong person. Yes I am Dresinen but I do not
sell Marijuana nor any drugs. Let alone sell it here in my own hometown.”

[Officer]

“Daniel cuff his hands and also cuff his feet and take him to the Van. You would follow
us to the Office and there you would explain yourself more.”

My Aunt Elizabeth immediately burst into tears as she saw them whisk me away into a
van that was already waiting outside the gate. This happened so early in the morning
that only a few people were aware of what had happened. It was just the previous night
my grandma had gone to Aunty Esther’s house, so she could not have witnessed the
eye-watering drama that ensued with the officers and her beloved grandson. I grew up
with my grandma as my mom had passed on at the time she gave birth to me. She has
been my mom and my friend all of my life and seeing me in such a situation would
have broken her heart. So I was glad, atleast, my grandma didn’t see this shame.

Driving to the Office was a journey tending towards infinity. I couldn’t wait to be out of
sight from people that would casually look into the van to see Dresinen. I was so
ashamed and I would try to hide my face from the world as the Van kept moving to the
junction called Artillery. We finally got into the office and I was taken to the Cell where
they kept drug dealers.

The Notorious Lion Cell, the place also known as Angola. On getting to Angola I was
still in cuffs and I was made to go through an induction by the other inmates. The
officer that led me there had left them with specific instructions not to harm me in any
way as I was supposedly a special case. First of all, I was made to sit far away from the
rest until the “Presido” was ready to induct me.

Kendice Kennedy
Words Untold

[Presido] “Angola!!”

[Inmates] “OOOooo”

[Presido] “Angola!!”

[Inmates] “OOOooo”

As the cell would go on to be silent, the Presido read a couple of rules and regulations
and carefully introduced me to his ministers in the cell. There was the water minister,
the food minister, border minister, pastor, etc. As the induction continued, an officer
came to take me away as I was needed at the counter.

“Officer I have no reason to be here. This isn’t fair in any way. There is no proof of me
being a drug dealer neither have you caught me with any illegal product. Why have
you decided to take this action without proper investigation?”

*Jared Peters arrives the scene*

“Young man, do you not take drugs? Do you not go to the Railway to buy drugs? We
have been keeping an eye on you. Haven’t you seen this particular officer by that
window you usually go to pick up these things?”

“This is true notwithstanding. I do not deny that I am a victim of drug abuse and I have
not been able to help myself even as much as I try to. I abuse it but I do not sell it. I have
never been a dealer, I have only been a victim and it is in that vain that I know that this
is a faulty arrest. Punishing me like I am a dealer or like I was found with any substance
isn’t the ideal. I can defend myself if I need to but I would rather that we just act
accordingly.”

Kendice Kennedy
Words Untold

*Then comes in Madam Stella*

“Hello, is this the young man his people came to report him that he is selling all his
things to take drugs? Mr Man, it will be fine if you stopped worrying yourself. You’re
not a criminal here, but you’ll be going into the Rehabilitation center where you’d be
receiving treatment. Just put down your statement. Mr Jared please tell them to take his
cuffs off his hands and feet and take his statement.”

*Aunty Elizabeth arrives*

“Madam, you were the one that came here to report this your brother. What about the
other people that came with you so they can prepare the documents to check him into
the center.”

*Me Staring in Confusion*

“[My Aunt] Dresinen please if you love us please stay here and let them help you so
you can become yourself again. We all love you and wish the best for you. The things
you’ve been doing have been out of hand but we still love you. You even went on to sell
your AC yesterday before I came back from making this complaint. You’re not well
Dresinen and you need help. You’ve gone to two other centres and you still relapsed.
This is the third Rehab and we hope it will be the last.”

Apparently, my family had decided that they were going to send me to a Rehabilitation
facility with the Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The whole arrest was a plot to bring
me there so I would not have a choice. They had to tell my grandma ahead of time to
leave the house so she wouldn’t witness the drama during the arrest and have a High
Blood Pressure.

[Dresinen]

Kendice Kennedy
Words Untold

“Aunty, why didn’t you tell me? You know I would have accepted to come here
nonetheless. Why did you have to stage it to make me look like a criminal? I’m not hurt
but I just want you to know that I, even I, I desire the best for myself and if I’ll be fixed
here then I’ll gladly stay”

And so my Journey to Recovery in Angola began and I was taken to the rehab center
which was just next to the Lion Cell. This experience would define my life for many
months and that experience I look forward to recount.

To be continued….

Kendice Kennedy