Operation Game Change

By Akinola Ajani

Author Akinola Ajani brings the life shattering consequences of terrorism to life in Operation Game Change through the harrowing account of the activities of a newly created counter-terrorism agency. Set in the fictional country Area N, the faith of the citizens in the ability of their president has dwindled considerably, especially because he seems unable to stop the attacks perpetuated by the terrorist cell, GRIMA VUNA. The president enlists the help of a highly regarded former head of state to combat terrorism.
The story is narrated from the first person point of view by Davidson Anderson, one of the special agents in a handpicked squad faced with the herculean task of protecting their country in its hour of maximum danger. Led by Commander Gatman Shizzle, they go through intensive military training sessions; enter a labyrinth of leads, rescue missions and covert operations in a bid to rid society of the terrorists.
Operation Game Change is a novel that reflects a thorn in the flesh of society and the unhealthy state of any country whose military has been compromised. It is a thriller that almost bursts with action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491894446

Akinola Ajani

Akinola Ajani has written several short pieces on terrorism and the diverse challenges it poses to national security. Operation Game Change is his first book based on his research on terrorist activity in the last one year. He lives with his family in southern Nigeria.

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© 2014 Akinola Ajani. All rights reserved.

Cover by 23rd Creations, Abuja, Nigeria.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/10/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-9443-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-9444-6 (e)

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. . . . amidst the storm, you will find solace in unity.

As narrated by

Davidson Anderson

Introduction by Joan Agatha Olatokumbo

(Incan Emeritus)

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To the one who placed my feet firmly on this noble path and those I met on it, treasured brothers and sisters on the path of light. For cherished blood spilled for noble cause and kindred spirits on this earthly plain.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

M Y DEEP-ROOTED GRATITUDE and genuine appreciation goes to all those who have in one way or the other influenced my existence. To my mother divine for unwavering support and silent inspiration, all the members of the A.T.S for all the lessons that no one will ever know about, to my flower Oyedunmola for her love and presence.

A big thank you to my brother and friend Abimbola for the burden of silent expectation and for sharing the most difficult moments, my uncles from far and wide for their gestures and pieces of advice over the years. My late sparring partner Joan for the lessons and strength that sustained the flame.

I would like to thank the universe for my part in existence, my kin within the stones for all the things that are best left unsaid and the tongue we have come to understand.

INTRODUCTION

T HE SHOCK AND outrage that followed the onset of the suicide bombing antics of the terrorist sect GRIMA VUNA can only be compared to the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004. Never in history of Area N had we witnessed such dastardly acts.

A lot has been said about this terrorist group by both insiders and outsiders and theories ranging from Islamic propaganda to political machinations and even international terrorism have been propounded regarding their operations and modus operandi.

However, all these theories have come up short at one time or the other. The suicide bombings at the police headquarters, Edet house and the United Nations building, attacks on police stations, churches, mosques, individuals and even media houses have left their mark on the fabric of the Area N society. The nature of these attacks makes it difficult, if not impossible to identify the motives, if any, of this group.

There have been calls from many quarters for the government to enter into dialogue with GRIMA VUNA. The situation however does not bode well for such an enterprise. As dialogue occurs between two parties and in this case, one of the parties cannot be identified in any way, that option becomes untenable. Terrorism is a global problem that even the acclaimed super powers constantly find themselves embroiled in.

Hence, the barrage of criticism, insult and unfounded accusations of incompetence regularly directed at our security agencies is totally uncalled for and out of place given the unusual nature of the task they are up against. While our security system has its own flaws, it cannot be over-emphasized that the role of every citizen in this and other similar situations has been downplayed to a large extent.

The brilliant, valiant detectives at Scotland Yard and Langley regularly allude to the role of the larger society in gathering intelligence and tracking down criminals. And with their paranaphelia of high-tech security gadgets and equipment, terrorism is still a challenge for all these countries. All said and done, the solution to this conundrum lies in our hands. The Area N government cannot do this alone and the bogus religious vigils and gatherings will not produce solutions of their own.

Every single citizen of Area N must play his part in this situation. It is no longer a case of jihad or the north’s propaganda to secede. It has become our problem, a seemingly impossible situation. All hands must be on deck. The security agencies have to double their efforts and all of us must be ready to help them. GRIMA VUNA did not evolve overnight; it came about as a result of concerted effort, persistence and desire. To overcome this evil that lives among us, we must employ the same careful, patient, consistent approach that has brought GRIMA VUNA so much success. We must adapt to the situation in our own way, contemporary crimes demand more than guns and armoured personnel carriers and this must not be lost on us. Operation Game Change describes in detail the steps taken to shake off the yoke of terrorism in a country where all hope seemed lost. Davidson Anderson is a skilled narrator who brings all the events into perspective while maintaining the tone of the story. In this modern age where terrorism has become a major security issue, Operation Game Change opens up a few issues that have been neglected by those involved.

Joan Agatha Olatokumbo

(December 13 1990-April 6 2011)

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E ACH TIME I look back at many of the things I have done, I find it hard to dispel the notion that history has a way of repeating itself. Organized crime dates back to the beginning of civilisation and notorious criminals have continued to evolve and re-invent themselves. Some of them have even achieved legendary status. Like Carlos the jackal, Osama Bin Laden and Ramirez, the terrorists, henchmen and killing machines of today aim to write their names in the annals of history. However, the most disappointing aspect of this trade called crime is that the so-called masterminds eventually get caught or killed. Rather surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to deter others from trying.

In our own case, the socio-cultural environment and long-standing moral traditions did not in any way prepare us for the eventualities that accompanied the onset of suicide bombing and by extension, GRIMA VUNA. Massive dents on our sense of national security and territorial sovereignty followed in a series of processes that have combined to place us on the terrorism world map.

At that point, the group simply became an enemy of the state. Massive upheavals within the security agencies showed the weight of the burden on our shoulders and the amount of discomfort it caused us. However, I have always said that the government alone cannot and would not put an end to this alien crime. Like many things, when the process that effectively put an end to the activities of the group began, it caught everyone by surprise. Many citizens thought the sect invincible and events pointed in that direction for the most part.

When the whole process began, no one saw it coming, not the sect, the citizens and in many ways, the government. However, like someone once said, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. In this case, some good men decided to act before all was lost and their decision was to be applauded years after by the same people who folded their arms and accepted the situation.

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I T ALL BEGAN on a Saturday evening. My friends and I had been invited to a party separately and without much notice. By my friends I mean the brothers with whom I worked during the war in the Nazgul peninsula; that is a story for another day. Special agent Atasco Jacobsen, a highly skilled operative who spent time in the special forces and could boast of two tours in Fallujah and a couple of other covert operations in the field. Sergio Morak, a professional footballer who was also a chemist and a special agent having spent time with the Special Forces. Avatar Lawson, one of the most innovative computer techs around, his expertise proved quite indispensable against the vedasco-led rebels in Nazgul. Dr Boat, the supremely gifted medic who knew his way around the human body better than most people did. Add field agents Orlando Perez, Sean Paris, Tyler Carter, our psychologist, Banky A, our money bag friend and go to guy, Louis hernessy, the caretaker and of course Thargor Spade, our expert on Islamic and Arabic affairs and me and you could say we were a good team. Since the war in Nazgul ended, we had all moved on rather quietly in our various ways. Sergio for one was on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.

Little did we know that attending that party would change all our lives. The whole affair was an incredibly orchestrated scenario. To the untrained eye, it was coincidence, a purely accidental state of events. However, Atasco had told me several times there is no such thing as an accident, that’s what science is all about. Indeed, the timing of the invitation, the mode of delivery among other factors showed a great deal of planning. Atasco and Sergio had been in the country for less than twenty-four hours when they received their invitations and as we were to later find out, Orlando got his at General Orellano’s residence in Nazgul; delivered by no other person than his father without so much as a word to him.

Atasco and I sat down in his car and mulled over the possible implications of the invitation. Although, I often deferred to him on matters such as this, I had a gut feeling that the rest of the crew had been tracked down as well. After a period of deep reflection and careful evaluation, Atasco decided it was safe to go to the party and I agreed with him. He said he would like to know the host and find out his source of Intel.

We parked the car outside the hotel and made our way inside. We were nearly at the door when four cars pulled up behind ours and like a scene from one of those movies, Orlando, Boat, Sergio, Tyler, Avatar, Banky A, Thargor, Sean, and Louis emerged from the vehicles and each of us was as shocked as the other. We shook hands, hugged ourselves and engaged in our usual back-slapping ritual before making our way inside. At the reception, we were handed passes and tags bearing our respective names. I wasn’t the only person who noticed that the lady didn’t ask for our names throughout the whole exercise. A strange feeling came over me akin to what a mouse feels when he’s in a trap with no way out. I felt Atasco squeeze my arm and I understood that we were in this together.

We made our way to the venue of the party and were ushered in by a uniformed guard. The first thing I noticed was the absence of music or other elements of the Area N elite party in the way of food and drinks. The room was poorly lit, however, that was deliberately done, perhaps for the purpose of this party. At this point, I had made up my mind to at least go down fighting if the plan was to abduct us all and then kill us silently. Atasco seemed to be scanning the entire building from all directions. Sergio took short measured steps and as a result, he was at the rear end of the file. Orlando had that thoughtful look on his face as he walked behind Boat and Banky A. In the middle of the room was a long table with eleven chairs; twelve actually. One was occupied by our unknown host who seemed oddly at ease despite the unusual nature of the occasion. Just as we got to the table, the lights came on and to say we were surprised would be a massive understatement. About three yards from Atasco and I sat a man whose accomplishments were still unmatched in the country. A former military head of state who was also a respected leader in world circles, in other words, a living legend. At that time, he was a UN envoy to one or two troubled spots around the world.

Gentlemen, I welcome you all to this party, I trust you had a restful journey? Please have your seats.

We sat down with bewildered looks on our faces as The General adjusted his sitting position and looked up.

I understand how you must feel about this august meeting, however, I assure you all that I have the best intentions. We all nodded, very much in awe of the man who sat before us and quite unable to give voice to our thoughts. Our earlier fears had been dispelled and we all waited anxiously for the water to break.

The General leaned forward and continued.

I am sure you are all aware of the situation in the country and the issues at the forefront of national security.

We all looked at ourselves, somewhat unsure how to answer the question. Since I was usually entrusted with making statements for all of us, I saw no need to change the status quo.

To a certain extent General, although I cannot say we fully understand the situation, most of us have been outside the country in the last year or so.

The General smiled. I happen to know more about you than you think I do, some of you haven’t been outside the country in eight months and you happen to be one of them he retorted, as he turned to look at me. There was a silent murmur of laughter around the table as we all digested the events of the last thirty minutes.

Perhaps, you would like to give a more honest assessment, agent Anderson? I looked The General straight in the eye and saw the smile hugging the corner of his mouth. He certainly looked older than I remembered.

Yes General, the activities of GRIMA VUNA are known to all of us and to majority of Area N citizens. The rate and modicum of ease with which they carry out their attacks are nothing short of spectacular. Up till this moment, our security forces have been unable to crack the terrorist cell or inflict any serious damage on their operational network… .

The General grunted and wiped his brow with his handkerchief.

Go on

Intel on their members, specific location and sponsors appears to be limited and despite the best efforts of those involved, the confidence of the Area N people is dwindling by the minute and not a few people believe that the President lacks the wherewithal to tackle the menace at hand.

Is that also your opinion? The General asked, waving his hand casually

Far from it General, we believe however that a lot needs to be done for the government to have a chance against the terrorists. I replied.

I agree with that school of thought, hence the need to convene this rather inconvenient assembly. The General continued.

Even though I was a bit unnerved by The General’s cool demeanour, I didn’t know where he was heading precisely.

The General cleared his throat and continued.

"As you all know, there have been many upheavals within the security sector all in a bid to find a way round the situation and as you have rightly observed, the statistics remain the same. A number