Chief Ikpa met the former governor that same day in his house in Abuja.

"The first step has commenced," Ikpa said. "Now there's no going back."

"Yes," the former governor mused. "This is how insurgency like Boko Haram started. But better them than us. I have the money you asked for in nonetracable dollars, half a million. I'll get the rest next week."

He handed Chief Ikpa a briefcase, signifying his role as the financial backer in the operation. 

Ikpa, leveraging his political influence and connections, served as the muscle behind the scenes. 

Simultaneously, the former governor, who was accused of embezzling a staggering sum from the state funds running into trillions, played a crucial role by providing financial backing to the operation, which added an additional layer of complexity to the unfolding events. 

"The job of making the state ungovernable will start within the next few weeks," Chief Ikpa said. "We'll force the president to declare a state of emergency in the state and replace the governor with a military administrator.

"Like we discussed, we'll link the attacks to some of these separatist groups everywhere.

"What if the president doesn't go for the state of emergency idea?"

"It won't matter," Chief Ikpa said. "A military option will always come to the table and you know our military, once you unleash them, get ready for bad press. There will be a lot of casualties, I hope you are ready to stomach this?"

"Like I said," the former governor replied. "Better them than us.

"Very well," Chief Ikpa nodded. "The boys we are using don't know they have any connection to us. They are being given the idea that they are in some sort of separatist movement. Only one man connects directly to me and he know he can never betray me."

"How sure are you?"

"His family is presently tucked away in one my mansions abroad," Chief Ikpa replied. "They have all they need to be happy but their father, that is my man in the group, knows that I have the capacity to make life very uncomfortable for them if he should think of double-crossing me."

"Good," the former governor said. "Just keep me posted on developments."

"As a former governor of the state," Chief Ikpa said as he stood up. "You'll be expected to issue a press release condemning the prison break."

"I'll handle that."

The repercussions of the collaboration between Chief Ikpa and the former governor manifested in widespread violence across the state. 

Communities across the state became engulfed in a wave of unrest, with reports emerging of clashes, attacks, kidnapping, and outbreaks of lawlessness. 

The once-stable state which was a hospitality hub in the region, now faced the unsettling consequences of the duo's actions, leaving residents grappling with fear and uncertainty.

Public spaces transformed into arenas of chaos, with incidents of rioting and confrontations becoming the new norm. The security apparatus struggled to contain the escalating situation, highlighting the profound impact of the unholy alliance formed by Chief Ikpa and the former governor. 

Questions arose in many quartersabout the true motives behind the operation and whether the violence was an intended outcome or an uncontrollable consequence.

In the face of this turmoil, the state's social fabric began to fray, and concerns about the well-being of the populace grew. As the weeks unfolded, the situation continued to evolve, leaving a trail of disruption and raising profound challenges for those seeking stability and order in the beleaguered state.

The wave of violence intensified as armed assailants targeted policemen, launching brazen attacks on law enforcement officers and systematically destroying police stations. The once-authoritative symbols of order crumbled in the face of a coordinated assault, leaving law enforcement in disarray. The targeted and destructive nature of these attacks raised concerns about the security vacuum that was rapidly emerging.

Simultaneously, the actions of these armed men plunged the state into a state of terror, disrupting normalcy and nearly bringing economic activities to a standstill. Fear gripped the populace as armed groups roamed freely, instigating a climate of uncertainty that permeated every aspect of daily life. Businesses shuttered, and residents hesitated to venture out, impacting the economic vitality of the entire region.

The combined effect of the attacks on law enforcement and the reign of terror orchestrated by armed groups created a dire situation, prompting urgent calls for intervention and restoring order. The once-thriving state now faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding shattered institutions and instilling a sense of security in a community traumatized by the orchestrated chaos.

Adding a layer of complexity to the crisis, the aggressors strategically associated their movement with the ideology of a prominent separatist group. In a bold move, they demanded the release of the group's leader as a precondition for any ceasefire. This linkage not only fueled the existing turmoil but also introduced a political dimension to the conflict, intertwining regional sentiments with the unfolding chaos.

The demand for the release of the separatist leader created a diplomatic challenge, forcing authorities to navigate between restoring order and addressing the underlying political grievances. The situation now posed not only a security threat but also a test of the government's ability to manage a crisis with both regional and ideological dimensions. As negotiations and tensions escalated, the fate of the state hung in the balance, with each decision impacting not only the immediate security concerns but also the long-term stability of the region.

The former governor who also lost out in his bid to retire to the Senate after governing the state, used one of the senators he managed to made to push the motion for state of emergency in the state at the Red Chambers.

The motion was denied and the violence continued.

As Chief Ikpa had anticipated, in the face of escalating violence and the gunmen gaining the upper hand over the regular police, the governor opted for the military option. Acknowledging the inadequacy of conventional law enforcement to contain the growing threat, the decision to involve the military signaled a shift toward a more robust and potentially forceful approach to restore order.

The deployment of the military, as anticipated by Chief Ikpa, resulted in significant collateral damage across the state, tarnishing the governor's image and drawing widespread criticism. The heavy-handed approach led to indiscriminate arrests of young men, with reports indicating that military personnel, frustrated by casualties inflicted by alleged insurgents, resorted to random round-ups.

The situation took a darker turn as reports surfaced of young men disappearing, allegedly victims of extrajudicial actions by security operatives. These disturbing accounts heightened concerns about human rights violations and raised questions about the accountability of the military's actions in the name of restoring order.

Faced with the harsh realities of the military intervention, a growing number of young men began fleeing the state, seeking refuge from the escalating violence and the perceived threat of arbitrary arrests. The governor, now grappling not only with the original crisis but also with the fallout from the military intervention, found himself navigating a delicate balance between security measures and safeguarding the rights and well-being of the populace. The events unfolding in the state underscored the complex challenges inherent in addressing security crises while upholding human rights and maintaining public trust.

"Your plan is really working," the former governor told Chief Ikpa during one of their meetings. "He suspects we are involved but he cannot prove it. Your plan was perfect. He's just chasing after his own tail and the people are not interested in his accusations. They are turning against him by the day. He wouldn't survive the next election."

"That is the idea," Chief Ikpa said. "Now we make plans for who his successor would be. Who do you have in mind?"

Chief Ikpa harbored concerns that the former governor might once again employ the card of his son-in-law, a strategy that had previously failed. Recognizing the potential consequences, Ikpa feared that a repeated attempt to leverage this familial connection could strain their relationship, causing irreparable cracks.

The failed previous attempt and the former governor's betrayal in the past, had left a residue of distrust and tension between them. 

Ikpa's hope rested on the former governor avoiding a strategy that had proven unsuccessful in the past, understanding the potential fallout it could have on their alliance. The delicate dynamics between these influential figures added another layer of intricacy to an already complex situation.

In a strategic shift, the former governor, having learned from past mistakes, refrained from playing the son-in-law card. Instead, he nominated Chief Ikpa's son for a position, indicating a more calculated approach to maintain their political alliance. This move demonstrated a nuanced understanding of the dynamics between them and a willingness to adapt strategies for mutual benefit.

The Ikpa viewed the former governor's nomination of his son as an attempt to strengthen their relationship while avoiding the pitfalls that had marred their relationship in the past.