Bank of Silver River

By John Lander

Alfred Ken Boro leads an insurrection against the multibillion-dollar oil company, Leech. He is a journalist, as well as an environmental and human rights activist who fights for an egalitarian society in the Niger Delta region. He spearheads a protest at the oil company's premises. After his mysterious disappearance during the protest, his body is found three months later, with his neck tied to an engine. Chaos ensues in Perekiri community as they seek vengeance for Alfred's murder. Sozaboy rallies the youths to shoot into the Leech premise, which is heavily guarded by armed police, and kidnap three foreigners. In response, the government deploys army troops to the town. Amid this turbulent atmosphere, moments of love spring high.

Love also confronts the long-standing hatred Toru-ama has for Perekiri, when Opukeme, a native of Toru-ama marries Tari from Perekiri. He defies the wishes of his people again when the couple relocates to Perekiri and starts the booming local oil refinery because they are unable to endure the hardships in the city.

As Opukeme's status rises like smoke, he owns two high-powered speedboats and a duplex. However, their childless marriage casts a shadow over their achievements in the eyes of the community. With the help of Angordi, his mother-in-law, they attend a deliverance church, where they uncover a troubling history. It is revealed that Tari's father leads the Egbesu boys in an attack on Toru-ama before she is born, destroying buildings and killing three people.

Three decades ago, the communities along the Silver River are clamouring with rising tension, demanding employment and scholarship scheme from the oil company. The company offers limited job opportunities-employing three men and flying two Toru-ama youths to England for scholarship, but the Perekiri chiefs sell their chances and manipulate the youth into believing that Toru-ama has taken all the chances. Fueled by anger and misinformation, the youths attack Toru-ama at night. During the gunfight, a bullet accidentally strikes a woman. With the overpowering force of Ebgesu, they burn down the buildings. Tari's father who indulges in the power of destruction, rapes and beheads a pregnant woman and later slay her husband when he attempts to seek vengeance.

Opukeme learns about his aunt's death during the crisis, but the sad history excludes if she was married or pregnant, so he assumes that his aunty is caught up by a stray bullet. Ignoring the warning not to inquire about the identities of the deceased couple, Opukeme's curiosity drives him to search for the truth. When he seeks confirmation from his mother, he loses balance, because she is unable to clear his doubts. Eventually, as Ebinabo's health deteriorates, his father reveals the shocking truth that the pregnant woman and her husband are not just relatives, but his biological parents.

As the truth often brings bitterness, Tari's ex-lover who is now a terrorist, is appointed as the chief security officer of the Silver River. He burns down Opukeme's local refinery and kidnaps Tari. Opukeme desperately pays the ransom with his last savings. Based on his atrocities, the terrorist loses all spiritual protection and is accidentally consumed by fire.

Tari gets pregnant for Sozaboy after being raped at the camp. Although her selfish mother is pleased with the prospect of a grandchild, Tari risks terminating the pregnancy and dies from bleeding. Opukeme, unable to cope with the weight of his losses, drives into the sea. In the aftermath, Perekiri and Toru-ama reconcile, and the communities at the Bank of Silver River are left with the hope and prophecy that Opukeme and the youths who fly to England by scholarship will return very soon.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FH43W7YQ
• ISBN13: 9798290041452
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"