It happened on Thursday.  Just two days ago.  We got the word right away.  The Embassy takes real good care of us.  They have to answer to you (well, our family) if anything happens to us.  They take that very seriously.

It went down like this:  A Muslim young man snatched a purse from a lady in Mokolo Market and took off running.  (Remember how I told you it's considered a dangerous place...many whites won't go there.  Purse snatching is a very common occurance.)  A policeman saw it happen.  He opened fire on the guy, shot and killed him.  Five of this young man's friends put their heads together and decided something needed to be done.  They had to avenge the death of their comrade.  Without difficulty they gathered a large group of other young men and came swarming into the market, slashing people at will and without provocation.  All Muslim men carry long knives, and they are experts at using them.  Now the police had a riot on their hands.  By the time things calmed down, many were injured and 300 young men were arrested.  Thankfully there were no more deaths.  

So we stayed away from Mokolo.  But I will go back next time I need something that can only be found at Mokolo.  My confidence is in God.  Not in the police.  Not in knives.  Not even in my friends.