Night runners are a troublesome lot who are known for their anti-sleep schemes aimed at denying their victims a peaceful night's rest in their homes.
In Luo Nyanza, they are known as 'Jo Juok' and their job called 'Juok' and are popular for allegedly pouring soil on rooftops, mostly made of iron sheets, and kicking doors, all in a bid to disrupt sleep.
In this culture, it is believed that the behaviour, also called 'pitipiti', is somehow satanic and once a person is possessed by the demonic behaviour, they cannot overcome the urge to leave at night naked, to go fulfil the urge.
According to the Luo narrative, this behaviour is hereditary and is passed down from parents to children or family members.
It is also believed that though punishing them when you get hold of them is not wrong, you must not inflict injuries that will lead to bleeding.
This, its alleged, will make one of your family members take after the night job in the future, and though some are well known, no legal measure is usually taken.
To catch a right runner, according to my grandfather back in the plains of Kano, one has to eat cold ugali, as their satanic powers are believed to have the ability to smell the warmth in human body.
After that, proper timing is required and at times leaving the door open and replacing it with a large curtain is proposed, so that they can land right in as they attempt to kick the door.
You cannot beat them in a direct chase as they are satanically fast and their nakedness makes it hard to grasp them.
Once captured, they are supposed to bail themselves out by giving out a goat or sheep, which are believed to bring with them luck to an extent of giving birth to twins and triplets.
This they give to protect their identity and once they give out the fine, the information cannot be leaked out.
At daytime, they are just normal like any other person.
#MyLifestyle