Nigel Décidé's Mother: "He Will Have to Face the Consequences"
Nigel Décidé's mother, Sonia (a name used for anonymity), exhibits a fragile voice but unwavering determination. For several days, she has been engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions—shame, compassion, and guilt—while holding onto a deep wish: that justice be served transparently, without bias or favoritism.
"I’m a mother too, but my son will have to face the consequences," she expresses. On the night of November 7 to 8, in Camp Levieux, a car struck the motorcycle of Muzammil Hossenboccus, 30 years old, resulting in his death. The driver fled the scene, a hit-and-run incident. Behind the wheel was 19-year-old Nigel Ismaël Décidé, Sonia's son.
Shortly after the incident, Sonia's phone rings. It’s Nigel. "Mama, I’ve made a big mistake," he admits. The incident is already widely discussed on social media, and Nigel has yet to report to the police. Her first instinct is to advise him not to evade justice and to take responsibility for his actions. "I’m a mother. I also understand what it's like to lose a child, but justice must prevail for everyone. My son must pay; he has erred," she confides.
According to her, Nigel was overwhelmed by panic: "He said he heard people asking, ‘Where’s the driver?’... In a fear that made him flee from there..."
The next day, November 8, the police locate the rental car involved in the accident, abandoned in a parking area close to the impact site. Nigel and his passenger are both temporarily charged after their arrest. Nigel tests positive for drugs. His release on parole the following Saturday sparks public outrage. A week later, he is arrested again and taken into custody, along with the vehicle’s passenger.
Sonia acknowledges that her son’s two successive arrests within a few days were a shock to her. She admits she has yet to find the strength to speak with him: "Until now, I lack the courage to talk to him…" she says, exhausted.
She firmly condemns Nigel's actions, as he drove without a license and under the influence of drugs. Furthermore, she claims she had no idea her son was using drugs. "I never noticed him in a state of intoxication. When someone is under drugs, you can usually tell."
She explains that she had long encouraged her son to obtain his driver's license before driving. "I told him to go get his license, then he could drive," she laments.
Nigel is the eldest of her three children. His father, also the children's dad, has been incarcerated in La Réunion for a drug-related case for several years. Nigel used to take on odd jobs to support the family. Now, his absence complicates the situation even further.
What she can no longer tolerate, she says, are the judgments, especially on social media, which she believes go far beyond the facts. "Everyone is calling my child a criminal…" she laments. She also tries to defend her family's honor, which she feels is unjustly tarnished. "Everyone is saying my family are drug traffickers… You can't accuse people without evidence…" she asserts.
She argues that the rumors surrounding her husband’s incarceration have nothing to do with this tragedy. "My husband is locked up in La Réunion; that’s why they label us traffickers…"
Caught between a mother’s pain and the demand for justice, Sonia strives to stay strong. Her voice remains fragile, but her message is clear: her son must be accountable for his actions. "My heart is heavy, but I can’t do anything… I want justice to do its work," she says, attempting to hold back her sobs.
Key Figure to Remember: 1,500
This number resonates like an alarm. Since January 1, 2025, over 3,500 drug tests have been conducted on our roads. The result: nearly 1,500 drivers tested positive. Yes, almost 1 in 2. Revealed by the Road Safety Unit (RSU), these statistics paint a brutal truth: drugs are getting behind the wheel, turning our roads into minefields. Every journey now carries a silent question: who are we really encountering in the opposite lane?