Stolen and Trafficked…a heart touching story.

With a beauty beyond description, coupled with a resounding intelligence, she was no doubt every parents desire, especially on her graduation day, as she bagged all the awards in her department. Family and friends spoke of her intelligence the same way they spoke of her beauty. Being an only child, her father who is so proud and protective of her will never lets her off his sight, but it was time to let her go, at least for a little while. Her nation calls, the clarion call must be answered. It was time to serve her country Nigeria.

23 years old Chelsy had just received her posting letter. It wasn’t what she hoped for or where she imagined she would be, but the universe was on a mission, one fated to uncover an age long secret, known only to a sect comprising of four persons who took a blood oath never to reveal.

She has just been deployed to Dekina Local Government in Kogi State for her 12 months compulsory Government Service. Beating the odds, and despite not what she hoped for, excited Chelsy looked into her brown leather bag, pulled out her cell phone, and with her thumbs gently tapping the soft keys, she did a quick search on the internet to get some information of what her new town for 12 months holds in wait for her.

Chelsy was all smiles moments after looking into her phone, and reading out loud, she said, wow daddy, it is the biggest local government in West Africa, the people are mainly farmers, their dialect is Igala and they have such a rich Cultural Heritage. With her eyes piercing further into the phone’s screen she slowly adds; they have a long history of war and violence. The Igala tribes were Vikings. Centuries ago they invaded the Ancient Benin Kingdom and their King’s only daughter; Princess Inikpi paid the ultimate price after a retaliation that was seen as an ethnic cleansing by the Binis. I feel sad daddy.

That was centuries ago my daughter. Things are a lot different and better now. People are now more civilized and loving; but that shouldn’t bother you because I am moving you out as soon as I am done with the paper work. Thank you daddy, replied Chelsy.

Hugs and pecks were then lavished on her and immediately she sets off to her new location waving her dad goodbye. After a 7 hours journey, she arrives at her new location and having fulfilled the necessary clearance, she was checked into her one room apartment. The apartment was small but she liked it as it was just a stone throw away from her place of primary assignment, a school where she would be teaching the students Physics and Mathematics.

On her first day at work, she quickly observes that unlike what is obtainable in the cities, the school was situated on a very vast land but the structures were all dilapidated and the class rooms where in ruins. These were her observations as she went round the school after the necessary introductions and welcome addresses. Such a poor community, she muttered.

As part of their primary assignment Chelsy and others serving members were also expected to chart a course for community development within the Local Government, and after series of consultations and considerations, they have chosen to help bring clean and drinkable water to a town called Ologba.

Ologba is a small town in Dekina LGA, a town where water is a Luxury, an unaffordable luxury for most of the natives and occupants of the community; and for years if not centuries, a pond called Ovulu has being their only source of water. Life is a Hard Knock for the people of the community as they lack all the basic life amenities.

Chelsy and other serving colleagues visited the town for feasibility studies which was not so encouraging. The topography was a challenge. The water project wasn’t something they could do as young starters with limited funds. The project would be capital intensive as heavy drilling machineries will be required so they needed to work with the community, source for philanthropist and contact the government agency responsible for such projects. The water project was too important to be put aside as the community would greatly benefit from it.

On their third visit and meeting with the community leaders, she noticed quite some strange stares which she dismissed. Subsequent visits were more disturbing as the stares now became embarrassing. The invasive eyes have increased with each pair piercing through her like a model on stage for a pageant shoot; but this wasn’t a pageant. While both glances and glimpse of her were been stolen, she could hear their inaudible mutterings which left her with the feeling that she wasn’t properly dressed, but hell no she was. This time her team members had also noticed it and on their way back to Dekina they laughed over it saying that they were admiring her striking beauty but Chelsy knew those weren’t the stares of admirers.

The news of Chelsy’s striking resemblance with a Muslim girl in the village has gone viral, and just like hummingbirds travelling faster than electric cars, it has also filtered into the ears of the girl’s parents, who quickly sought to confirm the news?

Nothing really happens by chance.

“If two points are destined to touch, the universe will always find a way to make the connection- even when all hope >seems to be lost. Certain ties cannot be broken. They define who we are and who we become. Across space, across >time, among paths we cannot predict- nature will always find a way”. Savi Sharma.

For 23 long years, the girl’s mother who once lived in Ghana (a neighbouring country) with her husband where they had all their children has persistently maintained that she had a set of twins 23 years ago in Ghana and that the midwife refuted her claims that she was hallucinating before she passed out from labour pains insisting that she had just a child.

The girl’s mother was so anxious to meet chelsy, a thousand thoughts ran through her mind as she paced the floor of their living room. Speaking to herself in disbelief, with her hands pressed together on her chest, she exclaimed, Subhanallah, Subhanallah, Subhanallah; so my stolen child was also a victim of borderline trafficking. Her husband has asked her to calm her nerves that people could look alike but she wouldn’t listen. Our daughter Aisha has six fingers and so did Chelsy as reported by eye witnesses, not to mention other striking features. She had no iota of doubt that Chelsy was her child stolen from her 23 years ago the moment she arrived into this world with her twin sister.

source

A few family members have meet and resolved that a visit to Chelsy’s place of work would be ideal, so that the proprietor could help her manage the anxiety and shock if any of the reports were true. The visit was then slated for the next day.
On their arrival at her place of primary assignment, they went straight to the proprietor’s office; a septuagenarian by looks, who appears overdue for retirement but was still in service. The proprietor, after cross examining the available facts and matching them with the school’s personal records, was totally lost for words, especially for the striking resemblance of the girls and their mother.

Still filled with surprise and a sprinkle of shock, he asked his secretary to please invite Chelsy to his office, and because he was too consumed and overwhelmed by the whole scenario being played out right before his very eyes, he had forgotten that he approved her redeployment two days before. Chelsy was gone; she was out of town and never coming back.

…stay tuned for the next episode.

HARD FACT

Ologba is located in Dekina LGA and a few years back, Ovolu (a pond) was their only source of water. See personal pictures of Ovolu below, taken from different angles. Today, the community has two clean sources of water supply.

While you await the next episode, please check out the fascinating Steems below.

Princess Inikpi - A Fearless Victim of Death and War

The Demi-gods of Ancient Benin Kingdom