Your kindness will put you in trouble—just like it did me.
Something happened last night that reminded me of my first near-death experience. I feel like sharing it—not to scare you but to possibly save your life.
So rewind to 2013, ASUU was on their usual strike (you know the vibes 🥲). I decided to keep my brain busy by enrolling in a computer lesson.
One hot afternoon, I was on my way to the lesson center. I had just trekked from home to the express, about to flag down an okada (because Keke wasn’t really a thing then).
Next thing, this guy walks up to me looking like life had beaten him, chewed him and spat him out. The pity in my heart instantly jumped to 100%. He spoke pidgin, but something was off—like he wasn’t Nigerian but just knew enough to survive the streets.
He said he was looking for a hospital. I told him I didn’t know any by that name. Then he switched the story, said he had a Reverend Sister friend at a nearby convent who could help him reach the doctor.
I pointed in the direction of the convent, but he begged, “Abeg follow me go, I no wan fall for bad people hand.” Then he brought out some foreign currencies (probably worth nothing 😭) and said if he missed his way, he wouldn’t be able to pay the okada man but if I followed him, the Reverend Sister would “settle everything.”
At that point I thought, “It’s just a short detour, what’s the worst that could happen?”
Spoiler alert: everything 😩
Turns out, the okada guy was his partner in crime. Both of them were classic 419—ready to hypnotize me into emptying my family’s savings. The man I pitied the most was even planning to “get down” with me (ariri 🤣).
They eventually followed me home but I didn't let them drop me close to the house, threatening that if I told anyone, I’d d!3. I was supposed to bring the money then call them to come pick me up.
I ran straight to my sister, narrated everything while crying. She looked at me calmly, prayed, anointed my head and said, “Go and sleep, nothing will happen.”
Guess what? I woke up a few hours later—still alive and breathing. 😂
Fast-forward to last night. I was coming back from the market when one guy suddenly jumped down from a Keke looking confused and frustrated—same energy as my 2013 actor. He tried to get my attention, but my spirit said, “Girl, keep walking.”
I told him, “Sorry, I don’t know where that is,” avoided eye contact and zoomed off. He crossed the road to go and test his acting skills on someone else.
Maybe he genuinely needed help, but with how these street scammers operate, I’m not auditioning for “Gullible Samaritan Reloaded.”
Moral of the story: Be kind, but also be wise. The streets are wild and full of actors. Don’t let sympathy turn you into the next storyline.
Love and 💣
