Episode 5 to 10

Kaduna, Sarki Quarters

In the city of Kaduna, within the upscale neighborhood of Sarki Quarters, stands a massive mansion. Let us step inside to uncover the story unfolding within its walls.
Alhaji Abba Bala is an incredibly wealthy man. He has one wife and two daughters. His wife, Hajiya Zarah, is originally from the historic city of Zaria. She is the biological daughter of Malam Garba and his late wife, but she was raised by her stepmother, Asabe, whom she calls Inna. Asabe was a very clever and calculating woman, which allowed her to raise Zarah with so much care and affection that anyone would mistake her for her biological mother. No one truly understood her hidden motives for doing so.
In their entire extended family, everyone lived in modest poverty; Zarah was the only one who had the good fortune of marrying into immense wealth. Her encounter with Alhaji Abba happened when he visited Zaria to see a friend who lived in Zarah's neighborhood. On his way back, he crossed paths with Zarah as she returned from an errand for her stepmother. In that singular moment, he fell deeply in love with her. After they exchanged greetings, he politely asked her to point out her family's house, thanked her, and went on his way.
From that day forward, a strong romance blossomed between them. Before long, he directly approached her father to seek her hand in marriage, a request that was granted without delay.
Zarah, by nature, possessed an insatiable love for money, and there was nothing she detested more than poverty. Even though Allah had caused her to be born and raised among impoverished relatives, she harbored a deep-seated aversion toward them. Whenever there was a family gathering, she completely avoided it. Even her own parents simply learned to tolerate her difficult nature. She had spent her youth dreaming of marrying a wealthy man, and Allah ultimately answered her prayers by bringing Alhaji Abba into her life.
Zarah cared very little for religious knowledge, and she was equally negligent about her daily prayers. However, from the moment she met Alhaji Abba, she carefully hid all her negative traits. He, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with joy, believing he had found a daughter from an upright, honorable home. While her parents were genuinely decent people, Zarah simply had not inherited their virtues.
Following their marriage, she was brought to her luxurious new home in Sarki Quarters, Kaduna. They continued their life together filled with deep affection and love. Her mind was entirely at ease, and her husband's wealth only multiplied. Luxury became her second nature; her skin soon became radiant and remarkably beautiful. Before long, she completely pushed her parents and extended family to the back of her mind. Since their wedding, she rarely visited her hometown, doing so only when her husband strongly insisted. Even then, they would go together and return the very same day without spending the night. She rarely attended family weddings, and even when her husband gave her money to present as a family contribution, she would hoard it, refusing to give them a single penny out of sheer stinginess.
In the course of their marriage, she gave birth to their first daughter. Alhaji Abba named the child Hauwa’u after his late mother, as both of his parents had passed away and he was an only child. To honor his mother's memory, the little girl was given her name but was affectionately called JIDDAH.
Following Jiddah's naming ceremony, Alhaji Abba handed a substantial amount of capital to Zarah so she could start a business. He personally guided her on her first business trip to Dubai to establish her trade. Eventually, she began traveling independently. It was during these travels that she met a woman named Hajiya Karima, who was also a prominent merchant. Recognizing their identical mindsets and love for material luxury, they instantly struck up a close friendship. Karima also resided in Kaduna. As their bond deepened, Karima further introduced Zarah to the lavish, competitive ways of high society, opening her eyes to new heights of worldly ambition and sophisticated manipulation. Unlike others, however, Karima did not patronize traditional witch doctors or sorcerers; she relied entirely on her sharp wit and feminine cunning to manage her household. Thanks to this influence, Zarah lived peacefully with her husband, remaining strictly obedient to him because he granted her total financial freedom, and there was nothing she loved more than money. After Jiddah's birth, Zarah had wanted to use birth control, but Karima advised against it, telling her to wait until she had given birth to a male heir first.
Two years after having Jiddah, Zarah gave birth to another daughter. She openly wept on delivery day out of sheer disappointment at not having a boy. On the naming ceremony, the baby was named Saratu after Zarah's own mother, but she was affectionately called JALILA.
Immediately after Jalila's birth, Karima took Zarah to a clinic to put a permanent stop to her childbearing, arguing that frequent childbirth would make her age prematurely. Thus, the two girls grew up surrounded by premium care and luxury. Both sisters were remarkably beautiful, though Jalila possessed a striking elegance that surpassed Jiddah's. In time, they began their education; when Jiddah entered Primary One, Jalila was enrolled right along with her. They advanced through their studies until Jiddah was eighteen and in Senior Secondary Three (SS3), while Jalila was sixteen and in Senior Secondary One (SS1).
Their personalities, however, could not have been more different. Jiddah took entirely after their mother's materialistic and loose character, while Jalila inherited her father’s upright and disciplined nature. Ever since they completed primary school, Jiddah had completely abandoned her Islamic evening classes (Islamiyya). Only Jalila continued to attend. Their father was entirely unaware of Jiddah's truancy because his demanding business operations and frequent corporate travels kept him perpetually occupied. Their mother, true to her nature, cared nothing for religious education.
By the time Jiddah was in SS1, she had already started secretly seeing older men. Any man who called her and offered her money could have her company wherever he pleased. Jalila frequently reported Jiddah's illicit behavior to their mother, but Zarah completely dismissed her words, often chasing Jalila away in anger. By the time Jiddah reached SS3, she had fallen in with a circle of wild, worldly friends, making transactional relationships with wealthy men a daily routine. Among her friends, a girl named Ameera was the most street-smart and deeply entangled in that lifestyle; it was Ameera who eventually took them to a private clinic to get put on contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. From that point on, they lived completely unchecked, amassing large amounts of money. Because Jiddah always shared a significant portion of her illicit earnings with her mother, Zarah completely shielded her, making Jiddah her absolute favorite child.
Jalila wept bitterly every single day watching the dangerous path her elder sister had chosen. But knowing that speaking up would yield no results, she was forced into silence—especially after Zarah sternly warned her that if she ever uttered a single word to their father regarding Jiddah's lifestyle, she would face a mother's curse. Left with no choice, Jalila simply resorted to praying for her sister while focusing entirely on her secular and Islamic education.
One morning, Alhaji Abba stepped out of his quarters fully dressed for a business trip to Sokoto. His wife and two daughters escorted him to his waiting vehicle.
"Alright, Hajiya, I am heading out now," Alhaji Abba said. "Take good care of the house, and by Allah's grace, I shall return tomorrow." Turning his gaze to his daughters, he added, "Make sure you both focus seriously on your studies. I hope there are no issues around here?"
Jiddah quickly spoke up. "Dad, our makeup and cosmetics are completely finished."
He chuckled softly and pulled out some cash. "Here is twenty thousand Naira. That should be more than enough, right?" Jiddah collected the money with a wide, delighted smile.
Jalila stepped forward. "Thank you, Dady. May Allah continue to bless your wealth and grant you a safe journey." Alhaji Abba always felt a deep sense of peace and joy whenever Jalila prayed for him before his travels.
Jiddah, meanwhile, had already turned her back and was walking back toward the house, entirely consumed with joy over the cash she had received. From a distance, she called out, "Dady, make sure you bring back plenty of treats for us when you return!"
He smiled, shook his head gently, and said, "Alright, I must be on my way now." Zarah embraced him warmly, saying, "Safe travels, my husband." Seeing this, Jalila politely bid him farewell and turned back into the house. Alhaji Abba kissed Zarah on the forehead, embraced her once more, and handed her an extra bundle of crisp one-thousand-Naira notes, telling her it was for any pocket expenses before his return. She thanked him, and he finally got into his car and drove out of the estate.
Because he didn't drive at a high speed, coupled with several brief stops he had to make along the way and his late departure from the house, he did not reach the city of Sokoto until around 8:00 PM. He drove straight to meet the business associates he had come to see, wanting to conclude all official matters that night so he could return to Kaduna the following day. By the time he finished his business and headed toward his lodging, it was roughly 9:30 PM.
His guest lodge was situated slightly on the outskirts of the town. As he drove out of the main city area, he spotted what looked like figures waving at him from a distance to stop his vehicle. He had absolutely no intention of stopping, well aware of the dangerous tactics used by highway bandits who would employ any trick to block a traveler. However, as he drove past, he realized it was actually two women standing by the deserted roadside, desperately signaling for help. He caught a glimpse of one of them breaking down and sinking to her knees in tears as his car bypassed them.
Acting on pure compassion, he slammed on his brakes and reversed the vehicle. Seeing him stop, the two women immediately rushed toward his car, one pulling the other by the hand. He began to question them through the window, but in a frantic panic, they quickly flung the rear door open and scrambled into the back seat.
Gasping for breath, the older woman pleaded desperately, "For the sake of Allah, servant of Allah, please help us! Drive as far away from this place as you can! By Allah, dangerous men are pursuing us and they intend to kill us!"
Hearing the sheer terror in her voice, Alhaji Abba immediately slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The car roared to life and sped away into the darkness, leaving the area far behind. Moments later, when their pursuers finally reached the spot, there was no sign of the vehicle. After searching the dark road in vain and realizing the night had grown too late, the men turned back to report to their gang leader.

Episode 5 to 10 (Continued)

Alhaji Abba pulled into the driveway of a modest, secure house which served as his personal lodging whenever he traveled to Sokoto on business. He stepped out of the vehicle, and the two women followed suit, standing quietly as they looked at him.
In a calm, gentle tone, he said to them, "I don't quite know where I can safely take you at this time, and the night has far spent. Even though you asked me to take you far out of town, I honestly cannot drop you off in an unknown place in the middle of the night, especially since you are vulnerable women. If you can trust me, please come inside and spend the night here. By Allah's grace, when morning comes, we can figure out the best course of action. I am not a resident of this town either; a brief business commitment brought me here today, and I am scheduled to return to my family in Kaduna tomorrow."
The older woman stared at him intently for a moment, assessing his demeanor, before responding softly, "It is alright. We trust you."
He unlocked the front door for them. Once they were safely inside the living room, he went back to the car to retrieve some provisions he had purchased earlier, brought them inside, and securely locked the entrance. As they sat nervously in the living room, he joined them and spoke.
"From the look of things, you both must be incredibly hungry. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of food here, but I bought some roasted chicken, juice, and bread. Please, eat all of it. Tomorrow morning, I will go out and secure a proper breakfast for us."
The woman smiled weakly. "Thank you so much. But right now, what worries me the most is that we have not yet performed our Maghrib and Isha prayers." Alhaji Abba smiled, deeply impressed by her devotion; he could see they were clearly exhausted and starved, yet her immediate priority remained her prayers.
He pointed toward his bedroom. "There is a bathroom inside where you can freshen up, and you'll find a prayer mat ready." After they went inside, he sat alone in the living room, his mind racing with questions about who they were. He anxiously waited for them to finish so he could learn their story.
Inside the bedroom, the older woman looked at the young girl beside her. The striking resemblance between them left no doubt that they were mother and daughter. "Go in first, take a bath, and perform your ablution," she instructed gently, sitting down to wait for her turn. Once the girl finished and stepped out wearing her cleaned clothes, she put on her hijab and stood up to begin her prayers, while her mother went into the bathroom to bathe.
Hearing movement, Alhaji Abba looked up. The two women had stepped back into the living room, looking completely refreshed. Now that they had washed away the dirt and distress of their ordeal, their natural, breathtaking beauty was fully visible, even though they were still wearing their old clothes.
He placed the food before them along with the juice, water, and bread. The mother smiled warmly and said, "From the look of things, you haven't eaten anything either, yet you're offering us everything. Please, take a portion of the chicken so we can share the bread."
"No, please," he insisted kindly. "Eat and satisfy your hunger."
"By Allah, we cannot possibly finish all of this alone," she replied. Without waiting for further objection, she carved a generous portion of the large roasted chicken and handed it to him along with some bread. He accepted it gratefully.
As they ate, Alhaji Abba kept his gaze down, but his mind was entirely fixed on the mother. He found himself silently praying that she did not have a husband, for a strange, profound feeling of affection had stirred in his heart from the moment she first stepped out.
When they finished eating, she neatly cleared the remains into a bag and disposed of it in the trash bin. Turning to her daughter, she noticed the girl’s eyes were heavy with sleep.
Alhaji Abba smiled. "Young lady, you look exhausted. Go ahead and get some sleep in the bedroom."
The girl smiled back shyly. "Alright, thank you, Dady." Hearing her call him 'Dady' warmed his heart immensely. She wished them a good night and retired to the bedroom.
The mother then turned to him. "Alhaji, where will you sleep tonight?"
He smiled reassuringly. "Do not worry about me, I am perfectly fine resting right here on the couch."
She sat down quietly on the carpeted floor, lowering her gaze as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. Alhaji Abba moved down to sit on the floor a polite distance from her.
"Even though I do not yet know your names, yours or your daughter's," he began softly, "I must ask you to please share your story with me. I won't be able to sleep a wink tonight without knowing why someone was desperately trying to take your lives. If it isn't too painful, please tell me what happened, for Allah's sake."
Wiping a stray tear from her eye, she looked up at him. "Indeed, Alhaji, you more than deserve to know our story. You saved our lives, and I trust you completely."
"My name is HAJARA, though most people call me HAJJO because we are traditional Fulani. That young girl is my daughter, FALAK. She is the only child Allah blessed me with. My husband passed away exactly five months ago."
Hearing this, Alhaji Abba let out a silent, relieved sigh of relief, whispering, "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to Allah) in his heart.

Hajjo's True Story

Hajjo was the only child born to her parents, who were nomadic Fulani herdsmen living in the wilderness. They had no permanent settlement and were constantly moving their cattle from one region to another. Shortly after her father (Baffa) and mother (Inna) married, they left their native country of Niger—as they were originally Nigerien Fulani—and began a lifelong journey across various towns with their livestock. Wherever they found a suitable grazing land, they would set up their thatched huts (bukkoki) and settle for a period before moving on. It was during this nomadic life that Hajjo was born, named after her paternal grandmother.
By the time Hajjo turned ten, her family decided to make a temporary camp on the outskirts of the town of Gusau. There, they erected their huts alongside several other Fulani families they had met on their travels. Finding a large, welcoming community of fellow herders brought immense joy to Baffa, as they had never encountered such a large settlement before. They settled down peacefully to continue their cattle rearing. Inna would prepare fresh yogurt and millet dough (fura da nono), which she would pack for Hajjo to take into the town to sell alongside other girls her age.
Baffa took a keen interest in secure futures and desired to give Hajjo a formal Western education after noticing some of the local children in the camp attending school. A close friend of his named Jauro, whose own daughter was enrolled, guided Baffa through the registration process, and Hajjo was enrolled in primary school.
Their life flowed beautifully. Hajjo and her friends would attend school during the week, and on their free days, they would head into the main town to sell their dairy products.
By the time they completed their primary education, Hajjo had turned sixteen. Her natural beauty had blossomed magnificently, capturing the admiration of everyone who saw her. One particular market day, she and her friends went into the bustling town market to sell their wares as usual.
While at the market, she noticed a young man staring at her intently. She ignored it, and once they finished their sales and purchased their household needs, they prepared to head back to the camp. Suddenly, she heard a polite greeting behind her. She turned around to see the same young man who had been watching her, accompanied by a friend.
"Greetings, young ladies," he said, a warm smile gracing his face. After exchanging pleasantries, he politely asked for her name.
"Hajjo," she replied shyly.
He smiled broadly. "Ah, Hajara. What a beautiful name. My name is BASHIR, and I am originally from Sokoto. I travel to this market every week for business, but Allah never decreed our paths to cross until today."
Hajjo smiled gently. "I must leave now; my friends are waiting for me, and I don't want the night to catch us on the road."
Bashir turned to his friend. "Well, my friend, I must head back as well before it gets too dark, given the danger of highway robbers. Please, follow Hajjo from a distance so you can see exactly where their settlement is located. When I return next week, I plan to stay over, and you can escort me there." He thanked them warmly, and they parted ways.
From that day on, a deep love blossomed between Bashir and Hajjo. In time, her parents became aware of the relationship, and Baffa informed Hajjo that he wished to meet Bashir on his next visit.
A week later, Bashir sat respectfully on a woven mat inside Baffa's hut. Baffa questioned him thoroughly about his background.
"My name is Bashir," he explained openly. "I am a native of Sokoto. My parents passed away when I was just twenty years old, leaving me with no immediate family except my paternal uncle. I live with him in a house that my late father bequeathed to me. I am a merchant by trade, traveling to various towns for business."
Baffa smiled. "Alhamdullilah." He then shared his own family's background before adding, "From the moment I saw you, my heart found peace with you. I willingly give you Hajjo's hand in marriage. Whenever you are ready for the wedding, you may proceed. However, I plead with you, for the sake of Allah, to treat Hajjo with absolute honesty and to protect her. She is the only child Allah gave us, and as you can see, we have no permanent roots or relatives here. We won't remain in one place forever because we are nomadic herders. Please, take good care of her, and promise to bring her to visit us whenever you come to the Gusau market before we eventually migrate."
Bashir replied sincerely, "Insha Allah, Baffa, you will find me fully worthy of the trust you have placed in me. Next week, I will return with my uncle so our marriage can be officially solemnized. Please, do not stress yourselves over wedding preparations or buying household goods; I only desire Hajjo herself." Deeply grateful, Baffa thanked him and called Hajjo out to join them.
A week later, Bashir returned to the settlement accompanied by his paternal uncle, LADO, though everyone in town knew him by his street name, FIGO.
Uncle Figo was a notorious, hardcore criminal who had never married. Instead, he spent his life corrupting young girls, drinking heavily, and committing robberies. He was the kingpin of a dangerous local gang. Bashir simply tolerated him out of familial obligation since they shared the same inherited property, though Uncle Figo occupied a completely separate wing of the house.
Following the solemnization of the marriage, Hajjo was dressed in beautiful new clothes brought by Bashir. She looked absolutely stunning. Amid tears of joy and sorrow, she bid a painful farewell to her parents and friends, who escorted her to the waiting vehicle. She sat quietly in the back seat, while Bashir took the driver's seat with his uncle beside him. Throughout the journey, Uncle Figo kept glancing back at her, swallowing hard and smiling wickedly to himself, thinking: A beautiful bird has flown straight into my trap.
Upon reaching Sokoto, they dropped Uncle Figo off at his wing and proceeded to their own home. The house was beautiful and fully furnished; Bashir had provided every comfort to ensure his new bride's happiness.
They began their marital life filled with immense love and affection. Bashir did everything to keep her happy, but he was always extremely vigilant regarding his household because of Uncle Figo, whose vile nature he understood better than anyone. He never allowed Hajjo to hand Uncle Figo his meals; Bashir always delivered the food personally. Whenever business called him away from town, he would never leave Hajjo alone in the house; he would take her to spend the night at the home of his trusted friend, Saddik. No matter how hard Uncle Figo tried to corner Hajjo alone, Bashir effectively blocked every attempt. Whenever Bashir traveled to the Gusau market, he always took Hajjo along with him. Over the years, Hajjo grew into an incredibly elegant and beautiful woman.
Two years into their marriage, she gave birth to a daughter who inherited her features, though Allah had blessed the infant with an extraordinary, angelic beauty. On the day of her naming ceremony, Bashir named her FALAK, a name he loved deeply.
As Falak grew, Bashir enrolled her in a local primary school. Whenever he traveled to Gusau, the family went together. During one such visit, after spending two days with Hajjo's parents, they prepared to return to Sokoto. Inna pulled out two beautiful traditional Fulani silver bracelets and gifted them to Falak. Because they were far too large for the little girl's wrists, Hajjo took them and wore them on her own hands instead. That day, a heavy feeling settled over Hajjo's heart, making her dread leaving the camp. Baffa once again reminded Bashir to uphold the sacred trust of protecting his daughter. With heavy hearts, they said their goodbyes and departed.

Episode 10 to 15

Years passed, and their life continued peacefully. Falak completed her primary education and transitioned into secondary school. Her beauty grew more radiant by the day, to the point where Hajjo felt a lingering sense of fear whenever her daughter stepped outside the house. Consequently, she strictly restricted Falak’s movements, allowing her to go nowhere except to her secular school and her evening Islamic classes.
Meanwhile, Uncle Figo had never given up on his vile desires, but having no way to get close to Falak, he resorted to constantly pressuring Bashir for money. Whenever Bashir gave him capital to start a business, Figo would quickly squander it on his vices and return to demand more. As he watched Falak mature into a beautiful young woman, his greedy eyes fixed entirely on her, though he could find no opportunity to strike.
When Falak completed her Junior Secondary Three (JSS3) exams, the family prepared for another trip to visit Hajjo’s parents. They set out in Bashir’s car.
However, an overwhelming shock awaited them when they arrived at the old settlement. Baffa’s hut and the entire camp were entirely gone. The ground was nothing but a vast, empty field, and the earth was scorched black. Hajjo burst into bitter tears as Bashir desperately tried to comfort her. He immediately turned the car around and drove into the main town to find his old friend.
After exchanging somber greetings, Bashir’s friend delivered the heartbreaking news. "A few months ago, in the dead of night, heavily armed bandits raided Baffa's settlement. They stole all their cattle and wealth, rounded up every single resident into one area, and set the entire place on fire. Not a single soul survived."
Hajjo and Falak wept uncontrollably, and despite his attempts to remain strong, tears streamed down Bashir’s face as well. Filled with deep grief and pity for his wife, he took his leave, and throughout their journey back and their days at home, he dedicated himself to comforting Hajjo, promising her that he would spend the rest of his life ensuring she never faced sorrow again. In time, she slowly learned to accept the painful tragedy.
As life moved forward, Bashir's wealth continued to expand. He stopped traveling to the local Gusau market and expanded his business operations directly to Lagos. Since Falak's birth, they had not been blessed with another child. Hajjo had suggested visiting a fertility clinic, but Bashir gently declined, saying that children are a gift from Allah, and having been blessed with Falak was more than enough reason to be grateful.
Fakak was now in Senior Secondary Two (SS2) and was on the verge of graduating from her Islamic school. At sixteen, she had fully blossomed into a breathtaking young woman. Her parents strictly increased their security measures around her. Uncle Figo tried to manipulate the situation, demanding that Falak should be the one bringing his daily meals to his quarters, but Bashir flatly refused.
Among Figo's gang members was a ruthless man named Idi, popularly known as Jungle. It was Jungle who planted a dark suggestion in Figo's mind. "Why don't we just kidnap the girl for you so you can satisfy your desires once and for all?"
Figo smiled wickedly. "Be patient. I have already set a deadly trap for Bashir. He thinks because he has a family now, he can push me to the background. I discovered that he has legally transferred all his land properties and assets into that girl's name. Leave him to me. He just informed me that he is preparing for a business trip to Lagos, and I have demanded a massive sum of money from him before he sets off." The two criminals shared a sinister laugh.
Meanwhile, inside their private quarters, Bashir sat with his wife. "Hajjo, by Allah, Uncle Figo is pushing me to my limit," he said wearily. "He acts as though I am sitting on a mountain of endless cash, which is why he constantly demands money."
He handed her a bundle of legal documents and a bank checkbook. "These are the ownership documents for this house, and this checkbook belongs to a private account I opened strictly in Falak's name, where I have secured all our remaining liquid wealth. I want you to hide these in an absolute secure place. I have made a firm resolve never to give Figo another dime. Even if he tries to investigate my main business accounts, he will find nothing, because he has absolutely no knowledge of Falak’s secret account. Ever since I returned from Lagos yesterday, he has been stalking me. When he finally cornered me demanding cash earlier today, I lied to him, saying I had incurred massive business losses and was actually putting my car up for sale just to clear my debts."
Bashir stood up to leave, still muttering in frustration. Hajjo quickly went to hide the precious items in a secure spot before returning to sit beside him. "Falak's Dady, we must remain patient with your uncle's terrible character," she said, her voice trembling. "I am deeply terrified of him, by Allah. Have you seen the predatory way he stares at Falak? I am so afraid that one day he might try to—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the front door was violently kicked open. A group of armed, masked men stormed into the room.
Hajjo burst into terrified screams, crying out, "Oh Allah, we are doomed! We are completely doomed!"