He Promised Me Work In Lagos, Na Trap I Enter (EPISODE 6)

EPISODE 6 – Onitsha Is Not My Future

My father didn’t give up on the idea of Onitsha.

Every few days, he brought it up again, like repeating it would force me to agree. He talked about people he knew who went there with nothing and came back with shops, apprentices, and respect. To him, Onitsha was opportunity. To me, it was just another place where my story would arrive before me.

One evening, he sat me down properly. His voice was firm, final. He said arrangements could be made. He had spoken to someone. I would go and learn trading. No arguments.

I listened quietly, but inside me, something snapped.

I told him I couldn’t do it. I said I was tired. Tired of being pointed at. Tired of being whispered about. Tired of carrying a name people were afraid of.

“Onitsha no be my future,” I said. “I need go far.”

He looked at me like I had just insulted him.

He asked me what exactly I wanted. University was not an option. Money was not available. Connections were limited.

I didn’t have clear answers, but I knew what I didn’t want.

I didn’t want to remain in the South East, moving from one familiar face to another, carrying the same burden everywhere. I wanted a place where nobody knew my mother, my grandmother, or the rumors that followed us.

Lagos started sounding like freedom in my head.

A city too big to care. A place where people mind their business. Where survival mattered more than stories.

My father said Lagos was dangerous. He said girls get lost there. He said people would use me.

I wanted to ask him why nobody seemed to worry about me being slowly buried alive here. But I kept quiet.

That night, I lay on my bed thinking. Lagos frightened me, but staying frightened me more.

I realized then that sometimes, escape doesn’t come because you are brave — it comes because you are exhausted.

Episode 7 Coming Soon
I didn’t know how I would get to Lagos. I didn’t know who would help me. But the call was coming again — and this time, I would answer.