While sitting on a stool, waiting for the attendant to make the photocopy for him, a woman, Margret walked into the shop and exchanged pleasantries with Paul.
Sensing the entrance of someone into the shop, the attendant asked how he could be of assistance to the woman.
I am new in this town and I am finding it difficult to locate the Zuma hotel. The woman responded.
The attendant decided to describe how to locate the hotel to Margaret. This coincided with Paul rounding up and making his way out of the shop. He decided to take the woman to the hotel having noticed that the woman wasn't getting the description of the location.
On their way to the hotel in Margret's car, she initiated conversation with Paul.
You are so calm and kind as a young man. Thank you for voluntarily offering to help me. May I know you? Margret asked.
My name is Paul. I hail from this town. I studied French in the University with a bachelor's degree.
Wow. That's nice. Where do you work? Margret interjected.
I have been looking for a job for the past two years since I graduated from the University. In fact, I have come to the shop where you met me to make a photocopy of my credentials. I wish to submit an application for a French teaching vacancy in a secondary school tomorrow. Paul replied.
You are not supposed to be in this country now. Your knowledge is highly needed in francophone countries. Would you like to leave the shores of this country and look for a better opportunity in a francophone country in Africa? In fact, I can be of help for your relocation to France.
Paul was so interested in the topic and this was shown in his reaction. He repositioned himself on his seat and paid more attention to Margaret.
I will love that Ma. Paul replied.
Margret promised to help Paul. He gave him her card and a token for transportation back home from the gate of the hotel where Paul alighted from the vehicle.
Paul was very excited. He was imagining himself in France in a big government or private establishment. Earning more valuable foreign currency and sending funds home to put many projects in place. Each Christmas, he does watch some foreign based guys visit home in grand styles. The money, the prestige and so on.
Paul took this information to his father who had suffered a lot in making sure that Paul and his two siblings are educated. Top of Paul's priority is to make money and take care of his father. He explained in detail to his father and showed him the card with Margret's number, local and foreign addresses.
You need to be careful. Many fake people are out there wanting to scam unsuspecting people. Paul's father cautioned him.
This statement fell on deaf ears. Paul was already desperate to leave the country for a better opportunity.
He wasted no time to call Margaret the following day.
They had a lot of discussion, which Paul later described to his father as fruitful, and they both agreed to meet at the same hotel when Paul took her to the following day.
I can't wait to meet Madam Margaret. She is a God sent.
Paul said to his father but the father replied to him once again to be wary of such people.
There are many cases of human trafficking and the culprits will always come as friends offering to render help out of goodwill. My son, don't jump at any cheap opportunity. Be diligent.
Paul nodded his head in agreement but deep down, Madam Margaret is too good to be a trafficker.
Later in the evening, after the family dinner, they were sitting in the living room to watch news when a number of rescued kidnap victims were being reported.
About 40 people had been rescued from Libya and deported to their countries of origin, out of which about 10 were from Nigeria.
The whole family became interested in the case once it was stated by the newscaster that they were victims of human trafficking where they were deceived of being taken to Italy through the air from Africa. The same journey that Paul was about embarking on. The details of the channel of movement haven't been discussed with Paul by Margaret. Paul had believed that there was no other means than getting a visa and paying for a flying ticket to get to his desired country.
One of the victims was given the opportunity to narrate his ordeals. The spokesperson of the victims introduced himself as Peter and took some minutes to explain how he was deceived by one madam called Sandra.
Madam Sandra met me at a public function and after a brief introduction, I told her that I was looking for a job upon inquiry from me of what I do for a living. That was the genesis of my 12 months horrific journey. She convinced me to relocate to Italy for a better opportunity of working. She handed us over to other members of her syndicate and we were taking through land to Libya. Some of us died in the process.
Arriving at Libya, we were expecting to embark on the journey to Italy via the air but unknown to us, Libya would remain our destination. We were kept in cells, maltreated, tortured and dehumanised before being sold away to people that used us as slaves. I can't explain everything I experienced in that country before we were later rescued by the authorities and brought back to Nigeria.
Other nationals were equally taken to their countries. As we speak, there are still many camps of trafficked victims yet to be discovered. The journey was hell and I regretted ever embarking on it.
After the whole narration of the bitter experience, the picture of the agent recruiting youths for such a dehumanizing journey was displayed on the television while she was declared wanted.
On seeing the picture, Paul shouted.
Is this not Mrs Margaret?
Immediately, Paul picked up his phone to call Mrs Margaret to clear his doubt about the identity of the person displayed as Sandra.
The phone was off.
The following morning, the news of the rescued trafficked persons were in almost all the dailies. It was detailed in one of the dailies how the same person poses as Margaret, Sandra, Precious and several other names to deceive youths to fall victim to her trafficking activities.
Paul was dumbfounded when his father brought out the newspaper with the story. He imagined that if not for events of the day preceding his scheduled meeting with Margaret, he would have fallen victim.
In his response, his father counsel him;
Don't be desperate to jump at any opportunity like this, especially from a total stranger. The sweetness of the wine attracted flies to the point of dying in the bottle. Secondly, a fly that defies caution always follows the corpse to the grave. Don't behave like any of the two flies referred to in those statements. I will conclude by telling you that all that glitters is not gold. Be careful.
After listening to his father, Paul promised to always look before leaping henceforth.