Sandra (Pseudonym) was trafficked to Ivory Coast in 2008. Before she left Nigeria, she was told that they are taking her to France only to end up in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. Upon arrival, her madam (Trafficker) told her that she has to join other ladies in their prostitution work in other to reimburse what was spent in bringing her to the West African country. Sandra refused, and a problem ensued between both of them. However, she was able to escape from captivity through the help of a guy and she promised to pay her madam the agreed amount when she finds her feet in the country.

Life was difficult for Sandra, an inability to speak French also posed a problem for her. She used to beg us for money after the close of service at RCCG church. On one occasion, I told her to return to Nigeria and continue the vocational training which she had abandoned. After struggling for a year, the future looking bleak, the 22-year old Nigerian lady from Edo state decided to return to Nigeria. She bought the bus ticket that will take her from Abidjan to Cotonou, from there she will get a bus that will take her to Lagos.

One evening, after she had finished preparing dinner for the lady she was squatting with. According to her, she said she had a change of mind in regard to what she was going to eat. She stepped out of the house to buy a powdered milk in sachet which costs around 80 naira when converted so that she could make tea. On her way to the nearby kiosk in Treichville where she lives, she saw a distressed white guy who was staring at her. At first, she ignored but the guy kept staring that was when she asked the guy “What is the problem,?” the guy gave a gleeful chuckle and replied “Oh you speak English? ” Please I have a problem, he said” and he narrated his problems to Sandra

What happened was that he had been interacting with a pretty African lady online, and he fell in love with the lady which prompted him to fly down to Abidjan to surprise the lady with a marriage proposal. When he got to the airport he called the number that the supposed lady gave him but a man picked the call and as soon as he introduced himself, the man told him that the owner of the phone is not around. Actually, the man who picked the call was a scammer who poses as a lady to the white guy

After the white guy had finished narrating his ordeal, Sandra, being aware of what Nigerians are doing in Abidjan seized the opportunity and acted accordingly and told the white guy that she’ll come to his hotel to keep him company. To cut the long story short, the white guy fell in love with Sandra, engaged her, and later got married in a magistrate court. A week later, he took her to their country’s embassy in Abidjan and applied for her resident visa.

Thirteen years down the memory lane, Sandra who was once stranded and devastated in Abidjan is still happily married to the guy and they are living in one of Europe’s best countries. She has two kids. Last time I spoke with her, she told me that she has bought a house in her country of residence. Her hubby is wealthy, he has a fishing company and he loves black to a fault.

Sandra’s story from grass to grace is a testamental evidence of God’s favour. Sometimes, God shows up when all hope is lost. If she had not stepped out of her house to buy the powdered milk in sachet she wouldn’t have met the man whom God has destined for her. We all need a man (destiny helper) in our life.

I pray for you today, may you not miss the person you are supposed to meet in life

This is not a concocted but a true life story which I witnessed during my stay in Abidjan. Some of my old friends are aware of it.

© Obiwest Utchaychukwu aka The Media Apostle