So, I was staying at the Sheraton Abuja last weekend and I came across a well dressed guy in Kaftan wandering around the grounds with holding his little daughter by her hand. They were obviously very close and girl (about 3 - 4 yrs) was obviously very intelligent. It was his interaction with this little girl that caught my attention - he was pointing out plants and things to this kid and actually having a conversation in a manner that reminded me of my kids when they were little.

As I passed by, he began to speak to me (difficult to hear as he was softly spoken). Upon asking if I worked at the hotel, to which I replied negatively, he told me he worked for some bank in Adamawa, and had traveled to Abuja with his family to visit his brother who was staying at this hotel (the Sheraton). He claimed they were staying at another hotel elsewhere (Maraba??) but only had N3,000 left and could not pay the N5,500 rate that hotel demanded. He claimed he had been waiting in the Sheraton with his family for several hours and his brother had not shown up. It was rather late then (9pm) and the kids had not had anything to eat.

I told him I had nothing with me and he thanked me,

My late grandmother's exhortations appeared to me as I went up to my room. Everything she had drummed into me kicked in and doing nothing was just not an option. I fetched a 50 pound note from my travel stash and returned downstairs but couldn't find them where I left them (if you know the Sheraton Abuja, it was the big water feature in the middle of the hotel, by the restaurant downstairs). I later found them sitting in the bar area - he was with his wife and another older daughter. The four of them sat on a table next next to a big fat man with chicken bones across his plate. Obviously, there was nothing on the table in front of this family but that little girl was still quite chatty and interacting closely to her Dad. The mum looked very miserable and sad.

I called him quietly to one side and gave him the note, pointing out that he could change it for Naira just outside the hotel gates. He thanked me as I shook his hands goodbye and left him to rejoin his family.

What may have brought any suspicion is that I saw the entire family walking briskly past the front door, and through the gates very soon after. A bit too rushed and in a hurry I must say.

In any case, if I was scammed - for the sake of that delightful little girl, I do not mind one bit. I'm just asking out of curiosity, and if anyone else has come across something similar. I know times are hard.

No abuse please. Thanks

you did the right thing bro .

jabolo:
So, I was staying at the Sheraton Abuja last weekend and I came across a well dressed guy in Kaftan wandering around the grounds with holding his little daughter by her hand. They were obviously very close and girl (about 3 - 4 yrs) was obviously very intelligent. It was his interaction with this little girl that caught my attention - he was pointing out plants and things to this kid and actually having a conversation in a manner that reminded me of my kids when they were little.

As I passed by, he began to speak to me (difficult to hear as he was softly spoken). Upon asking if I worked at the hotel, to which I replied negatively, he told me he worked for some bank in Adamawa, and had traveled to Abuja with his family to visit his brother who was staying at this hotel (the Sheraton). He claimed they were staying at another hotel elsewhere (Maraba??) but only had N3,000 left and could not pay the N5,500 rate that hotel demanded. He claimed he had been waiting in the Sheraton with his family for several hours and his brother had not shown up. It was rather late then (9pm) and the kids had not had anything to eat.

I told him I had nothing with me and he thanked me,

My late grandmother's exhortations appeared to me as I went up to my room. Everything she had drummed into me kicked in and doing nothing was just not an option. I fetched a 50 pound note from my travel stash and returned downstairs but couldn't find them where I left them (if you know the Sheraton Abuja, it was the big water feature in the middle of the hotel, by the restaurant downstairs). I later found them sitting in the bar area - he was with his wife and another older daughter. The four of them sat on a table next next to a big fat man with chicken bones across his plate. Obviously, there was nothing on the table in front of this family but that little girl was still quite chatty and interacting closely to her Dad. The mum looked very miserable and sad.

I called him quietly to one side and gave him the note, pointing out that he could change it for Naira just outside the hotel gates. He thanked me as I shook his hands goodbye and left him to rejoin his family.

What may have brought any suspicion is that I saw the entire family walking briskly past the front door, and through the gates very soon after. A bit too rushed and in a hurry I must say.

In any case, if I was scammed - for the sake of that delightful little girl, I do not mind one bit. I'm just asking out of curiosity, and if anyone else has come across something similar. I know times are hard.

No abuse please. Thanks

Act of kindness... You did the right thing sir.. God bless you more abundantly...

jabolo:
So, I was staying at the Sheraton Abuja last weekend and I came across a well dressed guy in Kaftan wandering around the grounds with holding his little daughter by her hand. They were obviously very close and girl (about 3 - 4 yrs) was obviously very intelligent. It was his interaction with this little girl that caught my attention - he was pointing out plants and things to this kid and actually having a conversation in a manner that reminded me of my kids when they were little.

As I passed by, he began to speak to me (difficult to hear as he was softly spoken). Upon asking if I worked at the hotel, to which I replied negatively, he told me he worked for some bank in Adamawa, and had traveled to Abuja with his family to visit his brother who was staying at this hotel (the Sheraton). He claimed they were staying at another hotel elsewhere (Maraba??) but only had N3,000 left and could not pay the N5,500 rate that hotel demanded. He claimed he had been waiting in the Sheraton with his family for several hours and his brother had not shown up. It was rather late then (9pm) and the kids had not had anything to eat.

I told him I had nothing with me and he thanked me,

My late grandmother's exhortations appeared to me as I went up to my room. Everything she had drummed into me kicked in and doing nothing was just not an option. I fetched a 50 pound note from my travel stash and returned downstairs but couldn't find them where I left them (if you know the Sheraton Abuja, it was the big water feature in the middle of the hotel, by the restaurant downstairs). I later found them sitting in the bar area - he was with his wife and another older daughter. The four of them sat on a table next next to a big fat man with chicken bones across his plate. Obviously, there was nothing on the table in front of this family but that little girl was still quite chatty and interacting closely to her Dad. The mum looked very miserable and sad.

I called him quietly to one side and gave him the note, pointing out that he could change it for Naira just outside the hotel gates. He thanked me as I shook his hands goodbye and left him to rejoin his family.

What may have brought any suspicion is that I saw the entire family walking briskly past the front door, and through the gates very soon after. A bit too rushed and in a hurry I must say.

In any case, if I was scammed - for the sake of that delightful little girl, I do not mind one bit. I'm just asking out of curiosity, and if anyone else has come across something similar. I know times are hard.

No abuse please. Thanks

Act of kindness... You did the right thing sir.. God bless you more abundantly... .

You don't have to feel bad or feel scammed. Maybe trully they needed that money to survive and they must have used a different approach to get it.
Which ever way you helped that's all that matters

jabolo:
So, I was staying at the Sheraton Abuja last weekend and I came across a well dressed guy in Kaftan wandering around the grounds with holding his little daughter by her hand. They were obviously very close and girl (about 3 - 4 yrs) was obviously very intelligent. It was his interaction with this little girl that caught my attention - he was pointing out plants and things to this kid and actually having a conversation in a manner that reminded me of my kids when they were little.


As I passed by, he began to speak to me (difficult to hear as he was softly spoken). Upon asking if I worked at the hotel, to which I replied negatively, he told me he worked for some bank in Adamawa, and had traveled to Abuja with his family to visit his brother who was staying at this hotel (the Sheraton). He claimed they were staying at another hotel elsewhere (Maraba??) but only had N3,000 left and could not pay the N5,500 rate that hotel demanded. He claimed he had been waiting in the Sheraton with his family for several hours and his brother had not shown up. It was rather late then (9pm) and the kids had not had anything to eat.

I told him I had nothing with me and he thanked me,

My late grandmother's exhortations appeared to me as I went up to my room. Everything she had drummed into me kicked in and doing nothing was just not an option. I fetched a 50 pound note from my travel stash and returned downstairs but couldn't find them where I left them (if you know the Sheraton Abuja, it was the big water feature in the middle of the hotel, by the restaurant downstairs). I later found them sitting in the bar area - he was with his wife and another older daughter. The four of them sat on a table next next to a big fat man with chicken bones across his plate. Obviously, there was nothing on the table in front of this family but that little girl was still quite chatty and interacting closely to her Dad. The mum looked very miserable and sad.

I called him quietly to one side and gave him the note, pointing out that he could change it for Naira just outside the hotel gates. He thanked me as I shook his hands goodbye and left him to rejoin his family.

What may have brought any suspicion is that I saw the entire family walking briskly past the front door, and through the gates very soon after. A bit too rushed and in a hurry I must say.

In any case, if I was scammed - for the sake of that delightful little girl, I do not mind one bit. I'm just asking out of curiosity, and if anyone else has come across something similar. I know times are hard.

No abuse please. Thanks

Not alot of truthful and genuinely needy people out there, how does one discern who speaks the truth and who doesnt? Sometimes you just go with what your wits tell you and let the universe decide the rest.

I was once in a similar situation, although i didnt give as much as you did but i was glad I could help out. It felt good doing it, even when I felt same way as you afterwards.

For me, A simple act of kindness means all hope isnt lost for the world yet.

Happy father's day Sir.

May you live long to celebrate more years on Earth in sound health.... everything that you're seeing that's making you happy, may they never turn sour.... may Allah Grant all your silent pleas and forgive you of all your sins.

Silver or gold I have none, but this is my little way of appreciating a father figure like you on a father's day, you deserve a national celebration always Sir.

Thank you for EVERYTHING!

You did well bro, God will reward you more than you think. But for the family to walk briskly out of the entrance means they were not scammers. If you had seen them still going about begging after you helped them, th',zen I can say they are scammers. There was this day I was in a cab. A woman approached me and begged me for 100 naira. I was damn broke, I just had 300 naira with me. I told her I did not have money the woman just said thank you and left. She looked dejected, my mind started pricking me and I could hear a voice in my head saying" ifvthis woman falls down and die her blood will be on your head". I felt this chill inside me and had to call her before the cab left and gave her 200 naira and was left with 100 naira which would be enough for me to get back home. Before I could get to my destination I received an alert of 109k I was just saying Jesus Jesus, when I was coming back I stopped at that park and searched for the woman to atleast give her more money but I couldn't find her.

You did great sir....God will reward you .... I'm a corper currently serving in abia state, few days ago I fell sick and I have no money for medication, all the people I've been asking to help me turned me down, I can't even call my family because I am the one assisting with the little I can, things are very difficult with them any little help will be appreciated.

Beggars have arrived