₦airaland Forum

Good evening Nairaland family. I’m Saleslourd some of you know me from my threads, but today I’m telling EVERYTHING. From before it all happened to how I got here. No lies, no exaggeration just my life exactly as it went down.

Before Yaba, before the trouble I was already hustling. I’d help people find winter wears at the markets and get commission from the shops. It was a new market back then, not many people knew about it, so I was the go to guy for anyone looking to buy. I also ran errands, carried loads you name it, I did it. We called ourselves ‘Osa Yia’ Igbo for hustlers, from what I know.

Then my world changed. My dad passed, and my mom was diagnosed with diabetes foot ulcer her left foot was decaying, she couldn’t walk anymore. It all fell on me. I was 19, naive, but I’d do ANYTHING to make money and take care of her. Nothing devilish just work hard.

One day, a man I knew a regular who always paid me the best called me over. I just got this shop he said. I don’t like the roll gate, want to change it. Help me carry this old one away I’ll follow you I said yes he’d never let me down before.

The gate was heavy iron real work to carry. I was sweating, focused on not dropping it, when someone tapped me from behind. I turned, annoyed and the next thing I heard was ‘YOU’RE TAKING THIS WHERE?!’ I spun around to point at the man who hired me but he was GONE. Vanished into thin air.

I tried to explain
A man paid me to carry this, he wanted to change his gate!
But they wouldn’t listen. Immediately they claim doors had been missing from the complex for weeks, and I was the one stealing them. Then the beating started. People I’d had misunderstandings with, guys who wanted to hire me but I said no because of how they acted they all joined in, chanting ‘THIEF!’ They dragged me around the market, everyone taking turns to hit me. By the end, my face was so swollen I looked like a Chinese man couldn’t see straight, could barely talk.

They took me to ‘Iya oja" at her trust shop. She looked at me like I was the worst criminal alive and said I should be taken to Area C police station. She even followed us and paid the police to make sure ‘justice was done’ said I was ‘against the government’. There was no escape. Nobody would help me.

After 3 days in the station, I was charged to court. I was shaking so bad when they called my name. I’d never been in a courtroom before. The prosecutor and police officer called me a ‘long-time criminal’, said I’d been stealing gates for months. The judge asked me what I had to say – I had no lawyer, my mom couldn’t make it, so I defended myself. Told them everything exactly how it happened and pleaded NOT GUILTY.

The case was adjourned, and I was sent to Ikoyi Prison with no bail option. I spent 20 days there.

Ikoyi Prison was hell. We were 364 men in one cell sleeping side by side like sardines, no space to move. If you had money, you got a bed and comfort. If not, you slept on the floor. People think prison is just for ‘bad guys’ let me tell you the truth

There are guys in there for owing 10k with nobody to help them
There are talented soccer players wasting away one guy even played for Nigeria before, and he’s INSANELY good
There are young men who look clean, speak well, have angelic voices one of them was in for human head trafficking (I still can’t believe it)
Majority of inmates are Hausas Dangote has shown them pepper, that’s all I’ll say
If you come with money, you’re treated like royalty even if you robbed a village and killed people. They won’t shave your hair, you get a single cell. Allegedly, big men even go out with escorts to party and do whatever they want. They host soccer tournaments too – the talent there is crazy.
But here’s something nobody knows: there are NO flies or mosquitoes in Ikoyi Prison. They fumigate and clean it nonstop you can stay months without seeing one.
Food was rough though morning beans that looked terrible but we still waited for it because we were hungry. Afternoon rice sometimes with egusi soup that you wouldn’t want to look at twice. Night was just garri to drink.
Some days we’d go to the church inside even Muslims would run there because people bring food for prisoners. The Muslim side does it too on their festivals, but the church does it more often.
Then something happened the judge came to visit me in prison. He pulled me aside and said ‘Young man, I know you didn’t do this. But if you keep pleading not guilty, this case will drag on for years and you’ll waste your life here. Next time you come to court, plead guilty I’ll make sure you get mercy.
On the adjournment day, my mom was there. I told the court about my dad dying, my mom’s foot ulcer then I said the words I never thought I’d say: ‘I’m guilty.’
The judge sentenced me to 30 days of community service.

Ehm, see below

Please Igbos what does "oso yia" mean?

QuinQQ:
Ehm, see below

Please Igbos what does "oso yia" mean?

I was told it means something like "the ones who move around making things happen basically hustlers who don't sit still waiting for opportunities. Not 100% sure of the exact translation, but that's what we called ourselves back then when we were running around Yaba making our money!

Saleslourd:
I was told it means something like "the ones who move around making things happen basically hustlers who don't sit still waiting for opportunities. Not 100% sure of the exact translation, but that's what we called ourselves back then when we were running around Yaba making our money!

Oh, ok. I now know "oso yia" means hustler in Igbo
Mynd44, OAM4J, nlfpmod frontpage things.

How long ago this happened?

This is the story of many prisons inmates.

Every day, the black Maria would pick us up at 4am and take us to the court. My work was to clear grasses, sweep the grounds, wash cars, run errands. But here’s the thing people took pity on me. They’d give me money daily: 4k, 5k, sometimes 6k. I became a ‘big boy’ in prison I’d buy things and share with my friends there.

One day the judge called me and asked ‘Can you type? Operate a computer?’ I told him the truth I was just a hustler from Yaba, never touched one. But he insisted I try. When I did I was fast. I loved it. And when I started writing things out, I realized I could use words really well. The judge noticed too he’d say ‘You have a gift my son.’ He’d give me 1k or 2k sometimes when I left, and every day he’d remind me about my potential. ‘God gave you a second chance,’ he’d say. ‘Don’t waste it your future is bright.’

That’s how my writing journey started. That’s where Saleslourd were born.

When my service was done, he called me to his office and handed me an envelope. ‘Open it,’ he said. Inside was 30,000 naira. ‘Run ads for a business,’ he told me. ‘I’ve seen how you write winter wears are not popular here, people travel abroad to buy expensive ones, but we have good quality here for cheaper. Promote that.’
I took the money and spent 10k on ads to promote winter wears. The very next day, my phone was blowing up with DMs – people asking to buy jackets, sweaters, scarves. In the first week after my release, I made 400,000 naira – more money than I’d ever seen in my life, even when my dad was alive.

That’s how it all started. From being framed, beaten, locked up to discovering I could write, building a business, and taking care of my mom.

So here’s what I want you to know:

Hustlers never give up even when the world is against you
Your talent can be hidden anywhere I found mine typing in a courtroom
Good people still exist that judge didn’t have to help me, but he changed my life
Prison is not what you think there’s talent, pain, and truth in there
Dron’t waste money buying winter wears abroad we have quality stuff here in Lagos for way cheaper!

If you’ve ever been knocked down, if you feel like your life is over I’m proof it’s not. Keep pushing. Keep working. Your chance will come.
I still remember everything like it was yesterday. I still thank that judge every single day. And I still hustle like my life depends on it because it does.
Drop a comment if you’ve ever found something good coming out of something terrible let’s inspire each other.

#SurvivorNotCriminal #FromIkoyiTo400k #OsaYiaHustle

QuinQQ:
Oh, ok. I now know "oso yia" means hustler in Igbo
Mynd44, OAM4J, nlfpmod frontpage things.

How long ago this happened?

This happened 3 years ago bro! I was 19 then, now I'm 22 And thank you for the frontpage shout would be amazing to reach more people with this story🖐️

Saleslourd:
Ikoyi Prison was hell. We were 364 men in one cell sleeping side by side like sardines, no space to move.

364 men in one room! People talk about hell not knowing some are already in hell right here on earth!

Saleslourd:
This happened 3 years ago bro! I was 19 then, now I'm 22 And thank you for the frontpage shout would be amazing to reach more people with this story🖐️

Inspiring story.
You are one of the extremely few lucky ones. There are people same exact thing happened to who'd spend years in jail

QuinQQ:
Inspiring story.
You are one of the extremely few lucky ones. There are people same exact thing happened to who'd spend years in jail

I swear you are saying nothing but the truth.

Most will never plead guilty then end up spending years in prison.


It might interest you to know we keep phones and I still contact my Inmate I bonded with that time.

One of them got life sentence manslaughter.

Saleslourd:
I swear you are saying nothing but the truth.

Most will never plead guilty then end up spending years in prison.


It might interest you to know we keep phones and I still contact my Inmate I bonded with that time.

One of them got life sentence manslaughter.

Life sentence! OMG! Probably innocent person too!
Did any prisoner or male guard try to sex you. I saw a video of a Kenyan prison where some of the male inmates acted as females and were paid by other male inmates for sex!

Inspiring

Sorry you had to learn from your own mistake.

Trust nobody.

Help me carry this old one away I’ll follow you I said yes he’d never let me down before.

The gate was heavy iron real work to carry. I was sweating, focused on not dropping it, when someone tapped me from behind. I turned, annoyed and the next thing I heard was ‘YOU’RE TAKING THIS WHERE?!’ I spun around to point at the man who hired me but he was GONE. Vanished into thin air.
The man should be at the front leading you. If he is the one directing you from the back, his voice should be so clear n audible that you shoulsnt have lost track of him.

Thank God it was just 20 days, I know people awaiting trials for more than 5 years for an offense they didn't commit. Forgive everyone.

someone once said there's a reason t's called Prison

Thank goodness you were vindicated and helped. Many were not fortunate as you. But again the whole story look somehow made up. Are you trying to advertise your clothes ? What’s are you social media handles ?

Many things happen in Nigeria

Wish I can start this movement
Free inmate who are innocent movement

Hmmm... All I can say is: thank you for sharing the experience.

So sad and touching. This is how people suffer all over the world for crimes they didn't commit. Sorry about that bro

This one is a writer,you tried sha…it was looking real until the judge came to the prison frequently and told you that you are a writer,gave you computer to operate and all that bullshiiis…

commission from the shops. It was a new market back then, not many people knew about it, so I was the go to guy for anyone looking to buy. I also ran errands, carried loads you name it, I did it. We called ourselves ‘Osa Yia’ Igbo for hustlers,

May we not be implicated in Jesus' name

The technicalities to particular cases are different. Some of pleased guilty as advised, and they ended up being sentenced for long terms because the judge later took a bribe or was changed.
Just thank your stars for mercy and love a good life

CodeTemplar:
Help me carry this old one away I’ll follow you I said yes he’d never let me down before.

The gate was heavy iron real work to carry. I was sweating, focused on not dropping it, when someone tapped me from behind. I turned, annoyed and the next thing I heard was ‘YOU’RE TAKING THIS WHERE?!’ I spun around to point at the man who hired me but he was GONE. Vanished into thin air.
The man should be at the front leading you. If he is the one directing you from the back, his voice should be so clear n audible that you shoulsnt have lost track of him.

Absolutely true. Unless he knows the specific drop point but he never alluded to that in his post.

This is sad, this country is gone.

Saleslourd:
I was told it means something like "the ones who move around making things happen basically hustlers who don't sit still waiting for opportunities. Not 100% sure of the exact translation, but that's what we called ourselves back then when we were running around Yaba making our money!

The correct pronunciation or spelling is 'Ọsọ Ahịa'

Ọsọ Ahịa (or Ịgba Ọsọ Ahịa) literally means “running around in the market.” It refers to the activity of moving through a busy market to find and attract customers, often by speaking to many people and encouraging them to buy goods.

Practically, in traditional Igbo commerce it describes market agents or hustlers who don’t own a shop but bring customers to sellers or help sell goods in exchange for a share of the profit.

Cc: QuinQQ

I'm so happy for you brother
Thank GOD it wasn't 30 years
Let us learn lesson from this story, I thank God for saving me as well, I would have paid for 500,000 I didn't steal..
Everyday another problem
Life is a lesson, the more we live the more we learn

The judge is the real hero..We thank God you met a good man who guided you to victory..

I guess the man you trusted and paid you well in the past still remains aloof?