On my way from Anyigba to Abuja by commercial transport, I had to alight at Giri junction, to pick a cab that was to link me with another cab to my destination. I had a heavy suitcase and a bag. When we got to Lugbe, the cab driver hurriedly dropped me off when he saw a cab going to my final destination. In the process of dragging the heavy suitcase, and in the usually chaotic motor park, I forgot to pick my bag.
As I approached the hotel in Jabi, now feeling relaxed, I remembered my bag which contained the following items:
1. Laptop
2. A bundle of N50,000, and a cheque
3. A pair of golden earrings
4. My International Passport
5. Power bank, ATM cards, Driver’s license, etc.
I went back to Giri junction to report to the NURTW officials. That was when I discovered that many drivers operated as freelancers and might not be traceable. I became desperate.
I exchanged contact numbers with the NURTW official and went back to the hotel. I couldn’t really concentrate on the assignment I came to Abuja for.
I hadn’t informed my husband.
The cab driver searched my bag, extracted my husband’s mobile number from my driver’s license and called him.
My husband mistook him for a fraudster and told him off. I later informed my husband and he gave me the driver’s number.
Alas!
He had my bag.
He had attempted to reach me on Facebook even.
I got my colleagues Clara and Moses to speak Hausa with him and we arranged to meet at the hotel two days later, when he returned from a trip. He emerged at the hotel with the bag and the contents intact!
Despite the rot, decadence and socio-economic hardship, there still exist people like Abubakar Hassan (0802 716 4473) with good morals.
Please appreciate him with me.
By Prof Margaret Araoye
