Is She Your Daughter?

“I’m going to pay you a hundred thousand naira for the girl. She’s already a teenager and may not be a virgin. Teenagers these days do all sort of things. If she’s not a virgin, she won’t fetch me much gain”. Lanre heard Alhaja Fatima say. She decided to eavesdrop on them. She got to understand that the girl they were talking about is the same girl she met on her way here. She walked stealthily back to where the young girl was seated. She pulled the girl by her hand.

“If you like your life, follow me quietly let’s get out of this place now”. Lanre said to the young girl. But the girl looked at her seemingly confused. Lanre thought as much. The girl obviously has no knowledge of her fate here and would not even follow her out since she does not know her. She decided to hint the girl in the way she thought was best at the moment.

“Hey, you are a fine young lady. You have potentials and should not be here. Follow me out of here now. I will take you home wherever you came from”. She said to the girl. She saw the reluctance in the girls eyes. Just then Alhaja Fatima came out with the lady she was discussing with. Lanre felt her heart skip. What should she do now that Alhaja is here? She must have already concluded with the lady.

Alhaja looked at Lanre’s hand which was holding the young girls hand. Lanre followed Alhaja’s eyes. She decided to act.

“If this is not the softest hand I’ve touched in my life, who’s hand would it be? Is she your daughter? She’s beautiful”. Lanre said to Alhaja while trying not to make it seem obvious that she was about to take the girl away.

“Teresa, take her to the guest room. Make sure she eats well”. Alhaja Fatima said. The lady who had brought Eno walked up to Eno and asked her to follow her. Lanre tried not to look so that tears does not slip from her eyes. Life is hard, both for the young and the old. This girl turns out to be among the unfortunate ones. Lanre decided to announce to Alhaja what has brought her here even though she was sure the woman knows why she has come.

Alhaja told her to wait. She left Lanre and went to get the permit. She returned with it and handed it over to Lanre. Lanre thanked her and left the place. She got into her car and ordered Tega to drive away. She kept telling him to drive fast as if her life depended on it. Perhaps if he was too slow, she would go back and fight for the young girl who seemed naive enough to trust someone who will lead her into prostitution. This is human trafficking. How could someone do this to a little girl? Doesn’t she have a younger sister? Lanre could not help but worry for the girl.