The first person to notice that Aisha was missing was her younger brother, Musa. It was around 6:30 in the evening, and their mother had already called her name several times. But there was no answer. Aisha was seventeen years old and lived with her parents and two younger brothers in a small community outside (Namtari) Yola, Adamawa State. Their house was not the biggest in the neighbourhood, but it was always full of life. Their mother sold kunu and kosai in front of the house, while their father worked as a mechanic in town. Aisha was a quiet girl. She was not the type that liked going out with friends, and whenever she left home, she usually returned before sunsetz
That evening, she had gone to buy tomatoes and pepper from the nearby market called kasuwan Jan block. It was something she did almost every day.
"Maybe she has gone to visit her friend, her mother said, trying not to look worried
But Musa shake his head.
"No, Mummy. She told me she would buy biscuits for me and come back quickly." Their mother stopped what she was doing.
"Did she tell you anything before leaving?"Musa nodded.
"She said if anybody comes asking for her, I should tell them she has travelled." The woman almost dropped the cup in her hand.
"What did you just say? Musa repeated himself, but this time he was already looking frightened heir father was called from his workshop. When he arrived, he asked the same questions(ina Takei) again and again. Nobody knew where Aisha had gone
They searched the nearby streets from welcome to up to Namtari, visited the market and asked some of her friends. Nobody had seen her. By 9 pm, the entire neighbourhood was talking about her disappearance.
An old woman who lived opposite their house suddenly remembered something.
"I saw Aisha talking to a man near the old borehole this afternoon," she said. "I thought he was one of your relatives."
The family became even more worried
The following morning, her father reported the matter to the police. Her picture was shared among neighbours, relatives and community members. Some people suggested that she might have followed a man, while others believed she had been kidnapped.
Her mother refused to sleep. She spent most of the night sitting outside .looking at the roadThree days passed.Then, on Thursday morning, something happened.
Musa was sweeping the compound when he noticed a small brown envelope under their front door. There was no name on it. He quickly took it to his mother inside was a piece of paper with just one sentence:
"Your daughter is safe. Stop looking for her. His mother screamed.
"Who wrote this? Where is my daughter?"
She ran to the police station with the letter. The officers examined it, but there was no address or phone number.
That same evening, Aisha's father received a phone call from an unknown number.
"Sir, I think you should come to the old railway station tomorrow morning," a male voice said.
Before he could ask any questions, the call ended .The next morning, he went there with two police officers. They waited for almost an hour before a young man approached them. He looked nervous and kept checking behind him. Are you Aisha's father? he asked.
"Yes. Where is my daughter? "The young man lowered his head.
"Sir, I am sorry. I was the one who helped her leave." Aisha's father became angry.
"You helped my daughter run away? Where is she?"
The young man explained that Aisha had been secretly saving money because she wanted to continue her education. Her father had recently told her that the family could no longer afford to send her to school. She was afraid her dream of becoming a nurse would end there she had approached the young man, who worked with a women's education organisation, after meeting him at a school programme. He had helped her travel to stay with a relative in another town while the organisation tried to arrange a scholarship.
Her father was speechless. A few minutes later, a motorcycle stopped near them. Aisha came down.
"Mummy!" she cried, even though her mother was not there. Her father stood still. He wanted to shout, but when he saw her face, he could not find the words.
"Why did you do this to us?" he finally asked.
Aisha began crying.
I was afraid you would never allow me to continue my education, Baba. I didn't want to disappoint you, but I don't want to spend my whole life selling kunu. I want to become somebody
Her father looked away For a long time, he said nothing. Then he moved closer and held her hand.
"Your mother has not eaten properly since you left. Do you know how much pain you have caused us?"
"I'm sorry, Baba." He sighed. I may not have money for everything, but I never wanted you to lose your future."
Aisha returned home that afternoon. Her mother hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. Musa was more interested in asking whether she had brought his biscuits. Everybody laughed, even her father. A few months later, Aisha received news that her scholarship had been approved. On the day she left for school, her father accompanied her to the bus stationBefore she entered the vehicle, he said something she never forgot.
Next time you have a problem, talk to me. Don't disappear to solve it. Aisha nodded and said Naji baba(I heard you dad).
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