“Won’t you come out? You’ll be late,” came a voice from inside.
“I’m coming,” she replied as she picked up her bag. A young girl stepped out of the room wearing a clean white uniform—well ironed blouse and skirt, with a hijab neatly covering her head. She squatted respectfully and said, “Mama, I’m leaving.”
Her mother replied, “Go to your father’s room and greet him before you go.”
“Okay,” she answered.
She headed to her father’s room, greeted him politely, and he offered her transport money. She thanked him, took it, and left the house. It was about 7:30 a.m.
Walking toward the main road, her bag hanging from her shoulder, she passed some young men who couldn’t help but stare. One of them said to the other, “My friend, this girl attracts me. She’s calm, gentle, and carries herself with dignity—nothing like girls these days with all the noise and shamelessness.”
Another replied, “Honestly, I’ve liked this girl for a long time, but I can’t even approach her. She has a kind of presence that scares me.”
She arrived at Abdullahi bin Mas’ud School, went straight to her class, and found her classmates seated with Qur’ans in front of them. She joined her two friends, Basira and Rahama, greeted them, and sat down. Mallam Ali came in, distributed Qur’ans, and they began recitation from Suratul Yasin. After one page, he told them the rest would continue the next day and went out for break. Later, they had Hadith and Tauhid lessons.
After school, Kairiyya and her friends came out to the roadside. Rahama said, “Tomorrow we have English and Maths.” They agreed to share a tricycle ride to the old market.
Kairiyya’s Background and a Love Story
The tricycle dropped them at the old market. Each paid ₦150 and went their separate ways. Kairiyya entered her family home—a modest but neat house with two bedrooms, a parlour, a kitchen, and a tiled bathroom outside. She greeted her parents and was welcomed warmly. Her aunt asked her to freshen up and eat since she must be tired from the heat.
She bathed, prayed Zuhr, changed into a light gown, and ate. She took a bottle of zobo from the fridge with permission, then her mother asked her to prepare food for school the next day. As she walked out to deliver food on an errand, she wondered quietly why her mother didn’t show her as much affection as she noticed in other families.
Kairiyya’s parents were originally from Yobe State. Her father, Mallam Aminu, was a native of Gashaka under Potiskum Local Government. He completed his education, learned Islamic knowledge early, and later became a trader selling appliances like fridges and irons. Her mother, Falmata, was of Kanuri and Fulani descent. They married out of love and were blessed with a daughter, Lubabatu (Luba).
One day, Aminu met Luba while selling a fridge. Their conversation was simple but warm, and over time affection grew. Eventually, Aminu sent elders to ask for Luba’s hand in marriage. The proposal was accepted, and after some months, their wedding was held. Luba moved into Aminu’s house at the old market in Potiskum, and they lived happily.
Two years later, Allah blessed them with a daughter, Fatima, whom they fondly called Kairiyya. Aminu adored her openly, while her mother loved her deeply but shyly. More children followed—twins Hassan and Husain, then Nabil and Shukura. Later, Aminu married a second wife, who also loved Kairiyya dearly and had twins, Shahid and Shahida. The children grew up close and affectionate.
Kairiyya grew into a calm, respectful, and beautiful girl—fair-complexioned with delicate features, expressive eyes, and shoulder-length black hair. She was well-mannered, avoided trouble, and focused on her studies. Her father enrolled her in a private school, Abdullahi bin Mas’ud English & Arabic School. She had completed primary school and was now in SS1, attending school from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
One day, after returning early, she prepared food and went out again to deliver it—this time to Mama Balki, her mother’s friend from the time they bought a fridge for her wedding. She received the package politely and continued on her way.
Description
A Morning Routine and a Quiet School Life
“Won’t you come out? You’ll be late,” came a voice from inside.
“I’m coming,” she replied as she picked up her bag. A young girl stepped out of the room wearing a clean white uniform—well ironed blouse and skirt, with a hijab neatly covering her head. She squatted respectfully and said, “Mama, I’m leaving.”
Her mother replied, “Go to your father’s room and greet him before you go.”
“Okay,” she answered.
She headed to her father’s room, greeted him politely, and he offered her transport money. She thanked him, took it, and left the house. It was about 7:30 a.m.
Walking toward the main road, her bag hanging from her shoulder, she passed some young men who couldn’t help but stare. One of them said to the other, “My friend, this girl attracts me. She’s calm, gentle, and carries herself with dignity—nothing like girls these days with all the noise and shamelessness.”
Another replied, “Honestly, I’ve liked this girl for a long time, but I can’t even approach her. She has a kind of presence that scares me.”
She arrived at Abdullahi bin Mas’ud School, went straight to her class, and found her classmates seated with Qur’ans in front of them. She joined her two friends, Basira and Rahama, greeted them, and sat down. Mallam Ali came in, distributed Qur’ans, and they began recitation from Suratul Yasin. After one page, he told them the rest would continue the next day and went out for break. Later, they had Hadith and Tauhid lessons.
After school, Kairiyya and her friends came out to the roadside. Rahama said, “Tomorrow we have English and Maths.” They agreed to share a tricycle ride to the old market.
Kairiyya’s Background and a Love Story
The tricycle dropped them at the old market. Each paid ₦150 and went their separate ways. Kairiyya entered her family home—a modest but neat house with two bedrooms, a parlour, a kitchen, and a tiled bathroom outside. She greeted her parents and was welcomed warmly. Her aunt asked her to freshen up and eat since she must be tired from the heat.
She bathed, prayed Zuhr, changed into a light gown, and ate. She took a bottle of zobo from the fridge with permission, then her mother asked her to prepare food for school the next day. As she walked out to deliver food on an errand, she wondered quietly why her mother didn’t show her as much affection as she noticed in other families.
Kairiyya’s parents were originally from Yobe State. Her father, Mallam Aminu, was a native of Gashaka under Potiskum Local Government. He completed his education, learned Islamic knowledge early, and later became a trader selling appliances like fridges and irons. Her mother, Falmata, was of Kanuri and Fulani descent. They married out of love and were blessed with a daughter, Lubabatu (Luba).
One day, Aminu met Luba while selling a fridge. Their conversation was simple but warm, and over time affection grew. Eventually, Aminu sent elders to ask for Luba’s hand in marriage. The proposal was accepted, and after some months, their wedding was held. Luba moved into Aminu’s house at the old market in Potiskum, and they lived happily.
Two years later, Allah blessed them with a daughter, Fatima, whom they fondly called Kairiyya. Aminu adored her openly, while her mother loved her deeply but shyly. More children followed—twins Hassan and Husain, then Nabil and Shukura. Later, Aminu married a second wife, who also loved Kairiyya dearly and had twins, Shahid and Shahida. The children grew up close and affectionate.
Kairiyya grew into a calm, respectful, and beautiful girl—fair-complexioned with delicate features, expressive eyes, and shoulder-length black hair. She was well-mannered, avoided trouble, and focused on her studies. Her father enrolled her in a private school, Abdullahi bin Mas’ud English & Arabic School. She had completed primary school and was now in SS1, attending school from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
One day, after returning early, she prepared food and went out again to deliver it—this time to Mama Balki, her mother’s friend from the time they bought a fridge for her wedding. She received the package politely and continued on her way.