It was a medium-sized room surrounded by expensive curtains, furnished with a large mattress, a side entertainment unit, and a single luxurious cushion. An elderly woman, not older than fifty-five, sat inside, resting her chin on her palm. She said, “Well, we will never tire of praying. May Allah grant her healing. Next month, everything should be fine, right?”
The young woman beside her smiled faintly. “That’s what the doctors said, In shaa Allah. But you know, man proposes, Allah disposes. This will be the last surgery they perform on her, if Allah wills. We only pray for success.”
Yakumbo replied, “In shaa Allah, it will be successful. That’s what we keep telling Allah every day. No one in the entire family has this kind of illness, so it’s not hereditary. Is it in yours?”
The woman laughed. “No, Yakumbo.”
Yakumbo nodded. “Alright. May Allah spare His servants from hardship, and may He grant you safe delivery. So, you’re going back to India for the surgery?”
The woman answered, “Ameen. Yes, we will go there.”
Yakumbo said, “In shaa Allah, this will be the end of the suffering.”
The woman added, “May Allah make it so.”
They both glanced at the clock. Yakumbo asked, “Are you sure your trip is still on for today, Amina? It’s been quiet, and Umar hasn’t come yet.”
Amina replied, “I even called him earlier but couldn’t reach him. I think he’s in a meeting. I’ve given up on seeing him today.”
Yakumbo said, “Better to wait until tomorrow evening. It’s not safe out there; the town has become dangerous, with diseases spreading everywhere.”
Warnings and Heedayah’s Disappearance
Yakumbo then said, “I heard Salihu’s wife is looking for you to quarrel. Don’t pay her any attention. She and her friend Asama’un envy you because they think you’re living better in your husband’s home, forgetting it’s Allah who blessed you. And I hear you hide your daughter from them?”
Amina responded, “That’s not true. You yourself know, Yakumbo, that since she was a child, Heedayah has hardly been brought out among people. She is always indoors with me, her caretaker, or her teacher. Even the neighbors hardly know her face. Sometimes guests come and leave without seeing her, so they think we hide her on purpose.”
Yakumbo said, “That’s actually better. You never know who might cast an evil eye. Your daughter’s safety comes first. So, she studies at home?”
Amina replied, “Yes, even her Islamic lessons.”
Yakumbo nodded approvingly. “Good. Let me check on her; it’s been too quiet. I hope those troublesome neighbor kids haven’t taken her outside.”
Amina quickly got up and looked into the courtyard. “Heedayah?” she called. No reply. The only things on the mat were her large doll, the comb she was using on its hair, and her cap—Heedayah herself was gone.
Yakumbo immediately stood up. “I knew it—those kids must have taken her. Their parents have raised nothing but troublemakers!”
Amina rushed out, wearing her hijab, with Yakumbo following, muttering, “Oh Allah, protect me! I hope they haven’t lured her to the river. She’s blind, and the devil could be using this visit to harm us.”
The search quickly reached the neighbors’ huts, but when there was no sign of Heedayah, Amina’s worry turned into panic. A woman said she saw Heedayah heading toward the market with some girls—Hinde, Bibalo, and Fatu—about six of them, holding her hand. Yakumbo exclaimed, “Her father is in Abuja! If anything happens, he’ll have them all arrested. She’s only twelve, blind, and her mother is pregnant! Why take her to the market?”
The Kidnapping and Transport
The market road was known for thefts and abductions. Soon, the villagers split up and rushed toward it. Under a mango tree, about five young girls were picking mangoes while two others perched on the branches, dropping fruit into a small sack. Among them was a fair-skinned girl, clearly Fulani, with hair uncovered and white, milk-like eyes that hinted at her blindness—Heedayah. She was crouched, drinking juice from a mango while holding onto Fatu’s shirt.
Suddenly, a black vehicle pulled up. Two large men jumped out, sending the children running. Even those in the tree scrambled down and fled. Fatu yanked her shirt from Heedayah’s grip and ran. Heedayah, confused and frightened, dropped her mango and turned in circles. The men caught three of the children, then lifted Heedayah into the car. The driver sped off.
Inside, the children screamed, calling for their mothers. Heedayah cried, “Ammina!” One man in the back pulled out a gun, signaling for silence. The others trembled, but Heedayah kept crying until he grabbed her neck and threatened her. When he learned she was blind, he tied cloths over all their eyes and slapped her repeatedly for not keeping quiet. Finally, another man handed him a powder-filled bag, which he pressed to her face, making her collapse onto Ladi.
Meanwhile, Hinde and the escaped girls returned crying to report the kidnapping. Hearing this, Amina fainted in the arms of two women. Yakumbo wailed, “My life is over! What will I tell my brother?” Parents of the other abducted children joined in the crying and followed the men to the scene.
The kidnappers drove for about an hour before stopping near a forest. More dangerous-looking men emerged, and after a heated exchange about whether to keep or kill Heedayah, they decided to take her along since she was blind. Carrying her like an object, they vanished into the thorny forest as Maghrib approached…
Description
Inside the Room and Discussion About Illness
It was a medium-sized room surrounded by expensive curtains, furnished with a large mattress, a side entertainment unit, and a single luxurious cushion. An elderly woman, not older than fifty-five, sat inside, resting her chin on her palm. She said, “Well, we will never tire of praying. May Allah grant her healing. Next month, everything should be fine, right?”
The young woman beside her smiled faintly. “That’s what the doctors said, In shaa Allah. But you know, man proposes, Allah disposes. This will be the last surgery they perform on her, if Allah wills. We only pray for success.”
Yakumbo replied, “In shaa Allah, it will be successful. That’s what we keep telling Allah every day. No one in the entire family has this kind of illness, so it’s not hereditary. Is it in yours?”
The woman laughed. “No, Yakumbo.”
Yakumbo nodded. “Alright. May Allah spare His servants from hardship, and may He grant you safe delivery. So, you’re going back to India for the surgery?”
The woman answered, “Ameen. Yes, we will go there.”
Yakumbo said, “In shaa Allah, this will be the end of the suffering.”
The woman added, “May Allah make it so.”
They both glanced at the clock. Yakumbo asked, “Are you sure your trip is still on for today, Amina? It’s been quiet, and Umar hasn’t come yet.”
Amina replied, “I even called him earlier but couldn’t reach him. I think he’s in a meeting. I’ve given up on seeing him today.”
Yakumbo said, “Better to wait until tomorrow evening. It’s not safe out there; the town has become dangerous, with diseases spreading everywhere.”
Warnings and Heedayah’s Disappearance
Yakumbo then said, “I heard Salihu’s wife is looking for you to quarrel. Don’t pay her any attention. She and her friend Asama’un envy you because they think you’re living better in your husband’s home, forgetting it’s Allah who blessed you. And I hear you hide your daughter from them?”
Amina responded, “That’s not true. You yourself know, Yakumbo, that since she was a child, Heedayah has hardly been brought out among people. She is always indoors with me, her caretaker, or her teacher. Even the neighbors hardly know her face. Sometimes guests come and leave without seeing her, so they think we hide her on purpose.”
Yakumbo said, “That’s actually better. You never know who might cast an evil eye. Your daughter’s safety comes first. So, she studies at home?”
Amina replied, “Yes, even her Islamic lessons.”
Yakumbo nodded approvingly. “Good. Let me check on her; it’s been too quiet. I hope those troublesome neighbor kids haven’t taken her outside.”
Amina quickly got up and looked into the courtyard. “Heedayah?” she called. No reply. The only things on the mat were her large doll, the comb she was using on its hair, and her cap—Heedayah herself was gone.
Yakumbo immediately stood up. “I knew it—those kids must have taken her. Their parents have raised nothing but troublemakers!”
Amina rushed out, wearing her hijab, with Yakumbo following, muttering, “Oh Allah, protect me! I hope they haven’t lured her to the river. She’s blind, and the devil could be using this visit to harm us.”
The search quickly reached the neighbors’ huts, but when there was no sign of Heedayah, Amina’s worry turned into panic. A woman said she saw Heedayah heading toward the market with some girls—Hinde, Bibalo, and Fatu—about six of them, holding her hand. Yakumbo exclaimed, “Her father is in Abuja! If anything happens, he’ll have them all arrested. She’s only twelve, blind, and her mother is pregnant! Why take her to the market?”
The Kidnapping and Transport
The market road was known for thefts and abductions. Soon, the villagers split up and rushed toward it. Under a mango tree, about five young girls were picking mangoes while two others perched on the branches, dropping fruit into a small sack. Among them was a fair-skinned girl, clearly Fulani, with hair uncovered and white, milk-like eyes that hinted at her blindness—Heedayah. She was crouched, drinking juice from a mango while holding onto Fatu’s shirt.
Suddenly, a black vehicle pulled up. Two large men jumped out, sending the children running. Even those in the tree scrambled down and fled. Fatu yanked her shirt from Heedayah’s grip and ran. Heedayah, confused and frightened, dropped her mango and turned in circles. The men caught three of the children, then lifted Heedayah into the car. The driver sped off.
Inside, the children screamed, calling for their mothers. Heedayah cried, “Ammina!” One man in the back pulled out a gun, signaling for silence. The others trembled, but Heedayah kept crying until he grabbed her neck and threatened her. When he learned she was blind, he tied cloths over all their eyes and slapped her repeatedly for not keeping quiet. Finally, another man handed him a powder-filled bag, which he pressed to her face, making her collapse onto Ladi.
Meanwhile, Hinde and the escaped girls returned crying to report the kidnapping. Hearing this, Amina fainted in the arms of two women. Yakumbo wailed, “My life is over! What will I tell my brother?” Parents of the other abducted children joined in the crying and followed the men to the scene.
The kidnappers drove for about an hour before stopping near a forest. More dangerous-looking men emerged, and after a heated exchange about whether to keep or kill Heedayah, they decided to take her along since she was blind. Carrying her like an object, they vanished into the thorny forest as Maghrib approached…