Story By: Stephanie Esiri

Mary has never really been lucky with guys. Emeka, Ebuka’s dad with whom she was separated had filed for a divorce 4 months earlier accusing her of infidelity; a crime she caught him in several times. What got her super confused was how Emeka twisted the story so well that everyone including family members and neighbour’s believed his side of the story.

Mary decided to focus her energy on loving and caring for her only child, Ebuka. Ebuka was the major reason Mary hadn’t lost her mind yet. He was the source of her Joy. Ebuka was 6 years old, very intelligent, understood his mum so well and loved her endlessly.

Mary was always very busy with her job at the bank but she tried her best to be there for her son as much as she could. Mary had a nanny who resumed at 6:30am and closed at 9pm. She was responsible for taking care of Ebuka in Mary’s absence.

One day, while Mary was preparing to leave for work, Ebuka rushed in…. “Mummy, Mummy… Aunty Nkiru told me to….” “Oh! Ebuka baby not now, Mummy is late. I’ll see you when I get back. I love you….” She said as she rushed out.

Mary rushed back home that evening hoping to make it up to Ebuka for running off on him earlier that morning with a cup of his favourite ice cream from Coldstone. On getting home, the place was as quiet as a graveyard. “Where did this people go?” she said out loud as she paced up and down the house.

After waiting anxiously for about an hour she decided to go out and ask the neighbors if they had seen Ebuka and the nanny. The neighbors replied, “oh yes! She tell us say she dey carry am go your office around 7 for morning. Some people from your office come with car come carry am.” “My office?”…she screamed “when? How?” She broke down in tears. “Where will I start from?” she asked herself. The nanny didn’t even have a phone.

The police arrived not long afterwards asking vital questions and they promised to work tirelessly until Ebuka was found.

1 week passed without a clue as to where Ebuka had been taken. Mary was gradually becoming a shadow of herself. While she sat thinking about how empty her life had been without Ebuka in the past few days, her phone rang. It was a private number. “Hello, who am I speaking with?” “It’s Emeka,” the caller replied. “I’m with our son and we are relocating to the U.S tomorrow, thought I should let you know.” “What???” She screamed, “Emeka, you dare not. I’ll hunt you down with the last drop of my blood.” While she was still speaking he hung up. She called the police immediately.

The police started investigation and caught up with Emeka right as he was entering the airport the next day. He was arrested by the police and charged for kidnap. “Mummy, Mummy I missed you,” Ebuka said as he ran to hug his mother. Mary couldn’t stop crying, she couldn’t imagine living without Ebuka. She hugged him really tight.

Mummy remember the morning you were rushing to work? I was about telling you the nanny told me someone was coming to take us out and that I shouldn’t tell you but you didn’t stay back to listen. Mary couldn’t believe her ears. I’m so sorry baby, I was wrong and I promise it will never happen again. I will always stay back to listen to whatever you have to say. You are my world and I love you she said as she pecked him, holding him very close still crying.

Lesson Learned: 1) Pay attention to your kids: their comments, behaviour etc.

2) Teach them safety tips for different emergency situations

Plan to attend the School Safety Summit by registering here https://tinyurl.com/kjmche7  to learn more.