It's no news that the popular Tombia junction in Yenagoa has been famous for being a hideout for hoodlums and a den of thieves in the past few years: I've been personally blocked on two occasions, but luckily, I managed to escape both encounters without sustaining an injury or parting away with a property -- an experience you could give up your savings for not to encounter twice or more. Also, the famous junction is a habitat for fraudsters and I stressfully ran into one yesterday.
I had gladly supplied a bottle of pure honey to a customer at
Ekeki Park, and then calmly visited Studio Timeless to capture some moment.
Afterwards, I peacefully returned to the ''wrong junction'' as I desired to
journey back to the Wilberforce Island after a somewhat stressful Easter Sunday
at the Camp Ground. On boarding a bus, I noticed I was N 50 short of the
transportation fare. Left with no other choice, I had to withdraw the sum of N500
only, against my wish to complete the transportation fare. It was at the NDU Park
beside former Perry Rich, now Phone Plaza. I quickly approached the nearest POS
in front of the phone plaza closest to the park where I met a chubby dark
skinned lady who attended to me promptly.
I gave her my card and in a few seconds I was asked to enter my
pin to confirm transaction as usual. I did as expected, then piam she dished out a 500 naira note
from the very many notes in her hand. She then tore a receipt out of her
machine and handed it over to me. Guess what? I flung the receipt to the floor
with confidence, inbuilt trust and satisfaction for a job well-done. In fact, I
appreciated her for taking just 50 naira from my 500 naira transaction as she
claimed her charge was supposed to be 100 naira, though I usually withdraw even
1,000 naira with just 50 naira charge in Ogobiri and Amassoma.
I then joined the bus without any form of worry and graciously
journeyed to my desired destination with my phone down all through the
transaction process. Minutes later, I got home. My nap was my biggest
anticipation even as I made efforts to power my phone before catching cruise in
a wonder land. Thankfully, there was power supply. After connecting the phone
to a charger, I immediately put it on so I could dive my bed in peace. Before I
could do so, a pop up text was my next priority as I received an alert of N5000
instead of N500. I opened wide my already dozing eyes, but I almost
doubted the duo even though they're not known for showing me mirage. Sleep took
to its heels and my irresistible nap scampered for safety: a thought just came
to mind, ''so the bottle of honey wey I go supply na pesin don kpablize am
without stress plus jara ontop''. I used to also concur that ''fast guy no bi
thief'', it immediately dawned on me as I suddenly realized that "fast guy
na the biggest thief''.
I quickly approached my wall hanger for a light T-shirt but
couldn't be patient enough to get one carefully selected. I got a native dress
instead and was already in it the next second. I then zoomed off to the park in
seconds, 'Flash dey learn.' Just the feeling that I was scammed not by a
ravaging yahoo boy online but an innocent looking POS lady was enough challenge
to go through the stress worthwhile. I imagined all sort of approach I could
use but then a thought crept in urgently ''what if she says she gave you N5000
instead, what's your evidence against her?''.I became sad at the moment but
then, how man go do? Make I go try luck na. Subconsciously, I muttered words of
prayer for a peaceful and successful outing.
On getting to the busy junction and even before alighting from
the taxi, I was stretching from a distance to know if she had already closed
for the day. Fortunately she was still sitting at the spot the transaction took
place. With some relief, I walked confidently towards her kiosk with my
sun-shade covering my eyes but not the obvious anger in them: I was fast and
furious. Her reaction on seeing me was an affirmation that she knew the game
she played. There was this cool smile she tried to hide, but it kept throwing
her off balance. I got to her desk, stared at her for quite some seconds as she
kept smiling uncontrollably. My first words were: ''you know say you don stress
me well well?'' she was like, ''how can I help you?'' I tried my best to be
calm, I knew that's what bae would do (calming me down) if she was with me of
course.
''How much I withdraw from you?'' I pressed on. ''I can't even
remember'' she feigned ignorance. I couldn't keep beating around the bush at
the juncture. ''I withdraw N500 naira from you, you withdraw N5000 gimme N500''. ''5,000?''
She continued acting strange. I looked around and the receipt I had carelessly thrown
away was just on the floor patiently waiting for me. ''Make I see the alert''
she requested. I gave her my phone as she requested. She brought a particular
receipt she'd kept distinctly and started making cross-checks: a cheap trick to
deceive me though I was far from being carried away.
"Na Master card?'' She asked awkwardly. I brought out my
card, while she kept making fake comparisons cross checking her receipt and my
card. ''Em na true o, no vex''. ''You don make me pay transport from Ogobiri
come back here when I suppose to dey sleep.'' ''Haah! No vex o'' but the smile
on her face keep proving her guilty. She
brought out some notes to make a refund but I instructed her to pay the money
into my account instead. ''Em, you go need to pay for that one o''
Na so I change am for her instanter as I hear the rubsish wey
she vomit from her mouth. ''Na because I no tell you to pay my transport
abi?'', the hard look on my face was easy enough for her to know that I was
angry. At this juncture, if a crowd should gather it would obviously be to her
detriment.
''Your account number'', she requested also avoiding an
escalation of the matter because the drama for shock her. ''Na 4.5k I go give
you na'', in my mind I said, 'NO na five naira. At the spot, I got a refund
credit alert, I opened my eyes and counted the digits very well. I then collected
both receipts (debit & credit) and left without answering her fake
apologies.
Straight away, I took a keke to dad's place, and relaxed for
sometime before plying the Wilberforce Island route at dusk. It was a lesson
learnt the hard way. On my way back I could only imagine if this had happened somewhere
far away or outside the state where the transportation fare was close to or
more than 5k, plus travelling stress. The story would've taken a different
dimension instead. There's need to be watchful in the slightest of transactions
we make with total strangers who may hardly be traced. In all, I am grateful I stayed put. Till we
get to the promised land: be watchful; for thou knowest not the hour temptation
shall come your way.
© [GOC] Ink