The Tale of Walida: A Heartfelt Account

Walida, a young woman originating from the Hadejia Local Government Area in Jigawa State, recently recounted her experiences during an exclusive interview with Weekend Trust at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

When asked to introduce herself, she revealed her full name as Walida Abdullahi.

In response to inquiries about her age, Walida stated, "I am 22 years old." When asked about her origin, she confirmed she is from Jigawa State.

Concerning her local government, she specified Hadejia, and more precisely, the area of Anku.

In regards to her education status prior to recent events, Walida confirmed that she was indeed attending school, specifically named Papagoma High Institute.

Regarding her grade level, she noted, "I was in Senior Secondary School 2."

She also mentioned that she left home in the year 2023, and when asked why, Walida recounted an encounter that changed her life. "One day in Anku, while on my way to fetch water, I met a woman named Mariam. She invited me to follow her, and brought me to a house where I met four other individuals, with me being the fifth. Later, another woman joined us, bringing our total to six. One day, I fell ill, and Mariam arranged for a doctor who diagnosed me with malaria. On his advice, Mariam took me to her place in Gandu for proper care."

When asked if Hadejia was the place where she was relocated, she affirmed, "No, it was not there."

Walida could not recall the name of the town she was taken to, stating, "I don’t know."

She confirmed that she traveled by car and described it as a long journey. When queried if Mariam had blindfolded her, she denied it.

Before their initial meeting that day, she revealed she had not met Mariam before, and when pressed about why she decided to accompany her, she admitted, "I don’t know why..." on the decision to follow someone she had never met.

Recollections from the first house they stayed at were vague for her. "There were many other people there, but six of us shared a room, all females," she responded when asked what transpired there.

When probed about her activities during her stay there, she noted, "We weren’t doing anything significant. Mariam wasn’t responsible for our meals; another woman brought the food. Occasionally, visitors would come to see us."

In speaking about the visitors, she revealed they made attempts at intimacy, confirming their actions.

When asked if she was compensated for her presence there, she replied, "No," indicating a lack of involvement in financial transactions.

Later, when Mariam took her to her own home, Walida was subjected to mistreatment by Mariam's husband, Abdullahi Isiyaku, and his other wife, Fatima. They would beat her, and Mariam falsely claimed Walida was her daughter and renamed her Chinasa.

Questioned about Mariam's faith, she stated, "Mariam is not a Muslim, but her co-wife is." Eventually, Mariam instructed Walida to flee. On her escape, she encountered a soldier who took her back to her captors, resulting in further punishment and confinement in a car to Abuja.

Upon her arrival in Abuja, Walida recounted that she was taken to another female-dominated house where she was secluded. She remained there for an extended period with limited understanding of her surroundings.

Walida's breakthrough occurred shortly before Easter in 2024. She managed to evade her captors and met a sympathetic tricycle rider who helped her access a main street, eventually leading her to a market where she connected with Sir Rochy from Kaduna, who offered her food and shelter.

As events unfolded, she later met Ifeanyi, a DSS operative, who assisted her financially and provided a path for her to reconnect with her family.

Undergoing significant distress, Walida finally reached out to her father, Abdullahi, after realizing the gravity of her situation. Their emotional reunion unfolded when her father sent someone to fetch her, confirming that he had been searching for her all along.

As the discussions continued, her family dynamics unfolded, revealing a complicated past involving her parents and their separation. Walida expressed her aversion to returning to them, precisely due to unresolved tensions.

In her closing remarks, she expressed a desire to remain with Ifeanyi, affirming, "I just want to live with Ifeanyi. I love him, and I wish to go back to him," highlighting her determination to maintain her autonomy amidst a challenging situation.