Stephen Okon @thestephen

A few weeks ago, someone called me about a piece of land for sale. The deal sounded great, and when I asked where it was, I was surprised to hear it was near my village. The idea of owning land close to home seemed perfect, so I decided to check it out for myself.

About a week later, I met up with the agent to survey the land. He assured me that all the documents were ready and said once I paid, everything would be handed over, and I’d legally own the land. At the time, everything seemed legit. I didn’t question it too much and told him I’d get back to him in a week.

A few days later, I was out with my brother and casually mentioned my plan to buy the land. Curious, he asked for the location. When we went there together, he recognized the place immediately. He told me the land belonged to an elderly man who hadn’t said anything about selling it.

It was a shocking realization. I couldn’t believe someone would go so far to take advantage of my lack of knowledge. If my brother hadn’t stepped in, I might have lost my money on a piece of land that wasn’t even for sale.
That experience taught me a hard lesson: always double-check and never take things at face value, especially when it comes to property. Scammers are out there, and they’re ready to exploit anyone who doesn’t know better.

Last Sunday, we held our end-of-year thanksgiving service, and it was truly a special day. Church members were asked to bring gifts to exchange at the end of the service, which added a sense of community and joy to the occasion. The atmosphere was warm and festive, filled with the spirit of gratitude and togetherness as we thanked God for the blessings of the year.

The service had a wonderful Christmas song that filled everyone with joy and excitement for the season. The acapella group sang beautifully without any instruments, and their voices really showed how talented our church members are. There was also a lively dance session that got people clapping, smiling, and moving along in their seats. But the most important part was the sermon, which reminded us why we celebrate Christmas in the first place; to honor Jesus Christ. We were reminded that while the decorations and fun are great, His life and sacrifice are the real reason for the season.

After the spiritual part of the service, we shared a meal together. There was plenty of food for everyone, and it felt like one big family gathering. We also had a fun and engaging talk show where people shared their testimonies, thoughts. We closed the service with joy as sweets were thrown into the air, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces, especially the children.

Most nights when I come home late, I like to stop at my favorite spot to buy some fruits, and sometimes, akamu. It’s become a small tradition that helps me unwind after a long day. Tonight was no different except I didn’t have enough cash on me. After bargaining for the fruits I wanted, I walked over to a nearby POS vendor to withdraw money.

While I was at the POS stand, struggling with the usual poor bank network, I heard a loud crash. Turning around, I saw that a reckless tricycle driver had crashed right into the fruit shop. The worst part? He didn’t even stop to apologize or help. He sped off like nothing happened. Fruits, my package, and the shop owner’s goods were scattered across the road.

It was heartbreaking to see. People who witnessed the scene immediately jumped in to help her pick up whatever they could. The fruit seller looked overwhelmed, almost defeated. I couldn’t help but think how unfair life can be, especially in these hard times when every kobo matters. Watching her losses spread across the road felt like watching a piece of her hard work crumble.

I felt so bad for her. All I could do was add a little extra money to what I owed, hoping it would help soften the blow, even if just a bit. She managed a tired smile as she thanked me, but I could tell she was still broken.

When I stayed at my friend’s family house for two weeks to handle a small business, I noticed something odd in their compound: their chickens were infested with lice. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but within a few days, I realized how serious it was. The lice would crawl through the feathers of the chickens and sometimes end up on people's clothes or bodies. It was so irritating to see, and I began to worry they might get into my hair.

Surprisingly, even though I spent so much time there, I never got infested. I was careful not to touch the chickens or sit too close to them, but the fear of waking up with itchy hair still haunted me daily. My friend’s family joked that maybe I had "special immunity," but honestly, I think it was pure grace or maybe their constant cleaning helped a bit.

The family later decided the best solution was to get rid of the chickens entirely. They explained that lice infestations are common for people who rear chickens, especially if the birds are free-range and mix with others from less hygienic environments. It wasn’t an easy decision for them because the chickens were a source of income, but the infestation was becoming unbearable.

By the time I left, the chickens were gone, and the family started working on thoroughly cleaning the area to ensure the lice didn’t spread further.