Abbas Yushau Yusuf
Abubakar Adam, a 25-year-old car washer from Kano in northwestern Nigeria, shared his harrowing tale of a four-month journey in pursuit of a brighter future through Italy via Algeria. However, his aspirations were met with unexpected challenges, leading to an abrupt end to his journey due to stigmatization encountered in Niger.
In an exclusive interview with NIGERIAN TRACKER, Adam recounted his ordeal, shedding light on the trials faced by migrants seeking economic opportunities abroad.
Adam, driven by a desire to alleviate the financial strain on his aging and less privileged parents, made the decision to embark on the journey after learning of people venturing to Algeria for employment prospects.
The journey is challenging,” Adam admitted, reflecting on the unforeseen difficulties encountered along the way.
Departing from Nigeria, Adam and his companions ventured to Zinder, Niger Republic , with hopes of finding employment opportunities perceived to be more favorable than those in their home country.
However, their journey was fraught with obstacles from the outset, as they encountered bureaucratic hurdles at the Nigeria-Niger border, where entry required the purchase of entry cards.
Facing extortion and hostility from Niger immigration officials, Adam and his companions were left stranded at Zinder station, uncertain of their next steps.
Despite encountering setbacks and betrayals from alleged sponsors, Adam remained determined to press on with his journey, driven by the hope of a better future for himself and his family.
Their resilience, however, was met with further challenges as they faced rejection and mistreatment at the hands of immigration officials in Niger.
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Forced to endure physical discomfort and humiliation, they resorted to desperate measures, including bribery, to secure passage.
Upon reaching Agadas, their intended destination, Adam and his companions found themselves disillusioned and betrayed by false promises made by their alleged sponsors.
Despite their efforts to find employment and support themselves financially, they were met with disappointment and hardship, ultimately leading to their decision to return home to Kano.
He continued as follows
“One day, we had to return due to our parents’ condition. Our sister’s husband claimed he would secure the funds to take us to Algeria. The 350 thousand Naira was sent to him, as he was in Algeria. My mother sold her goat for 20 thousand Naira and gave it to me, just as my friend’s mother did for him.
We were taken to Mataimai, close to Kwangwalam in Niger. We spent three days there. Her husband called our parents, stating he would host us at Agadas bus station and take us to Algeria within three days. He did this to encourage our parents to send him money.
During our three days in Mataimai, she arranged for a car belonging to her husband’s friend. We embarked on a journey at Bakin Burji in Zinder. Upon alighting from the vehicle without a card, the Niger immigration directed us to enter a room. They threatened to report us back to Nigeria, citing political conflicts between the leaders.
We replied to them that the fight is not between us, the masses, but between the political leaders of Niger and Nigeria. One of the immigration officers threatened to beat us.
We begged them to allow us to pass. They said they would never do so unless we found something to settle them. We searched for a “jaka,” which costs 5 sepa, equivalent to 10 thousand Nigerian money.
They did not even look at us when we begged them. The Niger immigration officers refused to listen to us. We then rented a “Jaka Ashirin,” equivalent to 40 thousand Nigerian currency, from our sister because her husband assured us that upon landing, we would find a job.
We later handed over 20 thousand Naira to the Niger immigration officers, equivalent to Nigerian currency. They were supposed to provide us with a gate pass that would allow us to pass through everywhere. Instead, they started beating us and instructed us to enter our car.
Upon entering the car, other passengers warned us that as Nigerians, we needed to be very careful because we were becoming unpopular in the Niger Republic. Most of the passengers, who were Nigeriens, advised our driver to board us onto a sheep and animal lorry since the Niger immigration officers refused to provide them with the card. They feared we would face the same mistreatment as we experienced at the previous gate.
We later boarded a trailer carrying sheep and rams, continuing our journey on it from Zinder to Agadas. We spent a whole day traveling.
At every gate where there was immigration, we had to lie down and allow the sheep and rams to step on us. Sometimes, the animals excreted over our bodies. We endured this for four days without praying or taking a bath for two weeks. Wherever we went, we had to beg for food to eat.
When we finally arrived at Agadas, we had 50 sepas. We bought a local food made from millet for 50 sepa, and we ate it.
When we landed at Agadas, we learned that our sister’s husband had lied to us. He didn’t know anybody in Agadas; we only met one of his sisters there. We were hosted in one shop, and every day we went out looking for menial jobs without earning a single Kobo.
We continued phoning our sister’s husband, who had taken our 350 thousand Naira in anticipation of sending us some amount, but he refused.
Our aunt sold all her possessions and sent the proceeds to my brother, who went to Mali because he was tired of what was happening. He planned to start digging for gold there.
When he went to Mali, he started smuggling, and sometimes they were pursued and shot at, so they stopped. Meanwhile, he left us in Agadas. Later, he went to Jado, and we are totally disconnected from him; up to now, we don’t know where he is.
The guy whose shop we were staying in Agadas is tired of us; we have exhausted all his food stocks.
We looked for unskilled labor jobs, and in one month, we earned 40 thousand Naira.
We advised ourselves to return home to Kano, Nigeria because our parents didn’t know about our condition.
We decided to return home to Kano without informing our alleged sponsor. We boarded a car, made our way back to Zinder, and faced no challenges on the journey back. From Zinder, we arrived at Kofar Ruwa Bus station in Kano, concluding our four-month journey without reaching Algeria or Italy.
When we returned, our mother started crying when she saw the three of us. She asked about our brother who went to Mali, and when we said we couldn’t find him, she began to cry.
Up until now, the whereabouts of our brothers are unknown. As I am speaking to you, said Abubakar, who came back to Nigeria last February 2024.”
Reflecting on his experience, Adam issued a cautionary message to fellow youths contemplating migration, urging them to exercise caution and pursue opportunities with diligence.
As the issue of labour migration continues to be a pressing concern in Nigeria, Adam’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the perils and challenges faced by those seeking better opportunities abroad. Despite the hardships endured, Adam remains hopeful for a brighter future, advocating for informed decision-making and perseverance in the pursuit of one’s dreams.
