The day I almost lost everything to a fake supplier from Cotonou

I was in Onitsha last month, trying to restock my phone accessories. A guy I met at the market, he claimed he had direct connection from China, cheaper than anything in Lagos. The price was too sweet, I knew it in my spirit. But greed made me ignore the warning.

I paid him ₦1.2 million cash, my entire working capital. He said delivery in three days. Four days passed, nothing. His phone started ringing off. I traced his address to a compound in Nkpor, the place was empty. My heart sank into my stomach. I called my uncle who is a mechanic at Onitsha headbridge, he helped me track the man through his motorboy. We found him at a beer parlor in Ogbunike, spending my money on Heineken and women.

I got back ₦800,000 after threatening to involve the police. The lesson? Trust is good but verification is better. Now I only deal with suppliers I can physically visit. If the margin looks supernatural, something is probably demonic. Aba taught me hustle, but Onitsha taught me caution. God saved me that day.