The night my own apprentice set my shop on fire

Two years ago, during harmattan. I close my shop at Agege Market around 7pm. Everything normal. Next morning, I get call from my neighbor Iya Kemi. She dey shout say my shop dey smoke.

I run go market. My heart dey beat me. When I reach, fire don burn half of my goods. Maggi, sugar, rice, detergent. All gone. Goods wey cost me over ₦500,000 finish.

Fire service come. They say na electrical spark. But I know my shop wiring. That thing dey fine.

Later, my friend's son who dey sell phone accessories tell me say he see Chidi, my apprentice, dey leave my shop around 2am that night. Chidi wey I feed like my own pikin. Chidi wey I teach everything about trade.

I confront am. At first he deny. Then he break down. Say he don dey steal my money small small for months. The fire na to hide evidence. He carry candle and try make am look like accident.

Oluwa o! The pain no be the money. The pain na the betrayal. I trust this boy. I give am chance when nobody want am. And he turn around do this to me.

I report to the market union. Dem beat am and chase am from Agege. I hear say he don go Benin now.

That day teach me say trust no be by force. You fit do good for person but if heart no good, nothing fit change am. I still dey help people but I no dey open my eyes close again. 🙏