My mother called me at 11pm to ask if I have eaten, I said yes, she said 'prove it'

My mother called me at 11pm on Wednesday. I just finished packing stock for a morning dispatch to Onitsha. She said, 'Kola, you don eat?' I said yes, Mama, I ate rice and stew. She said, 'Prove it.'

I tell you, my heart sank. I started describing the rice. 'Mama, the rice was long grain, the stew had goat meat, there was plantain on the side.' She was quiet for five seconds. Then she said, 'Send me a picture of your plate. Empty plate.'

God is my witness, I washed a plate, put it under my kitchen light, and sent her a WhatsApp photo. She replied with three prayer emojis and 'Okay, my son. Sleep well.' Nigerian mothers have a spiritual surveillance system that puts the NSA to shame. No be small thing.