Growing up, we lived in a fairly comfortable duplex with a big compound, tall fence, and a proper gate. To everyone around, our house looked secure — the kind of place you’d feel safe in. But there was one night that shook that belief and left a mark on me forever.
It was just an ordinary evening. My mum, one of my senior sisters, and I were the only ones at home. We were in the parlour watching a movie, completely relaxed, with no idea that something terrible was already unfolding right inside our home.
While we were glued to the screen, a thief had managed to sneak into the house through the kitchen door. We didn’t even hear a sound. All our phones were charging in the kitchen, and he packed every single one of them without us noticing. Then, before we knew what was happening, he appeared right in front of us with a small gun in his hand and calmly said, "All of you, face the ground."
I was shocked. I froze instantly because I had never experienced something like that in my life. The part that scared me the most was that he wasn’t even wearing a mask. He had his real face out, like someone who didn’t care about being recognized. That made everything feel even more real — more dangerous. Despite the fear, I kept raising my head slightly to look at him, and at one point, he looked straight at me and said, “Fine boy, drop your head. I didn’t come for you.”
Those words made me more scared. What did he mean? Who exactly did he come for? The next few seconds felt like a nightmare. He dragged my sister to a corner of the parlour, and it became clear he was trying to rape her. My mum immediately started praying — calling on God with all her strength. I can never forget the sound of her voice that night. And by some miracle, it worked. He didn’t go through with it. Till today, I believe it was those prayers that saved her.
But the nightmare wasn’t over. He pointed the gun at my mum and took her upstairs. She had some money saved — about fifty thousand naira — and he took all of it. After that, he just left quietly.
After a while, when we felt he was really gone, we stepped outside. We were too scared to sleep in that house. But then we noticed something even more confusing — the gate was still locked. That raised so many questions. How did he get in? How did he leave? We still don’t know till today.
Eventually, we opened the gate and went to sleep at our neighbor’s house. It was the only place we felt even a little safe that night. Nobody slept properly. We were all shaken and scared.
That experience was terrifying. It taught me that sometimes, danger can find you even in the places you consider the safest. But more than anything, I’m just grateful — grateful that we all made it out alive, and especially that my sister wasn’t harmed any further. That night will always remain one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.