joyberry:
On 12th December 2009, when I walked into the palour ,from a short nap in the room, only to find my elder sister dead body on the chair.For a while, i thought she was sleeping, but the posture of her body made me suspicious. I tried waking her up to no avail,i stayed with her dead body till Mumsy came back,cos i didnt know what else to do. I was just 14 then and it left a psychological scar on me.The first time I saw a dead body of one close to me.

im so sorry, so sorry, this just weakened my spirit

Theonlycoolmonk:


Just a thought since you are in the media business maybe you can help to get him share is story with the world. I don't know how things work in the media industry and what you guys consider news worthy but to an untrained eyes like mine I think it is worth given a try.

Well it all depends on him and if he would like to share it since it's news worthy. You have to respect one's privacy.

My brother gaby, this your story will be the next best seller if put in writing, it will be read all over the globe.
And i bet you with this experience you will be granting interviews with the likes of CNN and BBC. Go ahead guy, i cant wait to read this book.

gaby:

The last piece just completely broke me this Sunday morning.

You can imagine the tit bits i've been sharing here which isn't even 10% of the story of my life,then you'd understand why i haven't been able to share before now especially on one-on-ones. Who wan siddon dey listen to my long epilogue and even believe me.
Will just take a break for now.

am gonna share two days of my life.

06/11/2013
woke up that morning said my greetings to all at home,my bro got prepped to go take his medications at the hospital before leaving with my mum he said "sir Vic make I reach hospital we go see when I come back"
I walked him up to the car outside,he got in and the car left,waited till evening my elder sister came home took some stuffs to the hospital,i got a call by 10pm saying my bro was no more,i cried my eyes out. where ever you are bro,i miss you.

XaintJoel20:


You did not finish this story.

Nothing much happened afterwards,she came down dressed up,offered me juice and cake,had little chit chat and stuff while we watched "legends of the fall" together,the only problem was my boner wouldn't just go away,i had a hard on till my parents got back.

After that experience,i dreamed of her for weeks I was always nervous about going to her place eventhough I always wanted to visit and it was never awkward between us,whenever we saw each other we exchanged greetings and move on

gaby:

Sure i did after two years owing largely to not having anyone abroad to send me money unlike most of my co-travellers who had left me behind and already settled in Spain and other countries.But i had refused to wallow in self pity during my stay in Morocco as i had picked up myself when i ran into someone i had lent 200$ along the way and we had gotten separated at a point.Dude got into Rabat and never cared to look out for me to fulfil his promise of repaying me.
So i mentioned to some of my hungry and angry lion pals that i've got 200$ somewhere with someone who's in town but avoiding me,everyone was like say what? And we are here stranded and starving?With no mercy we mobilized one beautiful morning with battle axes and swords to boot and traced Mr's ghetto where we found him with the group of girls he was trafficking to his sister up town.
We held everyone in the lodge to ransom after enough slaps on the Target. At a point the humane part of me kicked in as usual and i could no longer stand the smack down ans started pleading on the targets behalf but my mercenaries turned on me and proceeded to force him to call his sister who was made sure to listen to the slaps been rained on her brother.She immediately ran to a western union office to remit plus extra for the boys.
Within 1 hour i got 200$ which i split in two- one part plus extra for mercenaries who could seize it all from me if they so wished but knowing how i'm Mr cool and all i've been through i was allowed to keep my 100$.
After the hit and the boys had proceeded to get their supply of hasjes for the day,i moved from the target location and headed into the city center to see what i can do with my latest life-line.
At this point i needn't a soothsayer to have told me i'll be in Rabat for a long haul and to survive until Miracle happens i decided i was going to spend my lifeline getting at least 2 hair clippers and see how i'd float a salon however and wherever.
So i bought the 2 clippers and a cover cloth got home and showed to pals who with their bushy hairs made me clean them all up for free ofcourse.
Now i needed to get a space to start working,renting a shop was completely out of it as you can imagine. So i remembered there was this teleboutique where we usually go slot in coins to make calls, i approached papa the owner and pleaded he allowed me a space at a corner in front of his shop to my amazement papa was so happy and willing to give me space.
I needed a chair to sit potential customers while shaving them so i moved into the market close by where i found one of these wooden fruit boxes and moved it to my new space.I'd sit on or stand beside my wooden box office while canvassing for customers and boy,i didn't even need much canvassing not with all the destitute like fellows tripping into Rabat on a daily unkempt and haggard looking after many months in the desert.
In no time my lil space had turned into a meeting point for all immigrants and i had gotten a boy who pleaded to work with me.(Dude is a recording artiste based in Norway now). He became my worker and in no time i had the 2 working for me while they make returns at the end of each day.
So i managed until i started a mini bureau de change where i'd sneak into town to buy Pesetas (this was before the introduction of euros) on the cheap and proceed to sell at a mark up to those lucky enough with helpers and could afford the 1,200-1,500 $ cross over fee. As i no get who to help me na i jejely accept my fate become aboki wey dey change money and lend money.
I had become very comfortable and started losing steam on crossing over into spain at this time even though it wasn't easy saving from my business to make up the cross over fee which was also most of the times a gamble as you could lose it all in flash if anything goes wrong as it often times did.

Hard knock life it is..My story big oo and e long wella.

Your story sweet well.
Would make a good book.

I forgot to ask.
How did u communicate with the locals in Morocco?

schumastic:


I would say you were lucky and destined to make it. Yours is better since it was 10years back, compared d to the tales I have heard from migrants who returned last year till date, its really sad.

There is a tv program called talking migration, which we air in our media firm and that's how I get to know about all the above mentioned you talked about. Sometimes I shed tears when ever they recount their ordeal.

It was a bit easier to make the journey years back when there was no crisis in the middle east. The situation right now is so bad that they sale human beings as slaves to a fellow human. CNN had to cover it to let the world know what is really going on in Libya and other north African countries.

almost 20 years ago bro..1998/99

Your story makes for an interesting read, thank God for your life, I am sure you are doing good now.

gaby:


"Europe by bidon" lol

Literally translates to travelling to europe through the desert with a water keg. If you've seen any pictures of travellers on land loaded into trucks,you'll notice kegs hanging out all around the trucks.Those were individual survival kits for we the journeyers on that journey of possible no return.
That was a nickname we coined for ourselves then.

Babagy823:
My brother gaby, this your story will be the next best seller if put in writing, it will be read all over the globe.
And i bet you with this experience you will be granting interviews with the likes of CNN and BBC. Go ahead guy, i cant wait to read this book.

I'll need more livers plus guts aswear but its sure worth giving a thought..

Elxandre:

Your story sweet well.
Would make a good book.

I forgot to ask.
How did u communicate with the locals in Morocco?

Spoke passable Arab plus french..

gaby:


Spoke passable Arab plus french..

You learnt it shortly?
That's interesting.

gaby:

Spoke passable Arab plus french..

pls open a thread already...this could be your major break in life.....
I hardly comment here.....but i had to ........please

sokarsenal:


pls open a thread already...this could be your major break in life.....

I hardly comment here.....but i had to ........please

I will sir..

schumastic:


Molesting or domestic abuse that's if am not mistaken

None of that. I actually never stayed with my mum and her husband. I lived with an aunt and her kids. To be honest, I just despised the man for not allowing me lived with my mum. That's all.

Elxandre:

You learnt it shortly?
That's interesting.

Aside the fact that i'm talented in picking languages,it actually gets easy learning a language when your compulsion stems from not having an alternative means of communication with the locals. You'll definitely have to learn to be able to get by on a daily.
My opinion.

XaintJoel20:

What was your offense

I bleeped up and my old man did deliverance on me,inshut he treated my Bleep up.

gaby:
This is going to make for a long read though but here we go..

The story about a day i'll never forget..

The year was 1999 and i was just 21,had dropped out of college and decided to migrate for economic reason from my home state in Nigeria.

With no pre-requisites nor sufficient finance to go legal by obtaining a visa and flying,i opted to travel by land through the desert onwards Spain via Moroco. There was however a snag as all i had was a map and a sketch of how and where to change vehicles at specific towns in each country i’ll be passing through. Fortunately on the night i was to board the check out bus from my small town of Benin City enroute Katsina State bordering Nigeria and Niger Republic,half the passengers on the bus turned out to be making the same journey so we all naturally gelled and formed a group.

We got to the border town the next morning and got smuggled into a vehicle that took us further into Niger Republic specifically to a town called Agadez.We did a couple of more days there until we got the next connection to smuggle us through the Sahara desert into a town (Tamaransett) in Algeria. Pertinent to note here that the ultimate target of our journey was to hit Morroco from where we can either Climb accross the razor fences seperating Morocco from either of Spain’s enclave of Ceuta and Mellila both on mainland Morocco.This is actually like crossing from Mexico into the US.

A lot happened on the travel through the Sahara as we did the journey in three days.From co travellers collapsing and been abandoned in the desert to having to survive on our urines. Travelling through the desert we did come upon a couple of human skeletal remains of a couple of unfortunate travellers.

Not to bore you folks with my epistle so i’ll leave out much of what i went through on the journey and continue from when we got into Moroccan territory or the border between Morocco and Algeria in a town called Magniya.Everybody journeying through that route actually get together at this jungle-a valley actually where we set up camps and wait to make up a certain acceptable number for the smugglers to take us on the journey by foot through the woods,deserts and jungles of Morroco to evade the authorities.On a good day with a good guide who knows the route well that’ll be a 2 weeks or thereabouts journey on foot.

So on this day my group and i got prepped to embark on this journey.We had gotten our standard supplies of barguettes,sardines and milk to survive on just enough not too heavy to burden us on the long walk.

We journey only at nights for cover.On the first night we covered a couple of km’s in between some guys and ladies already dropping by the way side not able to keep up pace and exhausted,nobody even cares it’s either you ship in or ship out. So we continued until i eventually took a short rest and afterwards got sperated from the group and i knew not what way to continue on.

Out of frustration,hunger and desperation i decided to come out of the woods in broad day not a single scare of the police as i would have gladly ran to them at this point if for nothing at all just for something to eat and a place to sleep.I started begging for food from some locals who were so kind God bless them.These locals will actually get into trouble with the authorities if it becomes public knowledge that they are habouring or didnt report seeing an alien.But these guys will take me in,make me ‘shai’ morrocan tea and bread then hide me until night time then show me how to go and avoid the cops.

So i continued until i got to Nador.This town actually borders Mellila one of the spanish Territories on Morrocan soil.Meanwhile as a group,our original destination was Rabat where we have a decent population of fellow immigrants on the same journey,where we could gather and map out the next strategy on how to cross into spain either by ferry on. a dingy across the atlantic/mediterranean or scaling the razor fences.

When i arrived Nador i was lost for how to proceed being alone.Mind you it was 2 weeks plus already since i got seperated from my group.I hadn’t showered all these while so you can imagine what i was like. While thinking about my life and how to proceed a bike drove up to me and asked i hopped on,i was hesitant but he insisted and i obliged.He drove me for about 5 kilometres and stopped then asked me to keep left and climb a super mountain across that if i did that and kept to my left i’ll get close to the razor fence.

I thanked him and started on the journey of climbing the huge mountain.From my reckoning i started ascending at about past 8pm when the.man dropped me and when i got to the peak of the mountain where i could see all around Nador and also look into the spanish territory it must have taken me about 3 hours but i became so fired up that at least i’m close to spain.

While i was still basking in the euphoria of my new found luck and planing on where to attack from,the heavens gave way and it started raining cats and dogs with no where to take shelter.

I decided to just keep walking with no particular direction until i happened on a cemetry.When i got to the cemetry at about 12–1 am i couldn’t hold it any longer.I just broke down and started crying my hearts out thinking about my family and friends and how no one knows where i am at what i was passing through. Afterall and the rain had subsided i hadn’t the will to continue that night i just laid on the closest grave to me and prayed for the person resting there.

Pretty tough journey i must confess but had to leave out most parts for easy reading.

Thats it folks a lil story about my life.

Thanks for your time and for reading.

dexcira

So did you make it into Spain? And where are you now?

Would you advise someone to embark on this kind of trip with your experience?

donnaD:

I bleeped up and my old man did deliverance on me,inshut he treated my Bleep up.

Popsy reason your mata.

DonPiiko:
Your story makes for an interesting read, thank God for your life, I am sure you are doing good now.

Can't complain even though it's been hellish since all i garnered crookedly dissipated the same way i garnered them,and also my personal decision to live aright and not covet another mans sweat or property under whatever name or guise now that i know better,brought me back to rock bottom and mother earth.
Been paying for my crimes and funny enough it gives me this inner peace not minding the 360' turn around in the negative but i still keep my chin up.
Constantly in the process of reinventing myself as i'm presently selling off my last stocks to raise up cash and pursue a trade i've got an eye on.
I have become a laughing stock among friends who knew when i was balling and are wondering why i chose to live like a monk by not continuing in the crooked ways,but i remain unfazed.I actually hear them talk but shake my head at them while keeping on with my vow of living at peace.

OneSentence:
I'd say it was the day I got admission to study medicine. not only that but my name came out as no. 1 on the list. that day marked the turning point in my life as it's been on blessing or the other

Such a gratifying feeling..i cld remember shouting "Yes...Yes..Yes..!!..like 4 20mins..Lol..
What year u at?

Franky826:


So did you make it into Spain? And where are you now?

Would you advise someone to embark on this kind of trip with your experience?

You wan travel by land? I go send you map and some of my contacts along the way no worry..lol.
Was just kidding you bro.It's in your best interest to jettison that idea and seek an alternative means of checking out if you must.
First of,you wont be spending less than that alternative you will be shying away from.I call it capital ' penny wise,pound mumu'.
Second of,you dont wanna get your whole life and psyche corrupted and messed up from the inherent trauma therefrom.
Peace

gaby:


You wan travel by land? I go send you map and some of my contacts along the way no worry..lol.
Was just kidding you bro.It's in your best interest to jettison that idea and seek an alternative means of checking out if you must.
First of,you wont be spending less than that alternative you will be shying away from.I call it capital ' penny wise,pound mumu'.
Second of,you dont wanna get your whole life and psyche corrupted and messed up from the inherent trauma therefrom.
Peace

Lol classic response. Pro to asking the question, I read where you said you actually made it in, got hitched up with a white lady, advanced fee scam(guess that's where the money came from), buying up trucks and how it went down the drain.

Seriously you are a good writer.

We could use your story to tell people of what to expect when they leave The Nigerian struggle to the desert of no return (if unlucky).

Kudos man. I'll still be waiting for the thread and other stories to come.

The highlight was when you improvised with a sardine cover to cut the umblical cord to save the woman and her child! Damn! Your life is full of story bro.

JhyMedex:

Such a gratifying feeling..i cld remember shouting "Yes...Yes..Yes..!!..like 4 20mins..Lol..
What year u at?

I can imagine...i'm in year 5 now.

Franky826:


Lol classic response. Pro to asking the question, I read where you said you actually made it in, got hitched up with a white lady, advanced fee scam(guess that's where the money came from), buying up trucks and how it went down the drain.

Seriously you are a good writer.

We could use your story to tell people of what to expect when they leave The Nigerian struggle to the desert of no return (if unlucky).

Kudos man. I'll still be waiting for the thread and other stories to come.

The highlight was when you improvised with a sardine cover to cut the umblical cord to save the woman and her child! Damn! Your life is full of story bro.

My brother tori boku how many man fit talk sef.
Everytime i get asked what school i graduated from,i answer..i attended/still attending the school of life and graduation date unknown..

gaby:


Can't complain even though it's been hellish since all i garnered crookedly dissipated the same way i garnered them,and also my personal decision to live aright and not covet another mans sweat or property under whatever name or guise now that i know better,brought me back to rock bottom and mother earth.
Been paying for my crimes and funny enough it gives me this inner peace not minding the 360' turn around in the negative but i still keep my chin up.
Constantly in the process of reinventing myself as i'm presently selling off my last stocks to raise up cash and pursue a trade i've got an eye for.
I'm a laughing stock among friends who knew when i was balling and are wondering why i chose to live like a monk by not continuing in the crooked ways.I actually hear them talk but shake my head at them while keeping on with my vow of living at peace.

Bro, many including myself would have love your concept but the fear of lifting the burdens limitedly is a major dilemma! Rather than posting your episodes here, get a captivating topic, open a thread! Do not add more than, the little you've exposed here, then, drop an address where interested investors can connect you, let's see how it goes from there! This is how many people hit jackpot! Like a woman went to prison, she came out and was exposing how many popular film makers are on her neck tie get scripts from the experiences she had in prison! She'd make a lot of money, since she owns the experience.... Do that also. And also, take God along, cuz He's the ultimate help we need to have good success!

OneSentence:

I can imagine...i'm in year 5 now.

..
Hope the journey has bn everytin u hoped it'll b?..Cos cld get frustrating sometimes.. ..

Nairalane:



Bro, many including myself would have love your concept but the fear of lifting the burdens limitedly is a major dilemma! Rather than posting your episodes here, get a captivating topic, open a thread! Do not add more than, the little you've exposed here, then, drop an address where interested investors can connect you, let's see how it goes from there! This is how many people hit jackpot! Like a woman went to prison, she came out and was exposing how many popular film makers are on her neck tie get scripts from the experiences she had in prison! She'd make a lot of money, since she owns the experience.... Do that also. And also, take God along, cuz He's the ultimate help we need to have good success!

God bless you richly for this insight.
Fair enough i haven't said anything yet with the prologues here,story is way deeper and thrilling. Sure my contact is on my profile incase anyone cares about reaching me.

emerich:
14th Feb. 2015.....
Lost my Mum via a road mishap, it was scheduled to be an election day, but was postponed for a later date, dad decided to travel home with Mum of blessed memory for a project, dad was on the steering, the rear tire of his car bursted and veered off the bridge along Kaduna - Abuja express way, my Mum gave up the ghost right at the arm's of my dad...
Was away in Niger state to see my younger bro, was at the gym when I heard of the sorry news, cried all the way from Niger state to Kaduna state, where her remains was deposited at St Gerald Hospital.
Had never celebrated Val's day since then, I just lock myself indoors to mourn my Mum.
Such a sad way to lose my Mum and date.

May her soul rest in peace Bro.
Take heart Meh.

JhyMedex:
..
Hope the journey has bn everytin u hoped it'll b?..Cos cld get frustrating sometimes.. ..

it's been much more an those frustrating times...well I just leave it up to God.

gaby:


God bless you richly for this insight.
Fair enough i haven't said anything yet with the prologues here,story is way deeper and thrilling. Sure my contact is on my profile incase anyone cares about reaching me.

Are you the white fairly guy in the pics, much looking like Charlie Chaplin!!!

OneSentence:

it's been much more an those frustrating times...well I just leave it up to God.

Strength to continue..We Pray...

As an experienced traveler. Most of the time it doesn't make any sense to travel internationally by road especially if you are not going to the next country A to B. Its even more expensive, exhausting and very time-consuming. I've met Nigerians in all sorts of shitty countries, places their families will never imagine they are. Stuck and semi-destitute. Some, where misled. Some really had an averagely paying job in NG. They quit and embark on such regretable journey without the right sets of skills. The people that really survive the road those type of skills are not taught in any school. That's why Gaby spoke about the real 419. The one on one thing. Anybody outside the realm will never know the real GUY MEN schemes. Those are the real hustle. Some pick it up out of necessity to survive. But in reality, there is no victimless crime. The governor of your state embezzling funds, Might not think that he is creating victims such as the road travelers. Road travelers commit crimes along their way creating more victim footprint. Dodgy human smugglers. Dirty border cops. Greedy businessmen who get hooked on GUY story.

They do lie when they call home too. Spend 5 years in some shitty place. Have kids that will never meet their extended families. I've always prayed for the spirit of fear. And that spirit of fear lets me realize my limits. The point of return. It's good to try. But when water pass garri, it's no more a worthy drink! The experiences are one in a lifetime unique experiences. But I always make sure I can go back home. Don't be afraid or embarrassed about deportation or returning home with nothing. I'd rather go back and restrategize; then make the move again.

Maybe I'll create another nick to be more expressive. I rarely comment. But an avid NL reader since its inception. Gaby sounds authentic. Unless he is telling another man's story.