Thread:
I swear on my life what happened to me yesterday in Lagos still has me shaking 😭
I was stuck in that insane traffic on Third Mainland Bridge around 7pm. Horns everywhere, danfo drivers cursing, the usual. My fuel was on reserve so I decided to branch into a small filling station near Yaba.
While waiting, this small boy (like 10-11 years old) walked up to my window selling pure water. But something was off – his eyes were red and swollen like he had been crying for hours. I bought the water and asked, “You dey okay?”
He just whispered, “Oga abeg help me… my mama don die.”
My heart scattered. I asked what happened. He said his mother collapsed in their room that morning, no money for hospital, neighbours did nothing. He had been walking the streets since 10am trying to sell water to get money for burial. No father, no family in Lagos. Just him.
I looked in my wallet. Only 18k cash. I gave him everything transferred another 50k from my phone. Told him to take her to the mortuary and I would meet him there. He started crying and ran off.
I felt good… but something still felt strange.
Two hours later I get to the address he gave me – a face-me-I-face-you compound in Mushin. The whole place was dark. I asked for the boy’s mother. One woman hissed and said, “Which boy? Nobody die here today o. The only person wey lose person na Mama Tolu and her son no even dey Lagos.”
My head was spinning. I showed them the boy’s picture I snapped when he was selling water.
The woman’s face changed. “Ah! Na that thief boy! Him and him gang don dey use this story for two weeks now. Dem go collect money, then run.”
I had just been scammed… or so I thought.
I drove home angry, blocking the boy’s number. Got home, opened my gate… and saw a small black nylon bag hanging on my door handle.
Inside? My exact 68k cash I gave him… plus a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max still in the box 🥹.
And a handwritten note:
“Oga, I no be thief. My mama really die this morning. But when you give me the money, one man wey dey watch us from him car come down. Him say him don dey look for person wey go help stranger without thinking. Him give me the phone to give you and say make I return your money. Him say your heart na pure gold. Him go call you tomorrow by 9am. No block the number abeg.”
It’s 8:47am right now. My phone is beside me. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh.
A small boy used my kindness to scam me… but the universe used that same kindness to reward me in the craziest way possible.
Who else get this kind of “Lagos tax but blessing version”? Drop your own story. I need to know I’m not the only one 😂❤️
#LagostStreetStories #RandomKindness #NaijaThings #MindBlown