27/09/2025
THE PRICE OF AMBITION
In the bustling chaos of Alaba International Market, Lagos, dreams were bought and sold as quickly as electronics and fabrics. For many young men who flocked there, the market was not just a place of business—it was a doorway to survival, power, and wealth.
Among these dreamers was Chuka, a 19-year-old boy from Enugu. His widowed mother had borrowed money to send him to Lagos, believing that apprenticing under a master trader would give him a better life. Chuka arrived with nothing but a small bag, an eager spirit, and the determination to make his family proud.
He was introduced to Chief Okafor, a wealthy dealer in imported electronics. The man was well-respected, his stall always full, and his apprentices dressed better than most. Everyone in the market whispered about his power, but no one dared to ask how he rose so quickly.
Chuka begged for a chance to serve. Chief Okafor smiled and said:
"Young man, to serve me, you must be loyal. I don’t take lazy boys. If you are faithful, you’ll have your own shop one day."
Those words lit a fire in Chuka’s heart. He worked tirelessly—cleaning the shop, carrying cartons, staying up late to guard goods. Slowly, he gained the master’s trust. But as weeks turned into months, Chuka noticed strange things. Chief Okafor would disappear at odd hours. He often warned his boys never to enter the back room of the shop.
One night, curiosity got the better of Chuka. He peeked through a half-open door and saw his master kneeling before a small shrine, muttering incantations over a black pot. Human bones hung from the ceiling like decorations. Chuka’s heart froze.
The next morning, Chief Okafor him.
"I see you are eager, Chuka. Do you want to succeed?"
Chuka nodded quickly, hiding his fear.
"Then you must follow me tonight."
That night, they left the market and went deep into a bush path on the outskirts of Lagos. There, by firelight, Chuka saw masked men chanting. His master whispered:.... ゚viralシfypシ゚viralシ ゚viralシfypシ゚
