She threw him a sharp look and headed toward the side door, which she assumed to be the exit. It opened up into a vast, empty landscape that looked nothing like the city, and the house stood entirely isolated. As she was analyzing the area, she heard him say, "Get on this motorcycle so we can go, you're wasting my time." Reluctantly, she prepared to climb on, desperate to leave the place. The low hum of an airplane slowly echoed through the area, causing both of them to look up. It landed a short distance away from them—a small aircraft, a helicopter. To her astonishment, the rear door of the helicopter opened, and some people walked toward it, greeting the newcomers before they slowly began unloading weapons and laying them on the ground. Her eyes widened, her heart pounding. What was this? "What the hell are you staring at?" she heard him bark at her. She finished climbing onto the motorcycle, pouting. As soon as she was on, he snatched her headwrap, blindfolded her tightly, grabbed her hands, and tied them behind her back using a piece of cloth. He then mounted the motorcycle and sped off so violently that she came within a hair's breadth of slipping off, a rifle slung across his body. She had no idea where she was being taken; she could only feel that they were moving. They rode for at least twenty minutes before she felt the motorcycle come to a stop. She heard him making a phone call. "Yes, I see you. Put the bag down so we can see it." Her Daddy had made an early start just as they had ordered him. He followed the directions they sent him until he arrived, having traveled so far it felt as though he were leaving the town entirely. He waited there for a long time but saw no one. He pulled out his phone and dialed all the numbers they had used to contact him, but none went through. He had been there for nearly thirty minutes and was beginning to lose hope when his phone rang. Upon answering, a voice told him to drop the money, stating they were watching him. He opened the car door and stepped out holding the bag of money. He placed it down, looking around, but saw no one. "Go back to the car, someone will come and pick it up." He complied without argument. After ten minutes, someone arrived on a motorcycle, grabbed the bag, and tore away at a breakneck speed. A short while later, the phone of the man who had brought her rang. He answered it. "They are all there, and he doesn't have any security details with him," the voice on the other end reported. He violently shoved her off the motorcycle onto the ground, then revved the engine and sped off through the thicket of trees. It was only after he returned to their camp that he sent a message to her Daddy from a different line, telling him to look behind those trees to find his daughter. Her Daddy, who had already given up hope of seeing her, saw their message. He stepped out of the car and searched around, but he couldn't see any trees, only a flat expanse of land. He walked forward, calling out loudly, "Nuratu!!!" He yelled with all his might, but there was only silence. He continued circling the area, feeling on the verge of tears. As for her, she was walking blindly, stumbling but forcing herself onward, searching for a path. As if out of nowhere, she heard her name being called loudly, and it sounded just like her Daddy. She headed toward the sound, but suddenly stubbed her foot against a large stone. She squeezed her eyes shut in agony, tears flowing down her face. She kept moving regardless, but then collided heavily with a tree. This time, she let out a sharp cry and burst into tears, screaming, "Daddy!!!!" with all her might. Feeling something brushing against her face, she collapsed to the ground. As if out of nowhere, he caught the sound of her voice. He strained his eyes for a moment before spotting the trees far off in the darkness. He jumped into the car, started the engine, and sped toward them. He stopped at the edge, stepped out, and continued searching for her. Suddenly, he bumped into something. Looking down, he found her lying there, her face covered in blood, looking completely lifeless. Panic-stricken, he knelt and lifted her up. "Nuratu! Nuratu, open your eyes! Please don't die and leave us!" He shook her repeatedly, but she didn't move. He scooped her up in his arms and bolted from the area at top speed. He opened the car door, laid her across the back seat, and drove away frantically. Only when he finally reached the main road did he draw a sigh of relief. He kept glancing back at her, his heart pounding with the terrifying fear that they might lose her. He stopped at the nearest clinic he encountered on the road. It was a small facility, but better than nothing, and the staff received her immediately, crowding around to treat her. By God's grace, she stabilized; she had simply passed out due to severe blood loss from her injuries. They successfully stopped the bleeding and administered all necessary treatment. It was only after she regained consciousness that her Daddy’s mind found peace, allowing him to finally return Mamy’s calls, which had been flooding his phone while he was too frantic to answer. "Alhaji, what happened? I haven't heard from you, are you both okay?" she asked in a panic. "We are fine, we are actually on our way, but I'm going to stop at the hospital with her so they can check her health first." Instantly, she declared she was coming to the hospital. He urged her to wait, saying they wouldn't be long, but she insisted she had to come see her to put her mind at ease. "Very well, but we are on our way and haven't arrived yet. I will let you know when we get there." With that, they said goodbye. He requested her discharge so they could leave, and she was cleared immediately. Holding her hand, he looked at her with deep pity as he helped her into the car. As he drove, he kept turning to look at her. "Are you alright?" he kept repeating, while her eyes remained hollow and dazed until they reached the main hospital. They allocated her a bed and set up an intravenous drip, as she desperately needed fluids. He called Mamy to inform her of their arrival. She asked for the hospital's name, and upon hearing it, announced she was on her way. In fact, as soon as they had finished their previous call, she had rushed to the kitchen to prepare some light broth and put hot water in a flask; she was already bathed and dressed. She instructed Nura (the one from Dubai) to carry the food basket for her, and they rushed out. A driver drove them to the hospital, where Daddy met them outside to lead them in. The moment Mamy saw her, she rushed to the bedside and burst into tears, seeing how much she had deteriorated in just three days. She had grown incredibly gaunt, her skin pale, her face covered in blemishes, and her body covered in mosquito bite marks. "Nuratu, is this what you've become? Truly, Allah will judge between us and those people. What is this wound on her forehead? What did the doctors say?" she asked him, full of anxiety. He fell silent, wondering how to even begin telling her. "Tell me, Alhaji! Don't tell me they violated her honor?" she demanded, standing up and staring into his bloodshot eyes. Nura stood frozen as well, terrified of what might come out of Daddy’s mouth...
WOMEN OF WRITERS Association
TURMIN DANYA BY FATIMA UMAR KAS (Mummyn Mihal) (11) Daddy let out a heavy sigh, found a place to sit, and keeping his eyes on them, said, "It's just a severe fever brought on by the mosquito bites, along with a headache. As for the injury on her forehead, I believe she fell or hit it because her eyes were blindfolded and her hands were tied." She shook her head, her eyes fixed on her daughter, before asking, "When did they say she will wake up?" "Well, she could wake up at any moment. Let me head out and return shortly since you are here to look after her." She nodded, looking for a place to sit, and he left. Nura approached, took off his shoulder bag, and sat at the edge of the bed, everyone waiting for her to wake up. It wasn't until late afternoon that she finally regained consciousness, her head feeling incredibly heavy. "Welcome back, Nuratu," they said in unison. She nodded, clutching her throbbing head. Mamy assisted her to the bathroom to rinse her mouth. "I want to take a bath, Mamy," she said softly. Mamy helped her sit back down and took the flask of tea they had brought. Finding a bucket in the bathroom, she poured half of the hot water from the large flask and mixed it to a comfortable temperature. She guided her to the bathroom. "Can you manage the bath yourself?" Nuratu nodded yes. Mamy stepped out and closed the door behind her. Before Nuratu emerged, Mamy prepared her tea. In her anxiety, Mamy had completely forgotten to bring a change of clothes. Nuratu had to put her old clothes back on, then sat on the edge of the bed, slowly sipping her tea. Mamy poured some steaming offal pepper soup she had made into a plate and handed it to her. She accepted it without objection; the aroma was comforting, and her long-suppressed hunger suddenly flared up. Only then did a thought strike Mamy. She pulled out her phone and dialed Zaitun. The call was cut from the other end, and then Zaitun called her back. "Nuratu has been found, we are at the hospital right now," Mamy said upon answering. She could hear Zaitun’s joy through the receiver as she demanded the name of the hospital, promising to come immediately. After hanging up, Mamy began calling other relatives who had been distressed by her disappearance, informing them she had been found. Barister Sahabi was the only one left to call, but she didn't have his number. She had to wait until Daddy returned for him to call and inform him. He did not hesitate and headed straight to the hospital. Within no time, everyone had gathered at the hospital, smiles stretching from ear to ear; it was impossible to tell who was the happiest to see her. The moment Zaitun arrived, she rushed to embrace her and burst into tears, herself looking completely worn out, while her mother, who had accompanied her, greeted Mamy and offered her congratulations. The Barrister himself felt an overwhelming urge to embrace her out of sheer happiness, but propriety forbade it; moreover, the room was packed. However, he was deeply distressed to see how emaciated she had become, her collarbones sharply protruding. Inwardly, he vowed that once she revealed who had abducted her, he would pursue them with every ounce of his strength. That very night, she was discharged, and they went home. News of her safe return quickly spread through the neighborhood, and visitors flooded in throughout the evening to offer their congratulations. Ever since they returned, she confined herself to her room, stripped off the clothes she had been wearing, and threw them away, unable to bear the thought of ever putting them on again. She wanted to be completely alone to process her thoughts. One thing heavily weighed on her mind: those weapons she had seen being delivered by the helicopter. Try as she might to deduce who was responsible, she hit a brick wall. On another note, she wondered how her Daddy had managed to raise such a staggering amount of money to secure her release. Where did he get it? What kind of business was he actually running? It took three days after her return for her to fully recover. She wanted to return to work that day, but her parents insisted she regain more strength. A full month passed before she finally went back, and Daddy insisted she stop going out unescorted, promising to hire security guards to protect her. They were seated in a magnificent, exquisitely furnished living room—six men plus the mastermind himself, making seven. He sat imperiously on a long sofa, flanked on either side by his bodyguards. Gadanga turned to look at Goje sitting beside him, understanding his unspoken cue. He immediately pulled two large bags of money forward and pushed them toward the leader sitting across from them. The leader pulled them close and unzipped them, revealing stacks of cash. He picked up a bundle, sniffed it while letting out a sinister smile, and placed it back down. "What is the plan now?" he asked, his eyes on Gadanga. "We proceed as usual, leader," he replied. The leader smiled again and said, "This time, the tune has changed, so the dance must change too. Our usual equal split will be different today. I must take three-fifths of the share, and you will divide the remaining two-fifths among yourselves due to certain circumstances." Gadanga looked up and threw him a sharp look upon hearing this, but then lowered his eyes and closed them without uttering a word. "I am listening to you, Aliyu," the leader said, seeing he had no intention of speaking. "Whatever you decide is fine, Leader," Aliyu replied without opening his eyes. Immediately, the leader divided the money, placing his own share into a bag beside him and pushing their portion toward them. Feeling the bag bump against his leg, Aliyu opened his eyes slowly and gestured to Maiyagi with a glance. Maiyagi bent down, picked up the bag of money, went inside, and put it away. The guest stood up and instructed his men to carry his share of the money. He extended his hand, they shook hands once more, and he turned to leave. They followed closely behind him. Aliyu also stood up and followed them with a slow, reluctant stride. They escorted him all the way to his car. After getting in, the leader leaned his head out, "Aliyu, excellent work, keep up the vigilance." Aliyu simply nodded. The driver drove off, and they exited the premises. They returned inside. Aliyu had them bring the money to him, staring at it with an unreadable expression. He opened the bag, divided it into two equal halves, and distributed it between them, keeping his own portion aside. Seeing the sheer volume of the money, they cheered excitedly, showering him with praises and expressions of gratitude. He set aside another portion and instructed them to call the young informant who worked for them to come and collect his share that very day. He then stood up, took his own cut, and left the house. He got into his car, started it, and drove away. From the moment he entered the orphanage, he watched the children playing happily with a deep, emotional look in his eyes. He headed straight to the main office, and after being ushered in, entered with a warm greeting. A light-complexioned woman sat there wearing a veil; she was clearly elderly, likely in her late fifties. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with a smile. "Welcome, come and sit down." He found a place to sit and greeted her. She responded warmly, then stood up, opened the refrigerator near her, and brought out water and juice for him. "In the name of Allah, Aliyu, have some refreshments," she said, her face still radiating warmth. "Alhamdulillah, thank you, Maah," he said. "Come on, Aliyu, at least drink some water." He didn't argue further; he took the water, opened it, took a small sip, and set it down. They exchanged pleasantries once more before he pulled the bag beside him and pushed it toward her. "Thank you for your tireless efforts, Malam Aliyu, you truly never tire." She pulled the bag close and opened it. "One never tires of acts that earn divine rewards, Maah." "That is true. May Allah reward you with goodness and expand your blessings." He replied with an amen. "Just like always, this will be used where it is needed most—their education, health, food, and clothing, ensuring they lack absolutely nothing, just like children with privileged upbringings. Only Allah knows the full extent of your reward," she added. "Ma shaa Allah, I must be on my way," he said, standing up. "Leaving so soon? Won't you wait for me to call some of the children to greet you?" she asked, rising as well. "Next time, I'm in a bit of a hurry right now." With that, he left, and she followed him out, continuing to pray for him. The children had already surrounded his car. He patted some of them on the head, then opened the door and got inside. They kept jumping around shouting, "Uncle! Uncle!" until he drove away, waving his hand to them as they waved back...
TURMIN DINYA
BY FATIMA UMAR KAS (Mummyn Mihal) (13) He sat on the edge of his mattress, resting his hands on his knees. His eyes were closed as he listened to a program playing on the radio before him. Suddenly, her clear, resonant voice filtered through the speakers. He snapped his eyes open—it was undoubtedly her, the girl who had completely disrupted his peace of mind, occupying his thoughts day and night. He desperately wanted to cast her out of his heart because he had no time to waste on romance, but the feeling was proving too powerful to resist. He let out a heavy sigh and repeated the name he heard her say at the end of the show, which was how he finally learned her identity. He stared at the station's frequency, wanting to memorize it because it seemed she hosted this program regularly. As the show came to an end, he switched off the radio, lay flat on his back, and stared at the ceiling, turning his thoughts to the task ahead of them—for she or her circle was their next target... She rested her chin on both hands, deeply lost in thought. Feeling a gentle tap on her shoulder, she snapped out of it quickly. She drew a breath of relief upon seeing who it was. "Are you alright, Nuratu?" Zaitun asked, her eyes fixed on her. Nuratu simply shook her head to indicate it was nothing. Zaitun stared at her intently for a moment, then walked around and sat beside her. "The face reflects the state of the heart. I can see deep worry written all over your face, yet you claim it's nothing?" She let out a sigh and said, "Do you know Barrister Sahabi sent his elders yesterday? They brought the registry money and everything; all that's left is to fix the wedding date," she finished, looking as though she might burst into tears. "Wow, Ma shaa Allah! I am so happy for you, you're finally taking that big step. May Allah bring our own suitor along soon too." "Hmmm, you don't understand, Zaitun. That's just how it is..." "I know your concerns, my friend, but I don't think this should be a source of worry. Since they've brought the money and the elders are involved, just be patient. Gradually, you will grow to love him. The Barrister is flawless and highly respectable; he deserves to be loved. He is a complete, sensible, and composed man—exactly the traits you want in a husband. I am certain you will enjoy married life with him." "But what about love? The joy of marriage is marrying someone you love and who loves you back. I can swear to you I have never felt even an atom of romantic love for him in my heart. He simply commands high respect and value in my eyes, which prevents me from treating him poorly, and that's why I tolerate his courtship. He has been wanting to send his elders for a long time and I kept stalling him. Then he just blindsided me without warning because he takes pride in the fact that everyone in our household approves of him! It was only this morning that Daddy informed us," she finished in deep frustration. "Be patient, you know marriage is ordained by Allah, and a person's spouse is destined. Personally, I believe it's better to marry someone who is madly in love with you than someone you are madly in love with. Look at me and Haisam; we are deeply in love and he's the one I want to marry, but he's starting to lose his appeal to me because he flirts constantly, he's overly exposed, and he indulges in substance abuse—everything we despise in a man. For now, drop these thoughts, leave the choice to Allah, and keep praying; he will find his way into your heart eventually. You have a heavy workload today: reading listener feedback from the previous episode, producing the new show, and remember, we are going out today to try our luck again to see if we can find a lead." She grimaced slightly. "I'm starting to get tired of these outings. We are just exhausting ourselves for nothing; we aren't going to find that girl." "Even so, let's try. In shaa Allah, our efforts won't be in vain, and remember, we might save members of the public from her malice." With great effort, Zaitun persuaded her to get up, and they left the office. They got into their car and headed straight to a spot Zaitun had scouted for them. After they sat down, a waiter brought them a menu. Zaitun made their selection and handed it back. Within minutes, the waiter returned with their order and placed it before them. However, food was not their primary focus; it was the mission that brought them there. Out of the corner of her eye, Zaitun scanned the patrons going about their business. Most were young couples eating and chatting; she saw absolutely nothing suspicious. Nuratu turned her gaze to Zaitun, who was also casually observing the room. "Honestly, doing it this way, we won't uncover anything except exhausting ourselves. We aren't law enforcement officers to spot a criminal at a single glance. We need a new strategy." "If I see the girl, I can recognize her because my uncle gave me a description of her physical build," Zaitun added, her eyes darting around. "You won't recognize anything since you've never actually seen her. Only he would recognize her on sight. And besides, how many restaurants and recreational spots do we have in this city? Do you intend for us to tour all of them looking for her?" Nuratu countered, looking at her. "Fine, let's just leave for now since we left pending work at the office. We'll try another time." They stood up without touching their food. Nuratu pulled out an unspecified amount of cash, handed it to the waiter, and they left. They got into the car, and the driver pulled away as they continued discussing alternative angles to crack the case... They stood before him as he issued instructions, concluding with, "Be careful and catch people off guard so we don't encounter any hitches." They bowed respectfully and left. Once they departed, he got ready and left for his own assignment. Upon arriving at the target neighborhood, they split up. They were dressed respectably, ensuring no one would suspect them. They blended in with the crowd until late into the night, waiting until even the local tea seller had packed up and most people had long surrendered to sleep. Truly, as the proverb goes, night is a servant's rest, but it is also a criminal's cover. One of them stepped up to the entrance of the house and knocked gently. Silence; no one opened. He knocked again, still silence. He glanced around before banging heavily on the door. He heard a male voice from inside ask, "Who is it?" He fell silent and didn't answer, gesturing with his hand for the others to move in. They crept against the wall of the building, rifles drawn. He banged again, rattling the door. "Who on earth is trying to break my door down at this hour of the night?" the voice barked harshly from the entrance corridor. "Either you open it or we break it down and come in! By Allah, not even a trace of you will be left if we do. You better open up peacefully because you aren't even the one we are looking for!" Maiyagi yelled back harshly. Hearing those words made his body shake violently—the typical reaction of someone with a guilty conscience. With trembling hands, he drew back the latch and peeked out slowly to see who they were. Quickly, they...
2. Summary of the Original Story
This segment of Turmin Danya follows a high-stakes, intersecting narrative involving a female journalist named Nuratu, her family, and a criminal syndicate.
The Rescue/Ransom: Nuratu is held blindfolded and bound by criminals after being abducted. She witnesses a helicopter delivering illegal weapons to the camp. After her father, Daddy (Alhaji Tahir Mai Nasara), successfully drops off a massive cash ransom without police involvement, Nuratu is dumped in a remote area. Blinded and disoriented, she injures herself before being rescued by her frantic father and rushed to a hospital due to severe blood loss.
The Criminal Underground: The narrative shifts to the gang leader, Aliyu (Gadanga), who coordinates with a powerful superior to split the ransom money (three-fifths to the boss, two-fifths to the crew). Surprisingly, Aliyu takes his cut of the blood money straight to an elderly woman running an orphanage to fund the children's healthcare, food, and education, showcasing a complex "Robin Hood" archetype.
The Investigation and Internal Conflict: Nuratu recovers and returns to her job as a radio journalist, but she is deeply unsettled by the weapons shipment she saw and her father's mysterious ability to instantly conjure millions in cash. Meanwhile, her family pressures her into an arranged marriage with Barrister Sahabi, whom she respects but does not love. She and her colleague, Zaitun, attempt amateur undercover investigative work in local restaurants to track down a criminal lead, but they realize they lack tactical skills. The story ends on a cliffhanger as Aliyu's gang launches a midnight raid on another target's house.
3. Character Descriptions
Nuratu: A dedicated and brave young journalist. Despite being traumatized, emaciated, and physically scarred by her kidnapping, she possesses an unyielding drive for justice. She is deeply analytical, questioning the source of her father's wealth and trying to track down arms smugglers despite the immense danger.
Daddy (Alhaji Tahir Mai Nasara): Nuratu's father. An incredibly wealthy, heavily influential elite who loves his daughter unconditionally. He is willing to bypass the law and pay any amount of ransom to save her, though his vague business dealings hint at a darker or more secretive background.
Aliyu / Gadanga ("The Immovable Warrior"): A highly complex antagonist. Physically imposing, cold, and calculated, he leads an elite unit of kidnappers and enforcement thugs. Yet, he acts as a secret benefactor to an orphanage, using criminal proceeds to give abandoned children an elite upbringing, revealing a deeply conflicted moral compass.
Mamy (Hajiya Iyami): Nuratu's mother. Protective, deeply traditional, and prone to severe anxiety regarding her children's safety and choices.
Zaitun: Nuratu's close friend and professional colleague. She acts as a sounding board, confidante, and partner-in-crime during their dangerous, amateur investigative outings.
4. Literary Analytics
Dynamic Feature
Textual Evidence & Analytical Impact
The Traditional Proverb Matrix
The author uses classic Hausa idioms (dama a rina an saci zanin mahaukaciya — things have gone awry; allura ce za ta tono garma — a needle that unearths a plow) to elevate the dialogue. This anchors a contemporary crime thriller format into classic Hausa oral literature traditions, making the threats sound highly poetic yet culturally ominous.
The Robin Hood Paradox
Aliyu's character creates a powerful moral juxtaposition. The author contrasts the scene of him violently extracting a captive's tooth or laundering ransom money with him softly kissing orphans and paying for their education. This duality challenges the reader's perception of pure villainy versus systemic corruption.
Socio-Economic Undercurrents
The text exposes modern Nigerian socioeconomic anxieties: the privatization of security, the vulnerability of journalists, the normalization of kidnapping for ransom, and the lack of trust in formal law enforcement, forcing citizens to handle crises using private networks.
Gender and Agency Dynamics
Nuratu represents a shift in modern Hausa literature (Adabin Marubutan Zamani). While she is subjected to patriarchal violence and pushed into an arranged marriage she openly rejects, she maintains active agency by executing her radio show and trying to unmask her abusers rather than assuming a passive victim role.
She threw him a sharp look and headed toward the side door, which she assumed to be the exit. It opened up into a vast, empty landscape that looked nothing like the city, and the house stood entirely isolated. As she was analyzing the area, she heard him say, "Get on this motorcycle so we can go, you're wasting my time." Reluctantly, she prepared to climb on, desperate to leave the place. The low hum of an airplane slowly echoed through the area, causing both of them to look up. It landed a short distance away from them—a small aircraft, a helicopter. To her astonishment, the rear door of the helicopter opened, and some people walked toward it, greeting the newcomers before they slowly began unloading weapons and laying them on the ground. Her eyes widened, her heart pounding. What was this?
"What the hell are you staring at?" she heard him bark at her. She finished climbing onto the motorcycle, pouting. As soon as she was on, he snatched her headwrap, blindfolded her tightly, grabbed her hands, and tied them behind her back using a piece of cloth. He then mounted the motorcycle and sped off so violently that she came within a hair's breadth of slipping off, a rifle slung across his body.
She had no idea where she was being taken; she could only feel that they were moving. They rode for at least twenty minutes before she felt the motorcycle come to a stop. She heard him making a phone call. "Yes, I see you. Put the bag down so we can see it."
Her Daddy had made an early start just as they had ordered him. He followed the directions they sent him until he arrived, having traveled so far it felt as though he were leaving the town entirely. He waited there for a long time but saw no one. He pulled out his phone and dialed all the numbers they had used to contact him, but none went through. He had been there for nearly thirty minutes and was beginning to lose hope when his phone rang. Upon answering, a voice told him to drop the money, stating they were watching him.
He opened the car door and stepped out holding the bag of money. He placed it down, looking around, but saw no one. "Go back to the car, someone will come and pick it up." He complied without argument. After ten minutes, someone arrived on a motorcycle, grabbed the bag, and tore away at a breakneck speed.
A short while later, the phone of the man who had brought her rang. He answered it. "They are all there, and he doesn't have any security details with him," the voice on the other end reported. He violently shoved her off the motorcycle onto the ground, then revved the engine and sped off through the thicket of trees. It was only after he returned to their camp that he sent a message to her Daddy from a different line, telling him to look behind those trees to find his daughter. Her Daddy, who had already given up hope of seeing her, saw their message. He stepped out of the car and searched around, but he couldn't see any trees, only a flat expanse of land. He walked forward, calling out loudly, "Nuratu!!!" He yelled with all his might, but there was only silence. He continued circling the area, feeling on the verge of tears. As for her, she was walking blindly, stumbling but forcing herself onward, searching for a path. As if out of nowhere, she heard her name being called loudly, and it sounded just like her Daddy. She headed toward the sound, but suddenly stubbed her foot against a large stone. She squeezed her eyes shut in agony, tears flowing down her face. She kept moving regardless, but then collided heavily with a tree. This time, she let out a sharp cry and burst into tears, screaming, "Daddy!!!!" with all her might. Feeling something brushing against her face, she collapsed to the ground.
As if out of nowhere, he caught the sound of her voice. He strained his eyes for a moment before spotting the trees far off in the darkness. He jumped into the car, started the engine, and sped toward them. He stopped at the edge, stepped out, and continued searching for her. Suddenly, he bumped into something. Looking down, he found her lying there, her face covered in blood, looking completely lifeless.
Panic-stricken, he knelt and lifted her up. "Nuratu! Nuratu, open your eyes! Please don't die and leave us!" He shook her repeatedly, but she didn't move. He scooped her up in his arms and bolted from the area at top speed. He opened the car door, laid her across the back seat, and drove away frantically.
Only when he finally reached the main road did he draw a sigh of relief. He kept glancing back at her, his heart pounding with the terrifying fear that they might lose her. He stopped at the nearest clinic he encountered on the road. It was a small facility, but better than nothing, and the staff received her immediately, crowding around to treat her. By God's grace, she stabilized; she had simply passed out due to severe blood loss from her injuries. They successfully stopped the bleeding and administered all necessary treatment.
It was only after she regained consciousness that her Daddy’s mind found peace, allowing him to finally return Mamy’s calls, which had been flooding his phone while he was too frantic to answer. "Alhaji, what happened? I haven't heard from you, are you both okay?" she asked in a panic.
"We are fine, we are actually on our way, but I'm going to stop at the hospital with her so they can check her health first." Instantly, she declared she was coming to the hospital. He urged her to wait, saying they wouldn't be long, but she insisted she had to come see her to put her mind at ease. "Very well, but we are on our way and haven't arrived yet. I will let you know when we get there." With that, they said goodbye. He requested her discharge so they could leave, and she was cleared immediately. Holding her hand, he looked at her with deep pity as he helped her into the car.
As he drove, he kept turning to look at her. "Are you alright?" he kept repeating, while her eyes remained hollow and dazed until they reached the main hospital.
They allocated her a bed and set up an intravenous drip, as she desperately needed fluids. He called Mamy to inform her of their arrival. She asked for the hospital's name, and upon hearing it, announced she was on her way. In fact, as soon as they had finished their previous call, she had rushed to the kitchen to prepare some light broth and put hot water in a flask; she was already bathed and dressed. She instructed Nura (the one from Dubai) to carry the food basket for her, and they rushed out. A driver drove them to the hospital, where Daddy met them outside to lead them in. The moment Mamy saw her, she rushed to the bedside and burst into tears, seeing how much she had deteriorated in just three days. She had grown incredibly gaunt, her skin pale, her face covered in blemishes, and her body covered in mosquito bite marks. "Nuratu, is this what you've become? Truly, Allah will judge between us and those people. What is this wound on her forehead? What did the doctors say?" she asked him, full of anxiety. He fell silent, wondering how to even begin telling her.
"Tell me, Alhaji! Don't tell me they violated her honor?" she demanded, standing up and staring into his bloodshot eyes. Nura stood frozen as well, terrified of what might come out of Daddy’s mouth...
WOMEN OF WRITERS Association
TURMIN DANYA
BY FATIMA UMAR KAS (Mummyn Mihal)
(11)
Daddy let out a heavy sigh, found a place to sit, and keeping his eyes on them, said, "It's just a severe fever brought on by the mosquito bites, along with a headache. As for the injury on her forehead, I believe she fell or hit it because her eyes were blindfolded and her hands were tied."
She shook her head, her eyes fixed on her daughter, before asking, "When did they say she will wake up?"
"Well, she could wake up at any moment. Let me head out and return shortly since you are here to look after her." She nodded, looking for a place to sit, and he left. Nura approached, took off his shoulder bag, and sat at the edge of the bed, everyone waiting for her to wake up.
It wasn't until late afternoon that she finally regained consciousness, her head feeling incredibly heavy. "Welcome back, Nuratu," they said in unison. She nodded, clutching her throbbing head. Mamy assisted her to the bathroom to rinse her mouth. "I want to take a bath, Mamy," she said softly. Mamy helped her sit back down and took the flask of tea they had brought. Finding a bucket in the bathroom, she poured half of the hot water from the large flask and mixed it to a comfortable temperature.
She guided her to the bathroom. "Can you manage the bath yourself?" Nuratu nodded yes. Mamy stepped out and closed the door behind her. Before Nuratu emerged, Mamy prepared her tea. In her anxiety, Mamy had completely forgotten to bring a change of clothes. Nuratu had to put her old clothes back on, then sat on the edge of the bed, slowly sipping her tea. Mamy poured some steaming offal pepper soup she had made into a plate and handed it to her. She accepted it without objection; the aroma was comforting, and her long-suppressed hunger suddenly flared up.
Only then did a thought strike Mamy. She pulled out her phone and dialed Zaitun. The call was cut from the other end, and then Zaitun called her back. "Nuratu has been found, we are at the hospital right now," Mamy said upon answering. She could hear Zaitun’s joy through the receiver as she demanded the name of the hospital, promising to come immediately. After hanging up, Mamy began calling other relatives who had been distressed by her disappearance, informing them she had been found. Barister Sahabi was the only one left to call, but she didn't have his number. She had to wait until Daddy returned for him to call and inform him. He did not hesitate and headed straight to the hospital. Within no time, everyone had gathered at the hospital, smiles stretching from ear to ear; it was impossible to tell who was the happiest to see her. The moment Zaitun arrived, she rushed to embrace her and burst into tears, herself looking completely worn out, while her mother, who had accompanied her, greeted Mamy and offered her congratulations.
The Barrister himself felt an overwhelming urge to embrace her out of sheer happiness, but propriety forbade it; moreover, the room was packed. However, he was deeply distressed to see how emaciated she had become, her collarbones sharply protruding. Inwardly, he vowed that once she revealed who had abducted her, he would pursue them with every ounce of his strength. That very night, she was discharged, and they went home. News of her safe return quickly spread through the neighborhood, and visitors flooded in throughout the evening to offer their congratulations.
Ever since they returned, she confined herself to her room, stripped off the clothes she had been wearing, and threw them away, unable to bear the thought of ever putting them on again. She wanted to be completely alone to process her thoughts. One thing heavily weighed on her mind: those weapons she had seen being delivered by the helicopter. Try as she might to deduce who was responsible, she hit a brick wall. On another note, she wondered how her Daddy had managed to raise such a staggering amount of money to secure her release. Where did he get it? What kind of business was he actually running?
It took three days after her return for her to fully recover. She wanted to return to work that day, but her parents insisted she regain more strength. A full month passed before she finally went back, and Daddy insisted she stop going out unescorted, promising to hire security guards to protect her.
They were seated in a magnificent, exquisitely furnished living room—six men plus the mastermind himself, making seven. He sat imperiously on a long sofa, flanked on either side by his bodyguards. Gadanga turned to look at Goje sitting beside him, understanding his unspoken cue. He immediately pulled two large bags of money forward and pushed them toward the leader sitting across from them.
The leader pulled them close and unzipped them, revealing stacks of cash. He picked up a bundle, sniffed it while letting out a sinister smile, and placed it back down.
"What is the plan now?" he asked, his eyes on Gadanga. "We proceed as usual, leader," he replied. The leader smiled again and said, "This time, the tune has changed, so the dance must change too. Our usual equal split will be different today. I must take three-fifths of the share, and you will divide the remaining two-fifths among yourselves due to certain circumstances." Gadanga looked up and threw him a sharp look upon hearing this, but then lowered his eyes and closed them without uttering a word. "I am listening to you, Aliyu," the leader said, seeing he had no intention of speaking. "Whatever you decide is fine, Leader," Aliyu replied without opening his eyes.
Immediately, the leader divided the money, placing his own share into a bag beside him and pushing their portion toward them. Feeling the bag bump against his leg, Aliyu opened his eyes slowly and gestured to Maiyagi with a glance. Maiyagi bent down, picked up the bag of money, went inside, and put it away. The guest stood up and instructed his men to carry his share of the money. He extended his hand, they shook hands once more, and he turned to leave. They followed closely behind him. Aliyu also stood up and followed them with a slow, reluctant stride. They escorted him all the way to his car. After getting in, the leader leaned his head out, "Aliyu, excellent work, keep up the vigilance." Aliyu simply nodded. The driver drove off, and they exited the premises.
They returned inside. Aliyu had them bring the money to him, staring at it with an unreadable expression. He opened the bag, divided it into two equal halves, and distributed it between them, keeping his own portion aside. Seeing the sheer volume of the money, they cheered excitedly, showering him with praises and expressions of gratitude. He set aside another portion and instructed them to call the young informant who worked for them to come and collect his share that very day. He then stood up, took his own cut, and left the house. He got into his car, started it, and drove away.
From the moment he entered the orphanage, he watched the children playing happily with a deep, emotional look in his eyes. He headed straight to the main office, and after being ushered in, entered with a warm greeting. A light-complexioned woman sat there wearing a veil; she was clearly elderly, likely in her late fifties. The moment she saw him, her face lit up with a smile. "Welcome, come and sit down." He found a place to sit and greeted her. She responded warmly, then stood up, opened the refrigerator near her, and brought out water and juice for him. "In the name of Allah, Aliyu, have some refreshments," she said, her face still radiating warmth. "Alhamdulillah, thank you, Maah," he said. "Come on, Aliyu, at least drink some water." He didn't argue further; he took the water, opened it, took a small sip, and set it down. They exchanged pleasantries once more before he pulled the bag beside him and pushed it toward her. "Thank you for your tireless efforts, Malam Aliyu, you truly never tire." She pulled the bag close and opened it.
"One never tires of acts that earn divine rewards, Maah."
"That is true. May Allah reward you with goodness and expand your blessings."
He replied with an amen. "Just like always, this will be used where it is needed most—their education, health, food, and clothing, ensuring they lack absolutely nothing, just like children with privileged upbringings. Only Allah knows the full extent of your reward," she added. "Ma shaa Allah, I must be on my way," he said, standing up. "Leaving so soon? Won't you wait for me to call some of the children to greet you?" she asked, rising as well. "Next time, I'm in a bit of a hurry right now." With that, he left, and she followed him out, continuing to pray for him.
The children had already surrounded his car. He patted some of them on the head, then opened the door and got inside. They kept jumping around shouting, "Uncle! Uncle!" until he drove away, waving his hand to them as they waved back...
TURMIN DINYA
BY FATIMA UMAR KAS (Mummyn Mihal)
(13)
He sat on the edge of his mattress, resting his hands on his knees. His eyes were closed as he listened to a program playing on the radio before him. Suddenly, her clear, resonant voice filtered through the speakers. He snapped his eyes open—it was undoubtedly her, the girl who had completely disrupted his peace of mind, occupying his thoughts day and night. He desperately wanted to cast her out of his heart because he had no time to waste on romance, but the feeling was proving too powerful to resist.
He let out a heavy sigh and repeated the name he heard her say at the end of the show, which was how he finally learned her identity. He stared at the station's frequency, wanting to memorize it because it seemed she hosted this program regularly. As the show came to an end, he switched off the radio, lay flat on his back, and stared at the ceiling, turning his thoughts to the task ahead of them—for she or her circle was their next target...
She rested her chin on both hands, deeply lost in thought. Feeling a gentle tap on her shoulder, she snapped out of it quickly. She drew a breath of relief upon seeing who it was. "Are you alright, Nuratu?" Zaitun asked, her eyes fixed on her. Nuratu simply shook her head to indicate it was nothing. Zaitun stared at her intently for a moment, then walked around and sat beside her. "The face reflects the state of the heart. I can see deep worry written all over your face, yet you claim it's nothing?"
She let out a sigh and said, "Do you know Barrister Sahabi sent his elders yesterday? They brought the registry money and everything; all that's left is to fix the wedding date," she finished, looking as though she might burst into tears.
"Wow, Ma shaa Allah! I am so happy for you, you're finally taking that big step. May Allah bring our own suitor along soon too."
"Hmmm, you don't understand, Zaitun. That's just how it is..."
"I know your concerns, my friend, but I don't think this should be a source of worry. Since they've brought the money and the elders are involved, just be patient. Gradually, you will grow to love him. The Barrister is flawless and highly respectable; he deserves to be loved. He is a complete, sensible, and composed man—exactly the traits you want in a husband. I am certain you will enjoy married life with him."
"But what about love? The joy of marriage is marrying someone you love and who loves you back. I can swear to you I have never felt even an atom of romantic love for him in my heart. He simply commands high respect and value in my eyes, which prevents me from treating him poorly, and that's why I tolerate his courtship. He has been wanting to send his elders for a long time and I kept stalling him. Then he just blindsided me without warning because he takes pride in the fact that everyone in our household approves of him! It was only this morning that Daddy informed us," she finished in deep frustration. "Be patient, you know marriage is ordained by Allah, and a person's spouse is destined. Personally, I believe it's better to marry someone who is madly in love with you than someone you are madly in love with. Look at me and Haisam; we are deeply in love and he's the one I want to marry, but he's starting to lose his appeal to me because he flirts constantly, he's overly exposed, and he indulges in substance abuse—everything we despise in a man. For now, drop these thoughts, leave the choice to Allah, and keep praying; he will find his way into your heart eventually. You have a heavy workload today: reading listener feedback from the previous episode, producing the new show, and remember, we are going out today to try our luck again to see if we can find a lead."
She grimaced slightly. "I'm starting to get tired of these outings. We are just exhausting ourselves for nothing; we aren't going to find that girl."
"Even so, let's try. In shaa Allah, our efforts won't be in vain, and remember, we might save members of the public from her malice."
With great effort, Zaitun persuaded her to get up, and they left the office. They got into their car and headed straight to a spot Zaitun had scouted for them. After they sat down, a waiter brought them a menu. Zaitun made their selection and handed it back.
Within minutes, the waiter returned with their order and placed it before them.
However, food was not their primary focus; it was the mission that brought them there. Out of the corner of her eye, Zaitun scanned the patrons going about their business. Most were young couples eating and chatting; she saw absolutely nothing suspicious. Nuratu turned her gaze to Zaitun, who was also casually observing the room. "Honestly, doing it this way, we won't uncover anything except exhausting ourselves. We aren't law enforcement officers to spot a criminal at a single glance. We need a new strategy."
"If I see the girl, I can recognize her because my uncle gave me a description of her physical build," Zaitun added, her eyes darting around.
"You won't recognize anything since you've never actually seen her. Only he would recognize her on sight. And besides, how many restaurants and recreational spots do we have in this city? Do you intend for us to tour all of them looking for her?" Nuratu countered, looking at her.
"Fine, let's just leave for now since we left pending work at the office. We'll try another time." They stood up without touching their food. Nuratu pulled out an unspecified amount of cash, handed it to the waiter, and they left. They got into the car, and the driver pulled away as they continued discussing alternative angles to crack the case...
They stood before him as he issued instructions, concluding with, "Be careful and catch people off guard so we don't encounter any hitches." They bowed respectfully and left. Once they departed, he got ready and left for his own assignment.
Upon arriving at the target neighborhood, they split up. They were dressed respectably, ensuring no one would suspect them. They blended in with the crowd until late into the night, waiting until even the local tea seller had packed up and most people had long surrendered to sleep. Truly, as the proverb goes, night is a servant's rest, but it is also a criminal's cover. One of them stepped up to the entrance of the house and knocked gently. Silence; no one opened. He knocked again, still silence. He glanced around before banging heavily on the door.
He heard a male voice from inside ask, "Who is it?" He fell silent and didn't answer, gesturing with his hand for the others to move in. They crept against the wall of the building, rifles drawn. He banged again, rattling the door. "Who on earth is trying to break my door down at this hour of the night?" the voice barked harshly from the entrance corridor. "Either you open it or we break it down and come in! By Allah, not even a trace of you will be left if we do. You better open up peacefully because you aren't even the one we are looking for!" Maiyagi yelled back harshly.
Hearing those words made his body shake violently—the typical reaction of someone with a guilty conscience. With trembling hands, he drew back the latch and peeked out slowly to see who they were. Quickly, they...
2. Summary of the Original Story
This segment of Turmin Danya follows a high-stakes, intersecting narrative involving a female journalist named Nuratu, her family, and a criminal syndicate.
The Investigation and Internal Conflict: Nuratu recovers and returns to her job as a radio journalist, but she is deeply unsettled by the weapons shipment she saw and her father's mysterious ability to instantly conjure millions in cash. Meanwhile, her family pressures her into an arranged marriage with Barrister Sahabi, whom she respects but does not love. She and her colleague, Zaitun, attempt amateur undercover investigative work in local restaurants to track down a criminal lead, but they realize they lack tactical skills. The story ends on a cliffhanger as Aliyu's gang launches a midnight raid on another target's house.
3. Character Descriptions
Zaitun: Nuratu's close friend and professional colleague. She acts as a sounding board, confidante, and partner-in-crime during their dangerous, amateur investigative outings.
4. Literary Analytics