She hurriedly finished her chores because she wanted to head out to her social gathering spot. Her young son, Mohammed, had gruel all over his mouth, but she didn't even bother to wipe it. "Mama, I need to use the restroom," he said. "Go on, Zarah will wash you up. When you're done, there's food in the kitchen; Zarah can dish it out for you. I'm leaving right now but I won't be long, okay? If your father returns, tell him I went to visit a sick person." Zarah spoke up, "Ummi, are you going out again today? Why can't you just sit at home instead of gossiping about every man that passes by? Have fear of God, wallahi! Our teacher said if you sit outside and have nothing good to say, it is better to remain indoors because the tongue is a source of disaster." "Shut up! Zarah, are you seriously talking back to me like that just because I go out to pass the time? Let me tell you, even your father cannot stop me or restrict me. You shameless girl, acting just like your father! So you think you're a pious Islamic school student now? Let me tell you, no matter how holy you think you are, you have no right to preach to me! I am going out. Would you rather I sit at home until frustration over your father kills me? Wallahi, you are too small to stop me." Hauwa stormed out, leaving Zarah, Mohammed, and Aliyu behind. As soon as she arrived at the gathering, Maimuna’s mother spoke up: "Look at this shameless Hauwa! I was just telling them we’d see you soon, and here you are." Hauwa sat down and the gossip began. A man walked past them, and Hauwa remarked, "Wow, this man is so incredibly tall. I wonder how his wife copes with his massive build? If he lays on her, she won't even be able to move." "Oh, leave that alone," another replied. "That's Maryam's husband. That is exactly what she deals with. He is so full of himself. The other day we greeted him and he ignored us out of sheer arrogance. He acts so holy, he won't even lift his eyes to look at us." Hauwa scoffed, "Who cares about someone else's husband? I don't have time for him. If he were my husband, I’d be in trouble because if he is this tall, I can only imagine how long his 'thing' is." Aisha interrupted, "Haba Hauwa, this is forbidden! How can married women like you be making descriptions of another woman's husband? Honestly, this is wrong. What if his wife hears you? We are on good terms with them. Just as you are slandering someone else's husband, that is how others slander ours too." Maimuna’s mother countered, "Let them slander mine! He is bald and short. His 'thing' is just the right size for me, not ridiculously long. Let's just leave it at that." They all laughed, making fun of every single person who passed by that day. Since Maimuna’s mother sells stimulants and local tobacco products, Hauwa said, "Maimuna's mother, give me fifty Naira worth of sandar ba'are (local tobacco product). Zarah will bring the money to you later, please." "Honestly, I won't give it to you on credit until you clear your old tab," she replied. "You stingy woman!" Hauwa snapped. She opened her phone case, pulled out a one-thousand-Naira note, and said, "Give me change and take your money. You poor people are just worthless." "Whatever, just give it to me," Maimuna’s mother said, handing her 800 Naira in change. They sat by the street as beggars and prominent figures passed by on foot and in cars. They didn't disperse until late afternoon when Hauwa noticed visitors arriving from out of town. "See you later," she said, buying chewing gum and walking away while chewing it rhythmically.
Part 2: Family Interventions and Growing Defiance
Hauwa lived in a neighborhood called Dabo Aliyu within Damaturu, the capital city of Yobe State. As soon as she entered the house, she met Zarah. "Who is looking for me?" Hauwa asked. "Inna (your mother) came an hour ago, and your husband, Abba, also came home and went back out," Zarah replied. Hauwa sighed softly and entered the living room, uttering a greeting. Inna answered coldly. Hauwa sat down and said, "Good morning, Inna." "Fine. What is the meaning of this endless wandering?" Inna asked. Hauwa remained silent. "Hauwa, is this how a responsible married woman behaves? Wandering about with nothing to do? Look at Zarah; she is the one who cooked the food. Women like you throw your families into chaos. Fear God, wallahi! Your husband just left, and I saw him leaving right as I walked in." "Inna, please forgive me, it’s not like that," Hauwa pleaded. "The house was just too quiet, so I went out to pass the time." "To pass the time? Are you too grand to stay in your own home? You only leave to gossip and eat around. May God guide you, because if you push Ibrahim to his limit, he will definitely marry a second wife." "Haba Inna, why bring up a co-wife? Every time he complains to you, your only solution is that he should remarry." Inna lectured her severely, deeply upset by her behavior. After seeing Inna off, Hauwa returned inside, dished out food for the children, and they ate. Later, she told Zarah, "I'm going to buy a recharge card at Maimuna’s mother’s shop." "Alright, Ummi," Zarah replied. Hauwa left at 7:30 PM and chatted away until 9:20 PM. By the time she returned, Ibrahim was already back. Finding her absent, he had taken a shower, changed into his jallabiya, eaten the food Zarah served him, and performed his Isha prayers. When Hauwa walked in and greeted him, he pretended not to see her. She found a place to sit and said, "Welcome back, Abban Zarah." "Fine," Ibrahim responded sharply. "Hauwa, where did you go at this time of the night? Why are you so reckless? What is wrong with you? You left the children all alone just to sit at your gossip hub. Wallahi, you are pushing me to the wall. I am going to marry another wife, and you should know I will not look back." "Fine! Just because you married me, do you expect me to sit here like a security guard? You want me to stay indoors until depression kills me? Wallahi, that won't happen. Go ahead and marry! Do you think I care?" "You are just an ignorant, uncultured woman wrapped in darkness. I didn't realize how unstable you were until after I married you," Ibrahim lamented. "Are you calling me ignorant? Wallahi, I am not ignorant! You regret marrying me? You foolish, mindless man!" He insulted her severely that night, but it didn't move her at all. The next morning, as soon as he left for work, she went out too, leaving the children alone in the room.
Part 3: The Tragedy
On Monday, Ibrahim woke up early for prayers and didn't go back to sleep. He ironed his children's school uniforms, prepared their bathwater, dressed them, and got them ready while Hauwa was still fast asleep. "Ummi, wake up, we are leaving," the children called. "Why do you always have to wake me up? Just go on your own and don't wake me again!" she snapped from under her blanket. Mohammed left the room just as Ibrahim walked in. "Hauwa, what kind of wife are you? It's almost 8:00 AM, you are still sleeping, and the children's school bus is already here!" "Abban Zarah, what do you want me to do? You are suffocating me!" she said, pulling the covers over her head. "Wallahi, you must get up!" he ordered. She reluctantly got out of bed. "What should I do for you?" she mumbled. "Get up and clean this house, and dare not step foot outside today!" By 9:00 AM, Ibrahim left for the office, but his heart was heavy with an uneasy feeling he couldn't explain. His colleagues noticed his distress and questioned him, but he had no answers. The moment he left, Hauwa abandoned the unwashed dishes and headed straight back to her gossip circle. Maimuna’s mother said, "We were just about to check on you. What kept you?" "I had to wait until he left," Hauwa replied. None of their husbands usually stayed home during the day, except for Maimuna’s mother’s husband, who was always around. Aisha sat quietly. "Aisha, why are you so silent?" Hauwa asked. "Leave me be. I feel incredibly uneasy today, as if something terrible is about to happen," Aisha sighed. "There you go again," Hauwa laughed. "I felt the same way when I woke up, my heart was racing." They continued gossiping, completely oblivious to the fact that the children had already returned from school. Back at the house, the children were hungry. "Anty Zarah, I'm hungry," Aliyu said. "Wait until I finish praying, then I'll boil some pasta for us," Zarah replied. She performed her ablution and went into the living room to pray. Meanwhile, young Mohammed went into the kitchen and turned on the gas stove. Suddenly, a massive flame erupted. As he tried to blow it out, the fire caught his clothes. He screamed until his voice failed him as the fire rapidly spread from the kitchen to the ceiling. Smelling smoke, Aliyu called out, "Anty Zarah, I smell something burning." Zarah told him to stay put and pray, but upon turning around, she saw the living room engulfed in flames. The exit was blocked. She screamed for Mohammed, running blindly toward the kitchen, but the fire caught her clothes too. She screamed for her mother, but there was no one to hear them. The fire consumed them both.
Part 4: Aftermath and Consequence
A crowd gathered to fight the fire, but Hauwa was still at the gathering, completely unaware. A siren wailed in the distance. "Listen, that sounds like a fire truck," someone remarked. "A fire truck? Don't jinx us," Hauwa joked as they ate fried bean cakes (awara) and gossiped. Suddenly, a neighborhood boy came running out of breath, "Maman Zarah! Fire! There's a fire!" "Where?" "At your house! Zarah and the others are burning inside!" Hauwa jumped up in shock. Without even grabbing her hijab, she ran toward her street. She saw her house engulfed in smoke as people desperately threw water. Hauwa began to wail like a madwoman. A neighbor slapped her hard across the face. "You careless mother! God gave you children and you failed to protect them!" She collapsed in tears as people held her back. Just then, Ibrahim arrived on his motorcycle, having been alerted by a phone call. When he was told that all his children had perished in the fire, he fainted instantly. The entire neighborhood blamed and cursed Hauwa for her negligence. Her father arrived and beat her right there on the street. "Hauwa, I will never forgive you for causing the deaths of my three grandchildren! Never! If your own house couldn't keep you inside, you chose to stay with uneducated gossips. If you had burned yourself, I wouldn't care, but you ruined my lineage!" All of Hauwa's family, including her mother Inna, arrived in tears. They recovered Mohammed's body from the kitchen; he was burned down to the bone, especially his face. Zarah was pulled out barely breathing and rushed to the hospital alongside Ibrahim, who was receiving emergency care. The bodies of Aliyu and Mohammed were taken to Hauwa's family house for burial preparations. Their charred remains had to be gathered piece by piece and wrapped together. May God have mercy on their souls. Ibrahim remained unconscious for twenty-four hours. When he finally woke up, he began screaming, "Where is Zarah? Mohammed? Aliyu? I will never forgive you, Hauwa! You destroyed me and took my children away! They only wanted to make something to eat because you failed them!" He hallucinated like a madman until doctors sedated him. He was discharged a week later, but his mental health was completely shattered. He spent every day at the hospital by Zarah's bedside. A month later, Zarah's condition worsened. Holding her father's hand, she whispered, "Abba, I wasn't the one who lit the fire. It was Mohammed. I was praying, and he went to cook because Ummi didn't make anything for us... Abba, forgive me, I am dying." She turned her head and passed away. Initially, Ibrahim didn't realize she was dead. "Zarah, are you asleep?" he asked, trying to adjust her blanket, only to realize she was gone. He broke down completely. Before the traditional forty-day mourning period ended, he divorced Hauwa by pronouncing it three times. From that point on, Ibrahim suffered from severe hypertension. He would sit alone and talk to the thin air, saying, "Zarah, welcome back." He was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. After eight months of treatment in Borno, he recovered slightly and left Damaturu permanently to return to his hometown of Potiskum. He spent four years unmarried before finally finding love again. As for Hauwa, whenever a suitor came seeking her hand in marriage and heard her history, they would back out. She spent eight years alone before an elderly man finally married her. They spent ten years together without a child until he eventually divorced her. Such is life.
STORY 2: ZUWAIRA
Part 1: Strained Relations
"Zuwaira, didn't I tell you not to cook pounded yam (tuwo) in this house today? Why are you so stubborn?" "Please forgive me, Baban Sadeeq," Zuwaira replied. "I noticed we didn't have many ingredients left in the house, which is why I made it. I won't do it again; I'll only cook what you ask for." "Take this tuwo out of my sight before I throw these dishes away!" "May God calm your anger," she muttered, quickly clearing the food. "Don't you dare sit under the same roof with me!" Baban Sadeeq snapped, grabbing his car keys and storming out of the house. He drove to a popular spot called Alsudaniya, a well-known lounge for fast food, snacks, and delicacies, just to avoid eating at home. He returned around 8:00 PM. Zuwaira and the children were in the living room watching television. She greeted him, and the older children, Fa'iza and Yasmin, immediately stood up and went to their bedroom to give him space. "Go to the kitchen and bring plates so I can dish out what I bought for Fa'iza and the others," he demanded. "I know you want to starve us with your endless tuwo." With tears in her eyes, Zuwaira brought the plates, packed the food, and took it to her daughters' room. "Mommy, why are you crying? Is it Abba again? Don't worry, it will be fine," Fa'iza comforted her, wrapping her arms around her mother. Zuwaira stayed in the room with them until they finished eating, refusing to go back to the living room to face her husband. They lived along the Maiduguri Road in Damaturu, specifically in the Red Bricks quarters, past the NNPC mega station, at house number C138. It was a quiet neighborhood where everyone minded their own business. Zuwaira rarely went out; she spent her days helping the children with their schoolwork and assignments. By 11:00 PM, she went to bed, her heart heavy with grief wondering why Abubakar, her husband, treated her with such disdain despite marrying for love. The next morning, after completing her chores, she opened her phone to check a WhatsApp group. She jumped with joy when she saw a notification directed at her. Being alone most of the day, her phone was her only escape until it was time to cook dinner. When Baban Sadeeq returned, she served him aromatic white rice and stew. He looked at her and said, "Zuwaira, sit down. I have an issue. The landlord wants his house back because his son is getting married soon. Call your siblings to help you pack; we are moving." "Alright, Baban Sadeeq. May God make this move a blessing for us. Amin," she replied. Within a short time, they packed their belongings and moved to Benkaliyo, another neighborhood along Maiduguri Road. This time, it was their own house, though a few minor renovations were still incomplete.
Part 2: The Dangerous Path
Neighbors began visiting to welcome them. Zuwaira was heavily pregnant and in her final month. One afternoon, her close friend Aisha visited. "My friend, welcome! You've had a long journey," Zuwaira greeted her. "Let me get you some water." "Please do, I am exhausted," Aisha said. "I am so tired of dealing with Abubakar. His behavior keeps getting worse. I need a solution." "Don't worry," Aisha whispered. "Do you have 5,000 Naira? I know a spiritual healer (malami) in the Bindigari neighborhood. I can get a substance from him that you can slip into his tea. That's what all my elder sisters use to control their husbands." "I'll do whatever it takes, Aisha," Zuwaira agreed. "In this day and age, with so many single women and divorcees out there, it's better to secure my husband and have peace of mind." "I'll bring it to you this evening," Aisha promised. Aisha left at 11:00 AM and went straight to the healer's house in Bindigari. She successfully acquired several charms and powders, instructing Zuwaira to place some under his pillow and mix the rest into his food. By 5:45 PM, Baban Sadeeq parked his car outside and walked in carrying groceries. He didn't even utter a greeting. "Baban Sadeeq, you didn't even greet us," Zuwaira noted. "Is this your house or mine?" he snapped. "A man comes home and instead of taking the bags from his hands, you are preaching to me? If you want to lecture people, go join the Yobe State Judiciary, but no one bosses me around in my own house!" Zuwaira quietly took the bags to the kitchen and served him dinner. Within three days of administering the healer's charms, the medicine began to take effect. Baban Sadeeq stopped arguing. He became completely quiet, passive, and submissive, losing all his assertiveness. Zuwaira called her friend in excitement, "Aisha, thank you so much! The medicine is working perfectly! I want to give the healer more money." Shortly after, Zuwaira went into labor and was rushed to the Maisandari Hospital. A nurse named Hadiza was on night duty and successfully delivered Zuwaira of a bouncing baby boy. They named the baby Mohammed Shehu, affectionately called Fahad. As the months passed, the older children began playing outside excessively. The neighborhood was filled with stray dogs, and young Sadeeq, who inherited his father's stubborn nature, began playing with them constantly. Zuwaira became deeply addicted to her phone, spending hours chatting in WhatsApp groups. She neglected the children's meals. Whenever the children disturbed her, she would scream, "Yasmin! Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me when I'm on my phone? Get out of here!" Her baby, Fahad, grew into a toddler and began crawling all over the compound while she remained glued to her screen. One evening, she boiled a large basin of hot water for the baby's bath. She left the boiling water in the courtyard and went inside to grab a sponge. Her phone buzzed with a notification from her chat group. She got distracted and started typing. Outside, little Fahad crawled toward the basin and accidentally tipped it over. The scalding water drenched his chest, stomach, and legs. He let out a horrific shriek. Zuwaira was so engrossed in her chat that she didn't react until his second, weaker scream. She rushed out to find his skin peeling off. She frantically called her husband, who rushed them to the hospital. The doctor emerged from the emergency room with a grim expression: "We need to keep him for two weeks for immediate surgery. However, the burns around his groin are severe. As he grows, he will face permanent reproductive complications unless he undergoes extensive long-term treatments." Baban Sadeeq broke down, "Zuwaira, how did this happen? Were you on that cursed phone again? You have ruined my son!" Due to the effects of the charms, he couldn't even summon the strength to punish her, though she trembled with guilt. Despite the tragedy, Zuwaira didn't stop her social media addiction. Baban Sadeeq poured all his remaining love into young Sadeeq and the disfigured Fahad. One evening, Sadeeq was outside playing with a stray dog past Maghrib prayer time. The dog suddenly snapped, fiercely biting his leg and hands. The boy let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed, unable to walk. A neighborhood boy ran to the house, screaming, "Maman Sadeeq! A dog has bitten Sadeeq!" "Which Sadeeq?!" she panicked, running out into the street without even grabbing her hijab, only to see her son covered in blood...
STORY 1: COEXISTENCE (ZAMAN TAKEWA)
Part 1: Where is the Way Out? (Ina Mafita)
She hurriedly finished her chores because she wanted to head out to her social gathering spot. Her young son, Mohammed, had gruel all over his mouth, but she didn't even bother to wipe it.
"Mama, I need to use the restroom," he said.
"Go on, Zarah will wash you up. When you're done, there's food in the kitchen; Zarah can dish it out for you. I'm leaving right now but I won't be long, okay? If your father returns, tell him I went to visit a sick person."
Zarah spoke up, "Ummi, are you going out again today? Why can't you just sit at home instead of gossiping about every man that passes by? Have fear of God, wallahi! Our teacher said if you sit outside and have nothing good to say, it is better to remain indoors because the tongue is a source of disaster."
"Shut up! Zarah, are you seriously talking back to me like that just because I go out to pass the time? Let me tell you, even your father cannot stop me or restrict me. You shameless girl, acting just like your father! So you think you're a pious Islamic school student now? Let me tell you, no matter how holy you think you are, you have no right to preach to me! I am going out. Would you rather I sit at home until frustration over your father kills me? Wallahi, you are too small to stop me."
Hauwa stormed out, leaving Zarah, Mohammed, and Aliyu behind. As soon as she arrived at the gathering, Maimuna’s mother spoke up: "Look at this shameless Hauwa! I was just telling them we’d see you soon, and here you are."
Hauwa sat down and the gossip began. A man walked past them, and Hauwa remarked, "Wow, this man is so incredibly tall. I wonder how his wife copes with his massive build? If he lays on her, she won't even be able to move."
"Oh, leave that alone," another replied. "That's Maryam's husband. That is exactly what she deals with. He is so full of himself. The other day we greeted him and he ignored us out of sheer arrogance. He acts so holy, he won't even lift his eyes to look at us."
Hauwa scoffed, "Who cares about someone else's husband? I don't have time for him. If he were my husband, I’d be in trouble because if he is this tall, I can only imagine how long his 'thing' is."
Aisha interrupted, "Haba Hauwa, this is forbidden! How can married women like you be making descriptions of another woman's husband? Honestly, this is wrong. What if his wife hears you? We are on good terms with them. Just as you are slandering someone else's husband, that is how others slander ours too."
Maimuna’s mother countered, "Let them slander mine! He is bald and short. His 'thing' is just the right size for me, not ridiculously long. Let's just leave it at that."
They all laughed, making fun of every single person who passed by that day. Since Maimuna’s mother sells stimulants and local tobacco products, Hauwa said, "Maimuna's mother, give me fifty Naira worth of sandar ba'are (local tobacco product). Zarah will bring the money to you later, please."
"Honestly, I won't give it to you on credit until you clear your old tab," she replied.
"You stingy woman!" Hauwa snapped. She opened her phone case, pulled out a one-thousand-Naira note, and said, "Give me change and take your money. You poor people are just worthless."
"Whatever, just give it to me," Maimuna’s mother said, handing her 800 Naira in change. They sat by the street as beggars and prominent figures passed by on foot and in cars. They didn't disperse until late afternoon when Hauwa noticed visitors arriving from out of town. "See you later," she said, buying chewing gum and walking away while chewing it rhythmically.
Part 2: Family Interventions and Growing Defiance
Hauwa lived in a neighborhood called Dabo Aliyu within Damaturu, the capital city of Yobe State.
As soon as she entered the house, she met Zarah. "Who is looking for me?" Hauwa asked.
"Inna (your mother) came an hour ago, and your husband, Abba, also came home and went back out," Zarah replied. Hauwa sighed softly and entered the living room, uttering a greeting. Inna answered coldly.
Hauwa sat down and said, "Good morning, Inna."
"Fine. What is the meaning of this endless wandering?" Inna asked. Hauwa remained silent. "Hauwa, is this how a responsible married woman behaves? Wandering about with nothing to do? Look at Zarah; she is the one who cooked the food. Women like you throw your families into chaos. Fear God, wallahi! Your husband just left, and I saw him leaving right as I walked in."
"Inna, please forgive me, it’s not like that," Hauwa pleaded. "The house was just too quiet, so I went out to pass the time."
"To pass the time? Are you too grand to stay in your own home? You only leave to gossip and eat around. May God guide you, because if you push Ibrahim to his limit, he will definitely marry a second wife."
"Haba Inna, why bring up a co-wife? Every time he complains to you, your only solution is that he should remarry." Inna lectured her severely, deeply upset by her behavior.
After seeing Inna off, Hauwa returned inside, dished out food for the children, and they ate. Later, she told Zarah, "I'm going to buy a recharge card at Maimuna’s mother’s shop."
"Alright, Ummi," Zarah replied. Hauwa left at 7:30 PM and chatted away until 9:20 PM. By the time she returned, Ibrahim was already back. Finding her absent, he had taken a shower, changed into his jallabiya, eaten the food Zarah served him, and performed his Isha prayers.
When Hauwa walked in and greeted him, he pretended not to see her. She found a place to sit and said, "Welcome back, Abban Zarah."
"Fine," Ibrahim responded sharply. "Hauwa, where did you go at this time of the night? Why are you so reckless? What is wrong with you? You left the children all alone just to sit at your gossip hub. Wallahi, you are pushing me to the wall. I am going to marry another wife, and you should know I will not look back."
"Fine! Just because you married me, do you expect me to sit here like a security guard? You want me to stay indoors until depression kills me? Wallahi, that won't happen. Go ahead and marry! Do you think I care?"
"You are just an ignorant, uncultured woman wrapped in darkness. I didn't realize how unstable you were until after I married you," Ibrahim lamented.
"Are you calling me ignorant? Wallahi, I am not ignorant! You regret marrying me? You foolish, mindless man!" He insulted her severely that night, but it didn't move her at all. The next morning, as soon as he left for work, she went out too, leaving the children alone in the room.
Part 3: The Tragedy
On Monday, Ibrahim woke up early for prayers and didn't go back to sleep. He ironed his children's school uniforms, prepared their bathwater, dressed them, and got them ready while Hauwa was still fast asleep.
"Ummi, wake up, we are leaving," the children called.
"Why do you always have to wake me up? Just go on your own and don't wake me again!" she snapped from under her blanket. Mohammed left the room just as Ibrahim walked in.
"Hauwa, what kind of wife are you? It's almost 8:00 AM, you are still sleeping, and the children's school bus is already here!"
"Abban Zarah, what do you want me to do? You are suffocating me!" she said, pulling the covers over her head.
"Wallahi, you must get up!" he ordered. She reluctantly got out of bed. "What should I do for you?" she mumbled. "Get up and clean this house, and dare not step foot outside today!"
By 9:00 AM, Ibrahim left for the office, but his heart was heavy with an uneasy feeling he couldn't explain. His colleagues noticed his distress and questioned him, but he had no answers. The moment he left, Hauwa abandoned the unwashed dishes and headed straight back to her gossip circle.
Maimuna’s mother said, "We were just about to check on you. What kept you?"
"I had to wait until he left," Hauwa replied. None of their husbands usually stayed home during the day, except for Maimuna’s mother’s husband, who was always around.
Aisha sat quietly. "Aisha, why are you so silent?" Hauwa asked.
"Leave me be. I feel incredibly uneasy today, as if something terrible is about to happen," Aisha sighed.
"There you go again," Hauwa laughed. "I felt the same way when I woke up, my heart was racing." They continued gossiping, completely oblivious to the fact that the children had already returned from school.
Back at the house, the children were hungry. "Anty Zarah, I'm hungry," Aliyu said.
"Wait until I finish praying, then I'll boil some pasta for us," Zarah replied. She performed her ablution and went into the living room to pray.
Meanwhile, young Mohammed went into the kitchen and turned on the gas stove. Suddenly, a massive flame erupted. As he tried to blow it out, the fire caught his clothes. He screamed until his voice failed him as the fire rapidly spread from the kitchen to the ceiling.
Smelling smoke, Aliyu called out, "Anty Zarah, I smell something burning." Zarah told him to stay put and pray, but upon turning around, she saw the living room engulfed in flames. The exit was blocked. She screamed for Mohammed, running blindly toward the kitchen, but the fire caught her clothes too. She screamed for her mother, but there was no one to hear them. The fire consumed them both.
Part 4: Aftermath and Consequence
A crowd gathered to fight the fire, but Hauwa was still at the gathering, completely unaware.
A siren wailed in the distance. "Listen, that sounds like a fire truck," someone remarked.
"A fire truck? Don't jinx us," Hauwa joked as they ate fried bean cakes (awara) and gossiped. Suddenly, a neighborhood boy came running out of breath, "Maman Zarah! Fire! There's a fire!"
"Where?"
"At your house! Zarah and the others are burning inside!"
Hauwa jumped up in shock. Without even grabbing her hijab, she ran toward her street. She saw her house engulfed in smoke as people desperately threw water. Hauwa began to wail like a madwoman.
A neighbor slapped her hard across the face. "You careless mother! God gave you children and you failed to protect them!" She collapsed in tears as people held her back. Just then, Ibrahim arrived on his motorcycle, having been alerted by a phone call.
When he was told that all his children had perished in the fire, he fainted instantly. The entire neighborhood blamed and cursed Hauwa for her negligence. Her father arrived and beat her right there on the street.
"Hauwa, I will never forgive you for causing the deaths of my three grandchildren! Never! If your own house couldn't keep you inside, you chose to stay with uneducated gossips. If you had burned yourself, I wouldn't care, but you ruined my lineage!" All of Hauwa's family, including her mother Inna, arrived in tears.
They recovered Mohammed's body from the kitchen; he was burned down to the bone, especially his face. Zarah was pulled out barely breathing and rushed to the hospital alongside Ibrahim, who was receiving emergency care.
The bodies of Aliyu and Mohammed were taken to Hauwa's family house for burial preparations. Their charred remains had to be gathered piece by piece and wrapped together. May God have mercy on their souls.
Ibrahim remained unconscious for twenty-four hours. When he finally woke up, he began screaming, "Where is Zarah? Mohammed? Aliyu? I will never forgive you, Hauwa! You destroyed me and took my children away! They only wanted to make something to eat because you failed them!" He hallucinated like a madman until doctors sedated him.
He was discharged a week later, but his mental health was completely shattered. He spent every day at the hospital by Zarah's bedside. A month later, Zarah's condition worsened. Holding her father's hand, she whispered, "Abba, I wasn't the one who lit the fire. It was Mohammed. I was praying, and he went to cook because Ummi didn't make anything for us... Abba, forgive me, I am dying." She turned her head and passed away.
Initially, Ibrahim didn't realize she was dead. "Zarah, are you asleep?" he asked, trying to adjust her blanket, only to realize she was gone. He broke down completely. Before the traditional forty-day mourning period ended, he divorced Hauwa by pronouncing it three times.
From that point on, Ibrahim suffered from severe hypertension. He would sit alone and talk to the thin air, saying, "Zarah, welcome back." He was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. After eight months of treatment in Borno, he recovered slightly and left Damaturu permanently to return to his hometown of Potiskum. He spent four years unmarried before finally finding love again.
As for Hauwa, whenever a suitor came seeking her hand in marriage and heard her history, they would back out. She spent eight years alone before an elderly man finally married her. They spent ten years together without a child until he eventually divorced her. Such is life.
STORY 2: ZUWAIRA
Part 1: Strained Relations
"Zuwaira, didn't I tell you not to cook pounded yam (tuwo) in this house today? Why are you so stubborn?"
"Please forgive me, Baban Sadeeq," Zuwaira replied. "I noticed we didn't have many ingredients left in the house, which is why I made it. I won't do it again; I'll only cook what you ask for."
"Take this tuwo out of my sight before I throw these dishes away!"
"May God calm your anger," she muttered, quickly clearing the food.
"Don't you dare sit under the same roof with me!" Baban Sadeeq snapped, grabbing his car keys and storming out of the house. He drove to a popular spot called Alsudaniya, a well-known lounge for fast food, snacks, and delicacies, just to avoid eating at home.
He returned around 8:00 PM. Zuwaira and the children were in the living room watching television. She greeted him, and the older children, Fa'iza and Yasmin, immediately stood up and went to their bedroom to give him space.
"Go to the kitchen and bring plates so I can dish out what I bought for Fa'iza and the others," he demanded. "I know you want to starve us with your endless tuwo."
With tears in her eyes, Zuwaira brought the plates, packed the food, and took it to her daughters' room.
"Mommy, why are you crying? Is it Abba again? Don't worry, it will be fine," Fa'iza comforted her, wrapping her arms around her mother. Zuwaira stayed in the room with them until they finished eating, refusing to go back to the living room to face her husband.
They lived along the Maiduguri Road in Damaturu, specifically in the Red Bricks quarters, past the NNPC mega station, at house number C138. It was a quiet neighborhood where everyone minded their own business. Zuwaira rarely went out; she spent her days helping the children with their schoolwork and assignments. By 11:00 PM, she went to bed, her heart heavy with grief wondering why Abubakar, her husband, treated her with such disdain despite marrying for love.
The next morning, after completing her chores, she opened her phone to check a WhatsApp group. She jumped with joy when she saw a notification directed at her. Being alone most of the day, her phone was her only escape until it was time to cook dinner.
When Baban Sadeeq returned, she served him aromatic white rice and stew. He looked at her and said, "Zuwaira, sit down. I have an issue. The landlord wants his house back because his son is getting married soon. Call your siblings to help you pack; we are moving."
"Alright, Baban Sadeeq. May God make this move a blessing for us. Amin," she replied.
Within a short time, they packed their belongings and moved to Benkaliyo, another neighborhood along Maiduguri Road. This time, it was their own house, though a few minor renovations were still incomplete.
Part 2: The Dangerous Path
Neighbors began visiting to welcome them. Zuwaira was heavily pregnant and in her final month. One afternoon, her close friend Aisha visited.
"My friend, welcome! You've had a long journey," Zuwaira greeted her. "Let me get you some water."
"Please do, I am exhausted," Aisha said. "I am so tired of dealing with Abubakar. His behavior keeps getting worse. I need a solution."
"Don't worry," Aisha whispered. "Do you have 5,000 Naira? I know a spiritual healer (malami) in the Bindigari neighborhood. I can get a substance from him that you can slip into his tea. That's what all my elder sisters use to control their husbands."
"I'll do whatever it takes, Aisha," Zuwaira agreed. "In this day and age, with so many single women and divorcees out there, it's better to secure my husband and have peace of mind."
"I'll bring it to you this evening," Aisha promised.
Aisha left at 11:00 AM and went straight to the healer's house in Bindigari. She successfully acquired several charms and powders, instructing Zuwaira to place some under his pillow and mix the rest into his food.
By 5:45 PM, Baban Sadeeq parked his car outside and walked in carrying groceries. He didn't even utter a greeting.
"Baban Sadeeq, you didn't even greet us," Zuwaira noted.
"Is this your house or mine?" he snapped. "A man comes home and instead of taking the bags from his hands, you are preaching to me? If you want to lecture people, go join the Yobe State Judiciary, but no one bosses me around in my own house!"
Zuwaira quietly took the bags to the kitchen and served him dinner. Within three days of administering the healer's charms, the medicine began to take effect. Baban Sadeeq stopped arguing. He became completely quiet, passive, and submissive, losing all his assertiveness.
Zuwaira called her friend in excitement, "Aisha, thank you so much! The medicine is working perfectly! I want to give the healer more money."
Shortly after, Zuwaira went into labor and was rushed to the Maisandari Hospital. A nurse named Hadiza was on night duty and successfully delivered Zuwaira of a bouncing baby boy. They named the baby Mohammed Shehu, affectionately called Fahad.
As the months passed, the older children began playing outside excessively. The neighborhood was filled with stray dogs, and young Sadeeq, who inherited his father's stubborn nature, began playing with them constantly.
Zuwaira became deeply addicted to her phone, spending hours chatting in WhatsApp groups. She neglected the children's meals. Whenever the children disturbed her, she would scream, "Yasmin! Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me when I'm on my phone? Get out of here!" Her baby, Fahad, grew into a toddler and began crawling all over the compound while she remained glued to her screen.
One evening, she boiled a large basin of hot water for the baby's bath. She left the boiling water in the courtyard and went inside to grab a sponge. Her phone buzzed with a notification from her chat group. She got distracted and started typing.
Outside, little Fahad crawled toward the basin and accidentally tipped it over. The scalding water drenched his chest, stomach, and legs. He let out a horrific shriek. Zuwaira was so engrossed in her chat that she didn't react until his second, weaker scream. She rushed out to find his skin peeling off.
She frantically called her husband, who rushed them to the hospital. The doctor emerged from the emergency room with a grim expression: "We need to keep him for two weeks for immediate surgery. However, the burns around his groin are severe. As he grows, he will face permanent reproductive complications unless he undergoes extensive long-term treatments."
Baban Sadeeq broke down, "Zuwaira, how did this happen? Were you on that cursed phone again? You have ruined my son!" Due to the effects of the charms, he couldn't even summon the strength to punish her, though she trembled with guilt.
Despite the tragedy, Zuwaira didn't stop her social media addiction. Baban Sadeeq poured all his remaining love into young Sadeeq and the disfigured Fahad.
One evening, Sadeeq was outside playing with a stray dog past Maghrib prayer time. The dog suddenly snapped, fiercely biting his leg and hands. The boy let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed, unable to walk.
A neighborhood boy ran to the house, screaming, "Maman Sadeeq! A dog has bitten Sadeeq!"
"Which Sadeeq?!" she panicked, running out into the street without even grabbing her hijab, only to see her son covered in blood...