NewStats: 3,264,924 , 8,185,102 topics. Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 07:51 PM 532p1d

My story isn’t one of triumph but of lessons learned in the hardest way possible. I left Nigeria with big dreams but returned with nothing but heartbreak and regret. This is my journey.

The Call to Adventure

It started in Ikorodu, Lagos, where I worked as a phone repair technician, barely earning enough to feed my family. One day, a relative who lived abroad called me with an opportunity I thought was heaven-sent. He claimed Morocco was a land of opportunities where I could earn in dollars working in construction or as a welder. “You can make ₦500,000 monthly,” he said.

The cost of the journey was steep—nearly ₦2 million—but he promised to connect me with agents who would handle everything. I thought about my wife and two kids and decided it was worth it. The goal was to leave Ikorodu with hope and return with success.

cathodekazim:
Raising the Money

This was my first hurdle. I sold my small shop and all my tools for ₦400,000, borrowed ₦500,000 from a microfinance bank, and collected the rest from friends, family, and a cooperative society. I still had to pay the agents for the connections and transportation.

I never suspected that I was being scammed.

The Journey to Kano

The journey began with a night bus from Ikorodu to Kano. The agent had warned me not to carry too much luggage to avoid suspicion. I had a backpack with clothes, a Bible, and some cash hidden in my shoes.

In Kano, I met other hopeful travelers at a shady motel near Sabon Gari. Some had sold their homes to finance the journey. I met a man named Musa, a mechanic who shared stories of friends who had “made it” abroad. His optimism was contagious, and for the first time, I felt like this was the right decision.

cathodekazim:
Encounter with Boko Haram

The first major setback came on the journey from Kano to Niger. The vehicle I boarded had to through Maiduguri, a Boko Haram hotspot. Somewhere near the outskirts, we were stopped by armed men who forced us out of the vehicle.

They claimed to be “freedom fighters” but robbed us of everything valuable. A woman traveling with her child was beaten for hiding money in the baby’s diaper. I lost ₦50,000 and my phone. It was pure chaos, and I was lucky to escape with my life.

Niger: The Desert Crossing

From Maiduguri, we made it to Agadez in Niger, a hub for human trafficking and migration. This was where I realized the full extent of my mistake. The agent who was supposed to connect us to Morocco vanished after collecting the remainder of my money. I was stranded with no papers and no way forward.

I met people from Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia—all stuck in the same trap. A Gambian man named Lamin shared how he had been stranded in Agadez for two months after being robbed. Yet, despite the hopelessness, we pooled resources to pay a smuggler who promised to take us to Algeria.

The Sahara Desert was a nightmare. Packed into a Toyota Hilux with 15 people, we endured three days of unbearable heat, freezing nights, and minimal water. I saw a young man from Togo collapse and die. The smuggler didn’t even stop to bury him.

cathodekazim:
Algeria: Bandits and Betrayal

In Algeria, things went from bad to worse. Bandits raided our group near Tamanrasset, stealing whatever we had left. I had hidden $200 in my socks, which saved me from complete destitution.

In Oran, a coastal city, I worked as a porter for three weeks to save enough money to continue the journey. I met a kind Algerian woman named Amina who gave me food when she saw me begging. Not everyone was kind, though. Many locals treated us like animals, spitting at us and calling us “black slaves.”

cathodekazim:
Reaching Morocco

When I finally reached Morocco, I was emotionally and financially drained. The so-called “opportunities” were non-existent. I ended up in a ghetto in Casablanca, living among other migrants. I worked odd jobs, like washing cars and carrying loads in the market, just to survive.

I also met good people who shared their food and stories of survival. A Nigerian man named Chijioke became like a brother to me. He had been in Morocco for five years and was still trying to cross into Europe.


The Cost of the Journey

By the time I gave up and returned to Nigeria, I had spent close to ₦2 million. The money went to agents, bribes, smugglers, and survival. I returned with nothing but scars and a heart full of regret.

cathodekazim:
Lessons Learned

My journey taught me that not all opportunities are real. Sometimes, the dream of greener pastures can turn into a nightmare. If you’re considering leaving Nigeria, please do your research and ensure your plans are legitimate. Don’t let desperation cloud your judgment.

I hope my story saves someone from making the same mistake.

Raising the Money

This was my first hurdle. I sold my small shop and all my tools for ₦400,000, borrowed ₦500,000 from a microfinance bank, and collected the rest from friends, family, and a cooperative society. I still had to pay the agents for the connections and transportation.

I never suspected that I was being scammed.

The Journey to Kano

The journey began with a night bus from Ikorodu to Kano. The agent had warned me not to carry too much luggage to avoid suspicion. I had a backpack with clothes, a Bible, and some cash hidden in my shoes.

In Kano, I met other hopeful travelers at a shady motel near Sabon Gari. Some had sold their homes to finance the journey. I met a man named Musa, a mechanic who shared stories of friends who had “made it” abroad. His optimism was contagious, and for the first time, I felt like this was the right decision.

Encounter with Boko Haram

The first major setback came on the journey from Kano to Niger. The vehicle I boarded had to through Maiduguri, a Boko Haram hotspot. Somewhere near the outskirts, we were stopped by armed men who forced us out of the vehicle.

They claimed to be “freedom fighters” but robbed us of everything valuable. A woman traveling with her child was beaten for hiding money in the baby’s diaper. I lost ₦50,000 and my phone. It was pure chaos, and I was lucky to escape with my life.

Niger: The Desert Crossing

From Maiduguri, we made it to Agadez in Niger, a hub for human trafficking and migration. This was where I realized the full extent of my mistake. The agent who was supposed to connect us to Morocco vanished after collecting the remainder of my money. I was stranded with no papers and no way forward.

I met people from Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia—all stuck in the same trap. A Gambian man named Lamin shared how he had been stranded in Agadez for two months after being robbed. Yet, despite the hopelessness, we pooled resources to pay a smuggler who promised to take us to Algeria.

The Sahara Desert was a nightmare. Packed into a Toyota Hilux with 15 people, we endured three days of unbearable heat, freezing nights, and minimal water. I saw a young man from Togo collapse and die. The smuggler didn’t even stop to bury him.

Algeria: Bandits and Betrayal

In Algeria, things went from bad to worse. Bandits raided our group near Tamanrasset, stealing whatever we had left. I had hidden $200 in my socks, which saved me from complete destitution.

In Oran, a coastal city, I worked as a porter for three weeks to save enough money to continue the journey. I met a kind Algerian woman named Amina who gave me food when she saw me begging. Not everyone was kind, though. Many locals treated us like animals, spitting at us and calling us “black slaves.”

Reaching Morocco

When I finally reached Morocco, I was emotionally and financially drained. The so-called “opportunities” were non-existent. I ended up in a ghetto in Casablanca, living among other migrants. I worked odd jobs, like washing cars and carrying loads in the market, just to survive.

I also met good people who shared their food and stories of survival. A Nigerian man named Chijioke became like a brother to me. He had been in Morocco for five years and was still trying to cross into Europe.


The Cost of the Journey

By the time I gave up and returned to Nigeria, I had spent close to ₦2 million. The money went to agents, bribes, smugglers, and survival. I returned with nothing but scars and a heart full of regret.

Lessons Learned

My journey taught me that not all opportunities are real. Sometimes, the dream of greener pastures can turn into a nightmare. If you’re considering leaving Nigeria, please do your research and ensure your plans are legitimate. Don’t let desperation cloud your judgment.

I hope my story saves someone from making the same mistake.

Mod should push it to front page for others to learn

Uncovering the Truth in Morocco

Morocco wasn’t the paradise I had imagined. Instead, it was a labyrinth of suffering. I ended up in Casablanca, living in a cramped ghetto with other migrants. Odd jobs like washing cars and unloading trucks barely kept me afloat. It was here that I uncovered a horrifying secret.

One night, while working at a car wash, I overheard a heated conversation in pidgin English. Two Nigerian men were arguing about “the girls.” Curious, I followed them to a run-down house. What I saw inside chilled me to the bone.

The house was filled with young women—mostly from Edo, Calabar, and Igbo states. They were barely dressed, sitting in silence with vacant expressions. One of them, a girl named Blessing, whispered to me, “Brother, please help us. We are trapped here.”


The Dark Trade

Over the following weeks, I pieced together their stories. These girls had been lured with promises of jobs in Europe, only to be trafficked into Morocco as sex slaves. Their “madam” confiscated their ports and forced them into prostitution to repay imaginary debts.

One girl, Ejiro, shared her story with me in tears: “I sold everything to make this trip. They told me I would be a housemaid in Italy, but I’ve been here for two years. I’ve tried to escape, but they’ll kill my family if I run.”

The desperation in their eyes haunted me. Some had been there for years, trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation.

A Glimmer of Hope

Despite the danger, I decided to help them. I secretly ed a local priest who was known for assisting migrants. Together, we devised a plan to help some of the girls escape. It was risky—if the traffickers found out, we could all be killed.

One night, under the cover of darkness, we managed to smuggle three girls out of the house. They were taken to a safe house run by an NGO. But the success was bittersweet. For every girl we saved, dozens more remained trapped.
Lessons from the Journey

If there’s one thing my experience taught me, it’s this: not all that glitters is gold. The dream of greener pastures can easily become a nightmare. To anyone considering such a journey, I urge you to think twice.

I hope my story serves as a warning. Be cautious. Be informed. And above all, cherish the life you have.

cathodekazim:
My story isn’t one of triumph but of lessons learned in the hardest way possible. I left Nigeria with big dreams but returned with nothing but heartbreak and regret. This is my journey.

The Call to Adventure

It started in Ikorodu, Lagos, where I worked as a phone repair technician, barely earning enough to feed my family. One day, a relative who lived abroad called me with an opportunity I thought was heaven-sent. He claimed Morocco was a land of opportunities where I could earn in dollars working in construction or as a welder. “You can make ₦500,000 monthly,” he said.

The cost of the journey was steep—nearly ₦2 million—but he promised to connect me with agents who would handle everything. I thought about my wife and two kids and decided it was worth it. The goal was to leave Ikorodu with hope and return with success.

Thanks for sharing your story... Glad you cost to retrace your steps.

I pray God blesses you and make fortune shine on you.

NB: Create a YouTube channel... Drop your experience in episodes. It might just be a lucky break for you if it goes viral.

#Cheers

If you intend relocating from Nigeria, any other destination aside the western countries is not worth it.

Pele

Oh sorry

Others should share their stories too, especially those of UAE and Malaysia

A travel that involves road or land border, don't try it

I don't believe this story,

Any man that has had a near death experience is not afraid of dying,


Getting to Morocco against all odds should further boost your zeal to cross to Europe, but you saying you returned back to Nigeria by yourself, makes me doubt this story,
It's either it's made up
Or you are not a fighter

We Get what we aim for or we die trying,
There is no grey area once the mind is made up,

PapaNnamdi:
I don't believe this story,

Any man that has had a near death experience is not afraid of dying,


Getting to Morocco against all odds should further boost your zeal to cross to Europe, but you saying you returned back to Nigeria by yourself, makes me doubt this story,
It's either it's made up
Or you are not a fighter

We Get what we aim for or we die trying,
There is no grey area once the mind is made up,

Including doing drugs and cocaine?

PapaNnamdi:
I don't believe this story,

Any man that has had a near death experience is not afraid of dying,


Getting to Morocco against all odds should further boost your zeal to cross to Europe, but you saying you returned back to Nigeria by yourself, makes me doubt this story,
It's either it's made up
Or you are not a fighter

We Get what we aim for or we die trying,
There is no grey area once the mind is made up,

this >>>

PapaNnamdi:
I don't believe this story,

Any man that has had a near death experience is not afraid of dying,


Getting to Morocco against all odds should further boost your zeal to cross to Europe, but you saying you returned back to Nigeria by yourself, makes me doubt this story,
It's either it's made up

Words are easier said than done cos you aren't in the shoe. Do you know how many Nigerians are suffering here. Do you think migrating to Europe is that easy, I often read how people talk about crossing the Mediterranean sea to Spain or Portugal on the internet and I smile. Do you know how many people that die daily here in Morocco. Blacks are seen and used as slaves here. Slave trade still operates here full time
Or you are not a fighter

We Get what we aim for or we die trying,
There is no grey area once the mind is made up,

davodyguy:

Including doing drugs and cocaine?

Don't mind him.

PapaNnamdi:
I don't believe this story,

Any man that has had a near death experience is not afraid of dying,


Getting to Morocco against all odds should further boost your zeal to cross to Europe, but you saying you returned back to Nigeria by yourself, makes me doubt this story,
It's either it's made up
Or you are not a fighter

We Get what we aim for or we die trying,
There is no grey area once the mind is made up,

Your assertion does'nt hold water, there are many nigerians stuck in many strange and hopeless destinations and will jumb at any slightest opportunity to return home, even empty handed.

OkanlawonB:


Your assertion does'nt hold water, there are many nigerians stuck in many strange and hopeless destinations and will jumb at any slightest opportunity to return home, even empty handed.

Their minds where never made to cross over to Europe,
They just followed the bandwagon

PapaNnamdi:


Their minds where never made to cross over to Europe,
They just followed the bandwagon

Is crossing over to Europe that easy, the cost, the stress, the processes, the buttons to press, the steps to take and the entirety of the whole process. I also have the ambition of crossing over but you know what people say , when something hasn't happened to you, you will be quick to condemn

You were being scammed by your relative who is living abroad. That is a relative from HELL.

The journey from Ikorodu to Morocco, fueled by promises of greener pastures, took a harrowing turn during the northern Nigeria leg. The vehicle, packed with hopeful migrants, was forced to halt at a makeshift checkpoint deep in Borno State. Emerging from the shadows were armed Boko Haram militants, their presence signaling immediate danger.

The group was ordered out at gunpoint. Men and women were separated, and the militants interrogated everyone about their destination. Accusations of espionage against the government heightened the tension. The militants demanded cash, phones, and anything of value, turning the situation into a robbery masked by ideology.

For those without enough cash, the militants threatened abduction. Panic spread when a young woman was almost dragged away, but a Kanuri-speaking elder in the group intervened. Pleading for mercy, he promised that the travelers were merely ing through. The militants, reluctantly convinced, spared the group but not before extorting over ₦300,000 and issuing a warning never to return.

Once released, the travelers were left emotionally and financially drained. Among them, a middle-aged man itted he had spent his entire savings on this journey, only to lose a third of it in minutes. The psychological scars deepened as some of the group questioned if continuing to Morocco was even worth the dangers ahead. Yet, pressing on seemed the only option—turning back to Ikorodu empty-handed wasn’t an alternative.

The Boko Haram ordeal revealed the grim reality of these migration routes: they were corridors of exploitation. It was just one chapter in an increasingly dangerous journey that mirrored the vulnerability and resilience of countless others making similar treks across borders for a better future.

Whoa 😳

By now you should have guessed correctly that the op is either a mad person or a government propaganda agent, one of many who roam daily on Nairaland dishing out propaganda with written AI content to either whitewash Tinubu's government or discourage people from fleeing from the poverty inducing istration of Tinubu.

TLDR;

The story is fake and generated by AI

LandMann:
By now you should have guessed correctly that the op is either a mad person or a government propaganda agent, one of many who roam daily on Nairaland dishing out propaganda with written AI content to either whitewash Tinubu's government or discourage people from fleeing from the poverty inducing istration of Tinubu.

TLDR;


Only a mad man will think another person is mad. My submission, you aren't only mad but deranged
The story is fake and generated by AI

From Kano to Maiduguri to connect to Agadez when you can just veer through Katsina


Your story is for those gullible ones

cathodekazim:


Is crossing over to Europe that easy, the cost, the stress, the processes, the buttons to press, the steps to take and the entirety of the whole process. I also have the ambition of crossing over but you know what people say , when something hasn't happened to you, you will be quick to condemn

Amidst the impossible challenges mentioned on the post people still cross from morroco to Europe,
What is the difference between them and those that came back,
It's the do it or die mindset,
Some people don't mind dying in the desert or on sea enroute to the promise land, while some will be thinking of their loved ones back home,

You see those with loved ones at home have a higher probability of coming back when the survival rate has dropped