My first online relationship was during the era of 2go. Old timers in the Nigeria social media space would know that 2go was among the pioneers. And what helped to propagate its popularity was the fact that it could be accessed from the least of phones. Every mobile phone that had access to the internet could comfortably access 2go which was the reigning social medium then.

So with my small Nokia phone, I accessed and enjoyed the goodies of 2go. I’d spend hours moving from one chatroom to another, engaging in the discussions and making friends from the interactions. It was my induction into electronic social interaction and the opportunity it gave me to meet people from different tribes, classes and cultures who were far away made it overly interesting.

Then I met Judith in one of the chat rooms. I added her for direct messaging and she accepted. We started talking and she turned out to be an amazing person. She was from Ikwerre tribe in River State. She was in her second year in the University of Port Harcourt while I was a first year student of a polytechnic in Enugu. I was a year older than her but she talked and acted more mature than her age.

When I met Judith, I lost interest in making more online friends. We’d spend long hours chatting with each other on 2go and would occasionally have voice calls. We’d chat very late into the night and I’d end up missing classes the next day. But I didn’t mind. The bliss and comfort I got from talking with my dear Judie as I fondly called her was way more than enough to compensate the sacrifice. She was so sweet. I eagerly anticipated talking with her and whenever I did, I felt happy.

Before long, I fell in love. I didn’t know exactly when, but I knew the feeling I had for her had graduated from what it used to be into something that warmed and illuminated my heart in a special way. A minute without her felt like a decade without the best part of me and a second with her was enough to heal the hurt of a century. I started calling her more often and whenever I heard her voice, my heart glowed in a way so beautiful that I couldn’t explain what you I felt. I started having this uncontrollable urge to meet my baby in person.

I knew I was in love and needed to do something to quell that overwhelming feeling in my heart. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that. But I was scared of what her response and reaction would be. I was scared of pushing her away and at the same time, I hurt from my feelings and yearning for her. I tried so much to keep my feelings to myself, but it got to a point I couldn’t anymore. I summoned courage, prepared my mind for the worst and told her.

“What took you so long, David?” was her response after I’d finished sermonizing to her about my feelings. I was so surprised and overly joyous. I was expecting a different response, a harsh one. But instead, I got a favorable one. According to my dear Judie, the feeling was mutual and hers started way before mine. She didn’t tell me because she felt it was inappropriate for a woman to make a move on a man. She only waited and prayed I’d take the rein. I was so happy.

After the confession of love for each other, we officially agreed to date and started making plans to meet. We agreed I’d be the one to visit first because according to her, she was scared. I eagerly accepted. We would have met right away, but we needed money to make that happen. We were both students who lived with their parents so we needed money for accommodation, transportation and food. I also planned to get her a gift.

We made an estimate of 12K for the trip. According to her, she found a good hotel of 3k a night somewhere in Rumokoro and we planned to spend two nights. The transportation was around 3k as well, so the rest would be for merriment. But I made a personal budget of 20k because I wanted to make it a memorable visit for my dear Judie. With the budget made, I set out in search of money.

I did odd things to raise the money, things I wouldn’t normally do. I starved. I obtained under false pretense and even stole from different coffers. I was willing to do anything to see my baby. While I sourced for the money, my Judie showed me beautiful pictures of herself. These pictures always triggered a sensation inside me whenever I saw them and I’d feel the need to hasten things. Eventually I got the money we needed and we fixed a date.

In the morning of the day I left Enugu for Port Harcourt, Judie sent me the name and address of the hotel we’d lodge. She said she wouldn’t meet me at the park because the lie she told her parents wouldn’t cover for her coming to the Park. She said she’d meet me in the hotel in the evening. I, on the other hand lied to my parents that my class was going for an excursion outside the city and that whoever misses out would lose some marks in that particular course. I even collected money for the excursion.

So I got to Port Harcourt and found my way to the hotel. Let’s not talk about how stressful it was finding it and how rough the area looked. I got there, paid for a room and got in. Immediately I got in, I called Judie, told her I’d settled in and gave her the room number. She was so happy and assured me she’d be with me in no time. My excitement exploded. Apart from the fact that I’d see my girl whom my heart had come to love so much, I knew I’d enjoy ‘kwekwekwe’. She’d be my second.

I hastily freshened up and wore a comfortable short. I left my chest open because she’d told me she loves guys with hairy chests. I wanted my hairy chest to be one of the things she’d notice first. I also brought out the perfume I got for her as a gift and kept it on the table. I was eager to impress. About two hours later, a knock came on the door. I excitedly sprang out of the bed and asked who it was. From the outside, Judie’s lovely tiny voice replied “babe, it’s me. Open the door”. I hastily opened the door and saw my beautiful Judie smiling at me in her beautiful short gown. She wore a pair of high heeled shoes and a matching handbag. She looked so adorable.

My heart nearly exploded from excitement. I moved to hug her, but she pushed me back forcefully. Her face became mean instantly. I became confused and was about asking what the problem was when two other guys emerged at the door. They looked angry and dangerous. I opened my mouth to ask what was happening but a heavy slap from one of the guys hit the words back into my stomach. I fell onto the bed with my hands on my jaw.

While I held my jaw wondering what was happening, Judie opened her handbag and brought out two knives. She gave one to each of the guys. It was then I realized what it was. Judie was the bait and I was the prey. I started begging and one of the guys hit me again. The other one gave me a small cut on my hand and threatened to cut me into pieces if I make another sound. I knew he meant it, so I kept quiet. I only stared at Judie while wondering if that was actually happening.

They searched my bag, took all the money I came with, took the fancy cloths I came to impress Judie with, my phone and the perfume I bought, while Judie urged them to be quick because they didn’t have time to waste. I sat staring in fear and disbelief. Who would have thought that that beautiful soft looking girl was a member of an armed robbery syndicate? I sat and watched while they took everything from me.

When they were done, they left the room with a warning that if I try anything funny, they’d come back and finish me off. For about an hour after they left, I couldn’t leave the room. I was scared they were still around waiting for me to do anything so they’d hurt me. I was visibly shaking while I replayed the whole incident in my mind.

When I summoned courage, I went to the receptionist. I only asked if she saw the people that left the hotel some hours ago. I couldn’t even tell her what happened because I’d subconsciously believed that everyone in the hotel was part of the syndicate. If Judie as beautiful as she was could do it, who wouldn’t? The receptionist dismissively told me she didn’t see the people I was talking about. I quietly went back to my room and stayed there until the next morning. I was still so scared that I couldn’t sleep throughout the night.

The next morning, I carried what was left of my belongings and left the hotel. I went to a girl who was running a call center close to the hotel and told her what happened to me. I begged her for me to use her phone and call who would send me the recharge card I’ll sell to raise my transportation fare back to Enugu. Fortunately, she agreed even though she wasn’t moved by my story. It was as if she was used to such.

I called my closest friend and told him my ordeal. Luckily, he sent me recharge card worth of 3k which I sold to the girl for N2,400. I was grateful. I found my way to the park and back to Enugu. Back in Enugu, I couldn’t tell anyone what I went through. I was ashamed to reveal such. The only person that knew was the guy who sent the airtime. I paid him back though.

That incident marked the beginning of my phobia for Port Harcourt and the end of me visiting any online friend. If e too do you, find me come. Love don do me plenty strong things sha, but I no dey tell tales.

Have you had such experience before? Kindly share.

© Anozie Too-chukwu