Friday, March 29, 2024

How my search for job almost landed me in ritualists’ den

It’s God that saved me recently from falling a victim of ritual killers. I had applied for a job via one of these online jobs sites (names withheld) and I was invited for an interview in the Maryland area of Lagos.

When I got to Maryland on that day, I took a commercial motorcycle, popularly called okada, to the venue of the interview. When I got to the solitary building in Mende, Maryland, I alighted from the okada, but I did not immediately see anyone to enquire from about my mission.

I then called the number attached to the text message inviting me for the interview, to inform them that I was already at the venue. A voice answered at the other end and said some men were on the ground floor of the building to attend to me.

Immediately I turned and looked around, I saw two men. But I did not like the look on their faces. They asked me to open the SMS message inviting me for the interview for them to see. I did and after they had read it, they said I belonged to those in room one.

They demanded that I switched my phone off before climbing the stair case, but I told them that I was not expecting any call. They insisted, saying it was compulsory. I asked them how long the interview session would last and they said between three and four hours.

I then told them to give me a minute to inform my people back home that I would return late. I went downstairs to call my sister, but as I was making the call, two other men came down, bringing their number to four.

They then started shouting that I was wasting their time and that it’s like I was not ready for the job interview. As this was happening, a man from nowhere appeared behind me and said, “My case is different,” I quickly looked back and I replied, “So is mine.” The man said he saw the Winner’s Chapel wrist band I was wearing and that I should meet him outside the gate.

I followed him immediately and he asked me what brought me to the place. When I told him that I came for an interview, he said I should thank my God that I met him, adding that if not, I would have had a different story to tell by the evening.

He then told me that I should leave the building immediately; that the people posing as the job offering firm, “are using charm on people.” I thanked him and immediately jumped on an okada that just brought somebody to the gate of the building and left the area. Soon, those men started calling me on the phone, but I refused to pick the calls.

The next morning, they sent me an SMS message that my interview had been rescheduled. I want to enjoin job-seekers to be vigilant with also these sites offering vacancies online.

I have not fully been myself since that day. But I thank God for saving me, because I can’t imagine what would have become of me if that strange man had not come to my rescue.

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