Chapter 6: Seme border - issues at seme border
January 2000
(Nigeria)
After parting ways with Mrs. Martins, knowing she was in safe hands, we arrived at the Seme border—the point of passage that would either lead us to freedom or bury us in uncertainty.
As planned, we waited for the signal Mr. John had instructed us to follow: **A black van would pass between two white trucks at exactly 2:00 PM.**
When the moment arrived, Joseph tightened his grip on the steering wheel, watching as the black van sped past the white trucks on the left side of the road. Without hesitation, he slammed his foot on the accelerator, following the van closely.
Minutes later, the van came to a halt.
---
**Joseph's POV**
The tension in my body refused to ease as I stepped out of the vehicle.
The black van's door swung open, and out stepped Mr. John. His eyes scanned our car before settling on me, recognition flashing across his face.
"**Mr. Joseph!**" he exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "I've been expecting you."
I nodded, exhaling slowly. "We got lucky," I admitted.
Mr. John gestured for us to follow him into the van. Once inside, I recounted everything—every horrifying detail of our escape from Lagos.
He listened intently, his face tightening in shock.
"**That's madness,**" he muttered under his breath. "You're lucky to be alive."
I nodded once. That was becoming more and more obvious.
"Listen," he continued, "you won't be traveling alone. There are others, just like you, desperate to leave. For now, we're heading to a safe house. Tomorrow, we move."
---
**Lola's POV – The Safe House**
When we arrived, the sheer number of people stunned me.
Men. Women. Children. The elderly.
Each of them carried the same desperate hope—to escape, to survive.
Mr. John led us to our assigned quarters before introducing us to Evelyn, the woman in charge of handling our needs at the safe house.
As we settled in, exhaustion finally weighed on me.
Joseph sat beside me on the bed, taking my feet onto his lap. His touch was warm, soothing, as he stroked them gently.
"**Babe, my heart… What's wrong?**" he murmured.
"**Nothing, just exhausted,**" I replied, though my voice lacked conviction.
He studied me carefully. "**You look like you have a lot on your mind.**"
I sighed, shifting under his touch. "**I'm just thinking about tomorrow. I hope it doesn't turn into another nightmare.**"
Joseph leaned forward, brushing his lips against my forehead.
"**You need to rest, love. Whatever comes tomorrow—we'll face it together.**"
A soft smile crept onto my lips, the tension in my chest loosening.
That night, the chirping of crickets filled the silence, guiding us into sleep.
---
**Chapter 6 (Part B): Leaving the Seme Border**
The morning was thick with unease as we prepared for our departure.
The journey ahead was complex:
- **From the safe house to the Seme border and then to Cotonou** (Marche Ahouangbo → St. Michel).
- **From St. Michel to Grand Popo** (1 hour 28 minutes).
- **From Grand Popo to the Hillacondji Border** (30 minutes)—the point between Benin Republic and Togo.
And finally, Ghana.
But getting into Ghana was another challenge entirely.
We would have to be **smuggled in**.
---
**Chapter 6 (Part C): Issues at the Border**
**Joseph's POV**
Mr. John pulled me aside.
"We need to travel light," he said firmly. "Separate anything unnecessary. We'll be moving as cargo."
I glanced at Lola, sensing her discomfort.
"Don't worry," I assured her, though unease sat heavy in my gut. "It's just a precaution."
But others weren't so easily convinced.
"**We should do this?**" a man spat angrily. "**You promised safe passage, not this!**"
"I can't be smuggled in as cargo," another protested. "**This is insane!**"
The frustration rippled through the group.
But none of us knew the true danger lurking ahead.
---
**An Hour Ago**
A shadow worked against us.
"Yes, I've infiltrated his operation," the traitor whispered over the phone. "Mr. John smuggles people into Ghana using an exchange system at a safe house. We'll ambush them at the border. No one gets through."
**Present Moment**
Despite protests, we changed into neutral clothing.
Mr. John handed each of us **Ghanaian passports**.
Joseph eyed his warily. "**Looks like he planned ahead…**"
As we approached the border, anxiety coursed through me.
Ahead, the **customs police** signaled for the **black trucks** ahead of us to stop.
**"GEDENG—"** My heart **dropped.**
Armed officers surrounded the trucks, guns raised, ready to strike.
But something wasn't right.
We were **never stopped**.
Confused, Joseph turned to Mr. John.
His expression was unreadable, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"**You're not the only ones in danger,**" he murmured.
Shock gripped me as Joseph blurted out the question racing through his mind:
"**How?**"
---
**Moments Ago**
A secret call.
"We've been compromised," the voice warned. "There's a rat among us. The arrest is happening today."
Mr. John exhaled.
"**Switch to the other plan.**"
His backup plan was brutal—but necessary.
Sacrifice a **few** to save the **many**.
He carefully orchestrated the **fake trafficking operation**, ensuring the traitor's focus stayed **on the two black trucks**.
Meanwhile, the **real smuggling group**—us—was swapped onto another bus, disguised under **completely different circumstances**.
---
**Present Moment**
The truth **hit us hard.**
Joseph's jaw tightened, Lola's breath hitched in shock.
The deception had been perfect.
While **two trucks** were stopped and investigated, our bus was **never even questioned.**
We had **narrowly escaped capture.**
Mr. John had **outplayed them all.**
---
**Final Leg**
**With a clear passage, we pressed forward—toward Tema Bay.**
This journey was far from over.
The dangers ahead were far greater than we had anticipated.
And **survival was no longer just a hope—it was a fight.**
---
### **Author's Note**
The next chapters will take us deeper into the **harrowing survival of the Sundays.**
- **Chapter 7:** Crossing into Ghana, unexpected tensions at immigration, and new threats.
- **Chapter 8:** The Dawns family—secrets unravel as past connections come to light.
- **Chapter 9:** Danger at sea—the fight against nature's cruelty and the risks of escape.
- **Chapter 10:** The **Amazon**—where survival is a brutal game, and the dangers lurking in the jungle are more terrifying than war itself.