Navwalikili mu 1948 mumukala wanyanya wekala kukabeta kakuchidiilu namujika waNigeria. Hayina mpinji, atata awanyiki aMoustapha niyayami weyala, wedi wetu, Wahabi, apapatisheweli nakwikala aYinsahu jaYehova. Atata afwili hinadiña nayaaka 9. Naneñeli nankashi. Wahabi wanlejeli nindi twakayimona cheñi atata hampinji yakusañuka. Awa mazu akukundeja diwu aletesheli nitachiki kudiza Bayibolu. Napapatisheweli 1963. Amanakwami amakwawu asatu niwena apapatisheweli.

Mu 1965, nayili nakushakama hamu nayayami Wilson muLagos nawa nadiluñishili kuzatila hamu nawapayiniya ampinji yejima amakwawu muChipompelu chaIgbobi. Muzañalu niiyena dadiñawu nadu jankwashili, nawa muJanuary 1968 ninami natachikili wupayiniya.

Manakwetu Albert Olugbebi, wakalakelaña haBeteli watutambikili etu atwansi kukubulakana kwadimena kulonda atuleji hakukaankila kwadiña kukabeta kakuchimunswa kaNigeria kwawapayiniya adimena. Nichidi kwanuka iyena dadiña namanakwetu Olugbebi hatulejeleñayi iyi nsañu nindi: “Muchidi atwansi nawa munateli kuzatisha mpinji yenu niñovu kumukalakela Yehova. Kudi nyidimu yayivulu yimwatela kuzata!” Chineli nakeñeleña  kwimbujola muchima wakudihana wakaprofwetu Isaya, nasonekeli fomu nakuyitemesha.—Isa. 6:8.

MuMay 1968, antondeli kwikala payiniya wadimena nawa antemesheli kuya nakuzatila kumusumba waKano, kukabeta kakuchimunswa kaNigeria. Chumichi chamwekeni hampinji yikwadiña Njita yawaBiafran, yatachikili mu 1967 kushika mu 1970. Iyi njita yaletesheli antu amavulu kukabakana nikufwa kukabeta kakuchimunswa kaNigeria, nkumininaku yashikili nikumusela waNigeria. Manakwetu wumu washindamenewa wankaanishileña kuya kunidi iluña. Ilaña, namulejeli nami: “Kusakililaku hakuñakamena. Hela chochu, neyi Yehova nakukeña nindi nimukalakeli muniwu mudimu, inakujinoka wanyi nami wukwikalaña nanami.”

Yuma muKano yatamini nankashi. Njita yakisañeni iwu musumba weneni. Neyi tunakushimwina, mpinji jikwawu twawanineña yibimbi yawantu ajahiliwu muniyi njita. Hela chakwila muKano mwadiña yipompelu yayivulu, amanakwetu amavulu atemukilimu. Mwashalili hohu akakushimwina akushika kwakwihi na 15, dichi atiyili woma nawa aneñeli. Ana amanakwetu niahela azañaleli nankashi chitwashikili etu apayiniya adimena 6. Akakushimwina atiyilili chikupu chitwayikolesheli. Twayikwashili kutachika cheñi kwila yuma yakuspiritu nikutachika cheñi kutemesha kukasanji kamutayi malipoti awu amudimu wakushimwina kushilahu nikusonekesha nyikanda.

Etu apayiniya adimena twatachikili kudiza idimi daHausa. Muloña wakutiya nsañu yawanta mwidimi dawu, antu amavulu amunidi iluña adiña nakututiyilila. Hela chochu, antu amuchechi yataandili nankashi, atiyileña kuwaha wanyi neyi tunakushimwina, dichi twadiña asoñama nankashi. Ifuku dimu, ami namukwetu mutwazatilileña atukumpishili kudi iyala wadiña nampoku. Hela chochu, twamubadikili lufuchi dichi wakañenyi kutuwana. Hela chakwila twekalileña muwubanji wamuchidiwu, Yehova waletesheleña ‘twiikali akiñewa’ nawa naambala yawakakushimwina yatachikili kuvulilaku. (Mas. 4:8) Chayinu mpinji, akakushimwina akubadika ha 500 anakukalakela muyipompelu 11 yamuKano.

Chimwahitili mpinji, muAugust 1968, hanyima yakushakama muKano hadi tukweji twantesha, antemesheli kuNiamey, musumba weneni waRepublic of Niger, hamu nawakwetu apayiniya adimena ayedi. Hashimbwili wanyi twashikeneni kwiluka netu Niger, ituña dekala kumujika waAfrica, didi hakachi kamatuña ataata nankashi hanu hamaseki. Kubombela hakukabakana neyena, twalwishileña cheñi hakudiza idimi daFrench dahoshañawu nankashi munidi ituña. Hela chakwila twamweneña iku kukala, twamukuhweleleli Yehova nawa twatachikili kushimwina mumusumba hamu nawakakushimwina antesha ashakamineña mwenimu. Mukapinji kantesha hohu, kwakwihi namuntu wejima muNiamey weluka kutaña, watambwilili mukanda wakuzatisha hakudiza Bayibolu waThe Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. Antu amakwawu adiña nakutukeñakeña kulonda tuyinki iwu mukanda.

Hashimbwili wanyi, twenjili nakwiluka netu akawuswa akeñeleña wanyi aYinsahu jaYehova. MuJuly 1969, twayili kukupompa kwañinza kwatachi mwituña kwenjili hohu antu 20. Twatalilileña kumona chikupapatishewa akakushimwina ayedi amaha. Hela chochu, hefuku datachi daniku kupompa akapokola enjili nawa alekesheli iyi progilamu. Atusendeli etu apayiniya adimena ninkoñi wañinza nakututwala kukapokola. Hanyima yakutwihujola, atulejeli nawu twakafuntiku cheñi hefuku dalondelelihu. Chitwamweni netu iku kukala kunakuswejelaku, twaloñesheli kuhanina mpanji mwitala damanakwetu wumu nawa twayili nakuyipapatisha awa akakushimwina mukaloña mukuswamujoka.

Chimwahitili nyilungu yantesha, akawuswa anlejeli ami niakwetu apayiniya adimena atanu nawu tufumi muNiger. Atwinkeli hohu maora 48 akufuminamu mwituña nawa twateleleli kudiloñeshela etu aweni chakwenda. Twovwahilili nawa twayili kukasanji kamutayi kuNigeria nawa atulejeli kuya nakuzatila kwacheñi.

Anlejeli kuya nakuzatila kumukala wumu wamuNigeria waOrisunbare, kunadiluñishili kushimwina hamu nezanvu danyanya dawakakushimwina ashakamineña kwenoku. Ilaña chimwahitili tukweji 6, kasanji kamutayi kanlejeli kufunta kuNiger nkawami. Hakusambila nahayamini nawa natiyili woma, ilaña nafwilileña kuya nakumona cheñi amanakwetu muNiger.

Nafuntili kuNiamey. Chimwahitili ifuku dimu kufuma hinashikili, iyala wumu welileña bizinisi muNigeria wañilukili nindi nidi Chinsahu nawa watachikili kuñihula malwihu kutalisha haBayibolu. Twatachikili kudiza Bayibolu, nawa hanyima yakuleka kunwa makanya nikusheta, wapapatisheweli. Kuhiñahu, natiyili kuwaha kushimwina hamu nawamanakwetu niahela mumaluña ashiyashana amuNiger. Hinashikili katachi, mwituña mwadiña hohu aYinsahu 31, ilaña hinafumineñamu mwadiña aYinsahu 69.

Kumakumishilu achaaka cha 1977, nafuntili kuNigeria nakuwanika kushikola. Hakumana kwashikola  yasendeli nyilungu yisatu, nloñeshi waKometi yaKasanji kaMutayi, Malcolm Vigo, wanlejeli kutaña mukanda wafumini kukasanji kaSierra Leone. Amanakwetu akeñeleña manakwetu mujiki wakola kumujimba nawa payiniya, weluka kuhosha Ingilishi niFrench kulonda ayi nakukalakela muGuinea hamu neyi nkoñi wañinza. Manakwetu Vigo wanlejeli nindi antambikili kuniyi shikola nakudiza muloña waniwu mudimu. Wakonkomweneni nindi iwu mudimu wadiña wapela wanyi. Wanlejeli nindi, “Toñojokakuhu henohu kanda witeji.” Nashikeneni kwakula nami, “Chineli Yehova diyi wunakuntemesha, nukuya.”

Nayili nandeki kuSierra Leone nawa nadibulakeni nawamanakwetu hakasanji kamutayi. Membala wumu wamuKometi yaMutayi wanlejeli nindi, “Tuneluki wanyi nsañu yayivulu hachidi mudimu wawanta muGuinea.” Hela chakwila kasanji kamutayi dikatalileña mudimu wakushimwina mwituña dadiña kukamwihi daGuinea, chadiña chaswayi wanyi kuhanjeka nawakakushimwina muloña munidi ituña mwaswejeli nsañu jamapolitiki. Nawa kasanji kazatili nañovu kulonda kawani muntu watela kukimenaku, ilaña hikamuwaniniku. Dichi, anlejeli kuya kumusumba weneni wamuGuinea, Conakry, nakutambula lusesa lwakuñiteja kushakama mwituña.

Chinashikili kuConakry, nayili hakasanji kaNigeria embassy nawa nadimweni nañimeni wetuña daNigeria. Namulejeli nami inakukeña kushimwina munu muGuinea. Wanlejeli nindi bayi nishakama munidi ituñaku, muloña anateli kunkasa hela kuñila chuma chatama. Wanlejeli nindi, “Funtaku wakashimwineña kuNigeria.” Ilaña ami namwakwili nami, “Inakukeña kushakama kwokunu.” Dichi wasonekeli mukanda kudi chilolu wamunfulumendi yamuGuinea nakumuleja nindi ankwashi, nawa iwu chilolu wankwashili.

Hashimbwili wanyi, nafuntili kukasanji kamutayi muSierra Leone nawa nayilejeli amanakwetu mwafuukwiliyi chilolu. Amanakwetu azañaleli hama chatiyiliwu nawu Yehova wakiswilili ilu lwendu lwami. Anyinkeli lusesa lwakushakama muGuinea!

Kufuma mu 1978 nakushika mu 1989, nakalakeleleña wunkoñi wañinza muGuinea, muSierra Leone, nawa nakalakeleña neyi nkoñi wañinza wakukwasha muLiberia. Hakusambila, nadiña nakukatakata nankashi. Chumichi chavulileña kumwekana neyi nidi kumaluña akwakulehi. Ilaña amanakwetu azatileña nañovu kuntwala kuchipateli.

Mpinji yimu, nakatili mashika asweja kushilahu ninsokanda mwivumu. Chinakoleli, nenjili nakwiluka nami amanakwetu atoñojokeleña nawu nukufwa, dichi ahanjekeleña kwatela kunjiikawu! Hela chakwila namweneña kukala kwamuchidiwu, hinatoñojokelihu jakushiya mudimu wamiku. Nawa natwalekihu kukuhwelela nami kukiñewa kwalala kwafumaña hohu kudi Nzambi wunateli kutusañula kufuma mudi afu.

Mu 1988, nadibulakeni naDorcas muhela payiniya, wadizoza nankashi nawa wadikita munyidimu yaNzambi. Twadisumbwili nawa twatachikili kuzatila hamu mumudimu wami wakwenda. Dorcas himumbanda wukweti kukeña nawa wadihana. Twadiña nakwendela hamu makilomita 25 (mamayilu 15) nakwendela yipompelu, iku tunasendi yiteli. Hakwila tushiki  kuyipompelu yadiña kwakulehi, twazatishileña transipoti yidi yejima yinateli kwenda munjila jamalowa nawa mwadiña mabuku amavulu.

Dorcas himumbanda wahamuka chikupu. Chakutalilahu, mpinji jikwawu twahitileña mutuloña mwadiña ñandu jajivulu. Mpinji yimu hitwadiña halwendu lwamafuku atanu, twawanini yawu yanyitondu yinakumpuki, dichi twafuukwilihu kuzatisha maatu. Dorcas chanyamukiliyi nindi afumi muwatu, waholokeleli henyiñi. Wejima wetu twelukili wanyi kusala, nawa munaka kaloña mwadiña ñandu. Kukooleka, kwadiña atwansi awamayala adinatilili hamenji nakumuzambulahu. Wejima wetu ayedi twatwalekelihu kwanuka achina chuma chamwekeni. Hela chochu, twatwalekelihu mumudimu wetu.

Kumatachikilu achaaka cha 1992, twahayamini nankashi chitwelukili netu ñodami Dorcas nemiti. Twateleli kufuukulahu neyi chakwila twatela kutwalekahu kwikala apayiniya. Twahosheli netu, “Yehova natwinki chawaana!” Dichi, twafuukwilihu kumutuumba mwanetu wamumbanda netu Jahgift. Chelili Jahgift ashikiji yaaka yiwana, twekalili cheñi namwana mukwawu weyala, Eric. Anyanetu ejima ayedi hiyawaana yakuspiritu yatwinkawu. Jahgift wakalakelahu dehi hakasanji kanyanya kakubalumwina muConakry, nawa Eric hinkoñi wakuzatila.

Hela chakwila mukuhita kwampinji ñodami Dorcas walekeli wupayiniya wadimena, watwalekelihu kwikala payiniya wampinji yejima, iku nakukulisha anyanetu. Nawukwashu waYehova, natwalekelihu mumudimu wadimena wampinji yejima. Anyanetu chakuliliwu, ñodami Dorcas wekalili cheñi payiniya wadimena. Ichi wejima wetu tudi amishonali muConakry.

Nayaña nakuzatila kwejima kunantwaliyi Yehova. Kakavulu ami nañodami tunadimweni chinatukiñiyi nikutukiswila. Kumukuhwelela Yehova kunatukiñi kukukala kwakuvulu kwashikenaña ana akuhwelelaña muyuma yakumujimba. Ami niñodami Dorcas tunadizili kuyuma yayivulu yinatumwekeni netu kukiñewa kwalala kwafumaña hohu kudi “Nzambi yawamwinu wetu,” Yehova. (1 Kushi. 16:35) Nakuhweleli chikupu nami wumi wawantu ejima amukuhwelela “akawuvuñila chiwahi mwipakumuna dawumi didi naYehova.”—1 Sam. 25:29.