By: Tony Manyangadze

A lot of crimes are happening in the creeps of the darkness. The law has been infiltrated by mobs and cults and no longer protects the innocent and the poor.

This novel, Sarah House, by Ifeanyi Ajaegbo, brings to light what happens in the veiled and shrouded parts of Nigeria where young rural girls are lured by false promises of jobs and a better life to the big cities. Upon arrival reality unfolds and shock makes a journey through their minds when they are forced to become prostitutes.

No one is safe, even little children and homeless adults alike are killed and have their organs sold to the highest bidder. Who can they tell? No one, the police is involved, the politicians are the linchpins, and the pimps and brothels make even more money at the expense of the poor and defenceless.

In the end, the statement which says “nothing is hidden under the sun” is proved to be true yet again when one Pimp by the name Slim barked up the wrong tree when he lured a beautiful village girl named Nita from her village to the city. Like the rest of the girls who came through the same process Nita is forced to become a prostitute and stripper in night clubs. She refuses and is raped so that she can be ‘used to strangers’.

Her beauty becomes her ticket to a new world when she is bought by a very rich woman who was into the business of housing and distributing girls as prostitutes to very rich people as well as an orphanage she used as a source of organs sold to the rich.

A renowned author, Ifeanyi Ajaegbo in his book, Sarah House, paints a vivid image of a horrible practice in Nigeria. Pictures from panmacmillan.co.za

Upon arrival to the Sarah House, Nita steals the heart of Chief, a powerful politician and businessman who instantly declares that he wants Nita to be his and his alone. Madam, the owner of the Sarah House is pleased because it means more business and money to her. As to Nita, a better life, a life filled with respect and money spending.

For the first time in her entire life Nita boarders a plane, for the first time she goes to Abuja to meet Chief. This was a good thing for her compared to most of the other girls back at Sarah House. After a while in Abuja, Nita returns only to find that two of her dear friends were murdered.

This sad news makes her forget all the bliss she had encountered in the big city. Nita remembers the detective she once mate and then she made a very important call that could put her in danger and at the same time bring justice to this forsaken place called Sarah House.

A sad story it is, filled with terror, horror and breath taking suspense. A story that paints a vivid image of what really goes on behind some black gates, behind some closed doors and just after the sun has gone down and the evening takes over.