The Backup That Saved My Life

What I'm about to tell you will chill you to the bone. But I must share this story because somewhere out there, another Nigerian woman might be in the same deadly danger I was in for months without knowing it.

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon in Lagos. My husband Emeka had gone to visit his mother, and I was cleaning our bedroom when his old phone fell from behind the dresser. The screen was cracked, but when I plugged it in to charge, it came alive.

I was just going to put it away when I saw the notification: "iCloud backup complete." Curious, I opened his photos, thinking I might find some old memories of us.

What I found instead made my blood run cold.

Screenshots of life insurance policies. My life insurance policies.

But that wasn't the worst part. I kept scrolling and found WhatsApp messages between Emeka and someone named "Doc." The messages were about poisons that couldn't be detected in an autopsy. About making a death look like a heart attack. About timing.

My hands started shaking as I read message after message planning my murder. My own husband, the father of my children, was planning to kill me for insurance money.

One message made me vomit: "The wife has been complaining of chest pains lately. Perfect timing. Make it look natural."

Those chest pains... I had been having them for weeks. I thought it was stress from work. But now I realized - he had been slowly poisoning me.

I was supposed to die, and no one would have ever known it was murder.

The Plan to Murder Me

I sat on our bathroom floor, scrolling through months of evidence that my husband wanted me dead. The messages were detailed, calculated, and terrifying.

I learned that Emeka had taken out three different life insurance policies on me over the past year, each worth millions of naira. He told me they were "investment opportunities" and I trusted him to handle our finances.

The messages revealed his timeline: "She's been getting sicker. The small doses are working. Maybe two more weeks and we can increase the amount."

Two more weeks. I had two weeks to live.

I read about how he had been putting something in my evening tea - the special blend he made for me every night, claiming it would help me sleep better. The tea I thought was his way of showing love was actually my death sentence.

I was furious. I was terrified. I was in complete disbelief.

But mostly, I felt stupid. How could I not have known? All those times he insisted on making my tea. All those "vitamins" he said would boost my energy. All those concerned looks when I complained about feeling unwell.

The man who held me when I cried, who promised to protect me, who called me his "queen" - was slowly killing me.

I took screenshots of everything and sent them to my email. Then I heard his car in the driveway. He was home early.

I quickly put the phone back where I found it and pretended to be folding clothes. When he walked in with that familiar smile and asked, "How's my beautiful wife?" I wanted to scream.

Instead, I smiled back and said, "Fine, my love." Because I knew that my life depended on him not knowing that I knew..

That night, Emeka made my tea as usual. "Here you go, my queen. This will help you sleep better," he said with the same loving smile he'd worn for eight years of marriage.

I took the cup with shaking hands, pretended to sip it, and told him I needed to use the bathroom. I poured the entire cup down the sink and rinsed it thoroughly.

For the next three days, I pretended to drink the tea while secretly disposing of it. I watched him watch me, noting how disappointed he looked when I seemed to be getting better instead of worse.

On the fourth day, I made my move. While he was at work, I packed a small bag and took our children to my sister's house. I told her everything and showed her the screenshots.

She was horrified. "Adunni, we need to call the police right now."

We did. The police took my statement and the evidence. They told me I was incredibly lucky - the poison he was using would have killed me within days if I hadn't discovered his plan.

In that moment of complete terror, I found something I didn't know I had: the will to fight for my life.

The investigation revealed that "Doc" was actually a veterinarian who had been supplying Emeka with animal tranquilizers and other substances. Emeka had convinced him I was terminally ill and suffering, and he wanted to "help me pass peacefully."

When the police arrested Emeka, he broke down and confessed everything. The gambling debts. The failed business investments. The mounting pressure from loan sharks. He thought my life insurance money would solve all his problems.

He never once apologized for trying to murder me. He only cried about getting caught.

That's when I realized: I wasn't losing a husband. I was escaping a killer.

Now surviving a murder attempt was just the beginning of my journey. After Emeka was sentenced to 25 years in prison, I was left with nothing - no income, no savings (he had drained our accounts for his gambling), and two children to feed.

I was broken, traumatized, and completely dependent on my family's charity. But I knew I couldn't stay that way. My children needed a strong mother, and I needed to rebuild my life from scratch.

That's when my sister told me about SkillPay. At first, I was skeptical. How could an online program help someone like me - someone who had barely survived and had no confidence left?

But SkillPay didn't just teach me digital skills. It taught me that I was stronger than I ever imagined.

Through SkillPay's programs, I learned freelance writing, social media management, and online business skills. More importantly, I learned that I could trust myself again. I could make decisions. I could earn money. I could build a future.

Today, two years later, I run a successful digital marketing consultancy. I own my own apartment. My children are in good schools. Most importantly, I sleep peacefully at night knowing that I am safe and independent.

SkillPay didn't just give me skills - it gave me back my life. And it can give you yours too.

Let SkillPay Help You Build Your Safety Net

Don't wait for a crisis to discover your strength. Start building the skills and independence that could save your life.

SkillPay helps Nigerian women:

Learn digital skills for remote work opportunities

Master freelancing and online business skills 

Build financial literacy and independence

Gain confidence through practical training

Connect with other ambitious Nigerian women

Access mentorship from successful entrepreneurs

Work from home and control your schedule

Tap into global opportunities from Nigeria

Create your own financial safety net

Build the confidence to trust yourself again

Whether you're escaping a dangerous situation, want to contribute to your family's income, or simply desire to build a more secure future, SkillPay gives you the tools to create the life you deserve.

Sister, you don't need to wait for someone to try to destroy you. You can start building your fortress of independence today.

Start Building Your Safety Net with SkillPay

Join thousands of Nigerian women who are already building their unshakeable, independent lives!

Remember: Independence isn't just about money - it's about having the power to save your own life. Your journey to safety and success starts with a single step.