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Innalillahi wa ina illaihi rajiun , I just lost my father, when you come across this, say a prayer for him.

HE LEFT HOME AT SEVEN YEARS OLD. NINE YEARS LATER, HE RETURNED TO DISCOVER THAT BOTH HIS PARENTS WERE GONE. Alhaji Bukar Ali was only seven years old when his childhood took an unexpected turn. He was attending a religious school in Banki, Borno State, when fighting reached the town. Like many other residents, people began fleeing to find safety. Alhaji eventually crossed into neighbouring Cameroon. At first, he was not alone. Two of his brothers had also fled with him. But as circumstances unfolded, he became separated from them too. Suddenly, a little boy who had left home with his family found himself living far away from everyone he knew. He spent the following years in Cameroon, living in a camp for displaced people. He attended school and took up small jobs to support himself. Nine years passed. Nine years without seeing his family. Nine years without knowing exactly where his loved ones were. Meanwhile, back in Nigeria, his family had no idea where he was. Eventually, the International Committee of the Red Cross noticed that Alhaji was living without his family and began working to trace his relatives. But there was a serious challenge. Alhaji had been so young when he left home that he could barely remember important details about his family or where they lived. The search was difficult. Then something changed. The Red Cross and Nigerian Red Cross used photographs to help identify his relatives. Someone eventually recognised him and connected the organisation to his brother, Modu Bongomi, who was living outside Maiduguri. After nine years, the brothers finally established contact. They spoke on the phone five times while arrangements were being made for Alhaji to return home. But during those conversations, Alhaji received news that broke his heart. Both his parents had passed away. He had spent years hoping to find his way back to them, but he would never get to embrace them again. Before learning this, he had even written a message to his mother and given it to Red Cross volunteers, hoping they would find her and deliver it. Sadly, that message would never reach her. Nevertheless, there was still someone waiting for him in Nigeria. His brother. In January 2024, after nine years away, Alhaji finally arrived at the airport in Maiduguri. His surviving brother, sister and aunt were there to welcome him. When he stepped off the plane, they embraced. Nine years of separation had finally come to an end. Alhaji couldn't hide his happiness. He said: "I feel so happy. I'm just smiling continuously." But perhaps the most touching words came from his brother, Modu, who said: "I feel like it is our late father coming home."

I wanted to study Geology but I ended up studying industrial chemistry. How about you ?