A tricycle rider in Aba, identified as Uchenna Nwankwo from Umuomei, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, has become a national symbol of honesty after returning N4 million cash forgotten by a Cameroonian woman he picked from Aba Main Park to Ariaria International Market on Monday, June 23, 2025. The woman, whose name was withheld for security reasons, had reportedly contemplated suicide before Nwankwo located her.
After dropping her off, Nwankwo discovered the huge sum left inside his Keke. Despite pressure from some of his colleagues to keep the money, he drove back to the park in search of the passenger. When he couldn’t find her there, he combed nearby streets until he spotted her weeping uncontrollably at Ariaria Junction, believing the money was gone for good.
Eyewitnesses say the woman had already made troubling statements suggesting she wanted to end her life, fearing she would be held responsible for the missing funds by her business partners in Cameroon. On seeing her distress, Nwankwo not only handed over the entire cash untouched but also took her to a nearby hotel for safety, refusing to leave until she regained composure.
Despite overwhelming gratitude from the woman, Nwankwo declined all monetary rewards offered to him. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, June 24, he said, “I love what I did. I need a new Keke, but not with someone’s lost money. Jehovah’s teachings guide me, and I will never take what’s not mine.”
Some of his fellow drivers at Aba Main Park mocked him, calling him “mugu” and accusing him of passing up a life-changing opportunity. However, residents and traders in Ariaria Market have since rallied in his defense, calling for public recognition and even suggesting crowdfunding to help him get a new tricycle.
Religious groups, civil society organizations, and online commentators have praised Nwankwo’s act, describing it as rare in today’s economic climate. Social media users across Nigeria and Cameroon have flooded platforms like X and Facebook with messages of support, calling him the true face of integrity in 2025.
Calls are now growing for the Abia State Government and corporate organizations to honor Nwankwo’s honesty with an award or business support package. As the story continues to trend across the country, many believe this is the kind of positive example the nation desperately needs.
