Rapists On Rampage: Shocking Stories Of Raped, Traumatised Victims

“I am the first child of my parents, and they usually leave me at home alone when they go to work,” said Mariam, now 20.

“He was fondly called Junior in the compound.

“He would invite me into his room and sit me on the chair.

“He would start touching me and put his penis in my mouth to suck it…”

Twenty-year-old Mariam Garuba (not her real name) tells Information Nigeria during a recent interview on how she was sexually abused by a neighbour at the age of 8.

Rape is considered a very sensitive issue, and in Nigeria, it is not easy for one to come out to reveal that they had been raped, especially when it was done by a close friend or family member.

Sometimes, the perpetrators of this act go unpunished. This downshifts all the focus onto victims, while perpetrators are not addressed at all.

There is, however, also no justification for rape. Take for instance; if not for Tonto Dikeh’s timely intervention in the case of 4-year-old Khloe who was raped by her cook the suspect would have been set free. The actress revealed that the father of the victim was the one sorting out the legal fees of the suspect, Idris. How can someone rape your child and then you pay for the person to be set free?

Rape
Rapist and victim

Rapists On Rampage

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Sourced from two different chapters and verses (Mark 10:25 and Matthew 19:24) in the Christians’ holy book, the Bible.

But, nothing better captures the rampant and incessant cases of rape, child molestation currently trending in the country than a parody of this saying: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for rapists to enter the kingdom of God.”

A survey conducted by the United Nation’s International Emergency Fund, UNICEF, and the United States’ Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the Nigerian government in 2014, said 25 per cent of girls below the age of 18 were reported to have been sexually abused.

READ: Twins rape teenager for 9 months; claim they were teaching her what to do when she gets a boyfriend

For the year under review, 47 per cent of girls between 13 and 17 was sexually abused. Most of the victims were attacked by their neighbours, the report noted.

As the word starts to lose its meaning, it becomes harder and harder to object to rape culture.

In Nigeria, the victims are usually blamed for the incident, and it is often mischaracterized in the media, placing the woman’s behaviour rather than the rapist at the forefront.

The victims are usually blamed either because of their mode of dressing or body movement. This leads to public speculation about whether victims’ dress or behaviour could be to blame for their own assaults.

More often than not, victims of rape are usually young children, and this, in turn, has an effect on them in the long run.

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Disturbing Trend

Ese Walter had in 2013 accused the Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Biodun Fatoyinbo of sexually abusing her, adding that the man of God took advantage of her naivety while they had an illicit affair.
According to her, she had a week-long sexual relationship with the pastor during his visit to London.

Busola Dakolo, a photographer and wife of Nigerian singer, Timi Dakolo further gave a graphical explanation of how she was raped by same pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo.

Busola said she was only 17, when the pastor, who was her pastor at the time, allegedly raped and deflowered her. According to her, she was a member of the Divine Delight Club, which later became known as the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA.

On her part, the 2017 Big Brother Naija season three housemate, Ifu Ennada, revealed that she was sexually abused by a popular name in the entertainment industry who in turn gave her a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

Recently, Ennada announced she will make known the identity of the man that molested her.

READ: Father Rapes, Impregnates 15-Year-Old Daugther

Victims Speak Up

At age eight, Mariam Garuba (not her real name) revealed she was sexually abused by a neighbour. She lived in a tenement building, popularly known as ‘face me I face you’, in Yaba area of Lagos state.

Mariam, 20, in an interview with Information Nigeria, disclosed how she was raped at the tender age of 8.

“I am the first child of my parents and they usually leave me at home alone when they go to work,”

“He was fondly called Junior in the compound.

“He would invite me into his room and sit me on the chair.

“He would start touching me and put his penis in my mouth to suck it.

“I was very much young and I didn’t know what I was doing.

“He would then put his fingers inside my skirt and pour his sperm in my mouth and tell me to swallow it.

“I once reported him to his siblings but no one believed me.

“After that, I became closed off because my innocence had been taken from me.”

In a separate interview with Samuel Ayoade (not his real name), he revealed that he was 7-years-old when he was sexually assaulted by an househelp running errands for his parents.

He revealed that the maid would not give him food most times, unless she sits on his face and he licks her.

It happened for about 2 years before she left.

In his words, “we had a maid who was supposed to take care of us at home but instead, she would take advantage of our vulnerability”

“She wouldn’t give us food unless she sits on my face or I give her oral stimulation”

“My mom was a single parent so she never had time for us, I never told her about it because she wouldn’t have believed me.

“The incident has affected my life in many ways. I get scared of leaving my kids without my supervision, even though they complain I am overprotective.

“I do not want them to go through such experience”.

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Rapist and victim

Parental Care To The Rescue

According to Tosin Olanrewaju, a computer scientist, “Rape cannot be stopped, it can only be reduced. There needs to be more publicity and awareness on the issue.

“Parents need to pay more attention to their children. There need to be an increase in the punishment for offenders; they should be castrated, if possible. People need to educated on the implications of such act.”

Being the 21st century, we have been exposed to revolutionary changes. Even though, Nigeria is considered as an underdeveloped country, people still gain access to free basic education, affordable health centres and basic amenities. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are being set up to provide a helping hand to victims of abuse.

Bolu Sofola, a Health Analyst, advised that “sex education should be given to pupils in primary school by caregivers at home. Sofola added that the law enforcement agency should show proof of punishment; the offenders should be made known to the public just like every other criminal, they should not be protected”.

Sofola stressed that awareness on rape can also help to reduce stigmatization, and NGOs that advocate against rape should enlighten people about privacy.

It is up to everyone to join hands to fight this menace. The government need to look deep into the issue and set a law so the perpetrators do not go unpunished.