The Nigerian Actress had a terrible encounter a few days ago in the hands of men that are supposed to uphold the law and protect us. This is her story as told by her.
“On my way from the ambassador for peace beauty pageant held at the Sheraton
Hotels, I decided to check on my brother at the end of my street. I parked my
car in front of Dreams Garden at the end of my street behind one bus, and was
going in to see Ugo (my brother) when a man dressed in a man-o-war uniform
appeared from nowhere and shoved me on my breasts, commanding that I get into
the bus I parked behind.
“I reprimanded him for touching my breasts but
instead of apologizing, he continued to pushing me by my breasts towards the
bus, so when I couldn’t bear it anymore I pushed him too and started running
away.Please click to continue.“Three men wearing man-o-war
uniform and a head warmer, no name tags, and two plain clothes policemen ran
after me. When they caught me they descended on me, beating me mercilessly
despite the fact that I was screaming who I was.
“A girl who was waiting
for me in my car, after waiting for a while and didn’t see me, came down to go
and look for me at my brother’s place. She was horrified to see all those
uniformed men assaulting me and trying to force me into the bus.
“She
started pleading with them, telling them who I am and even showing them my car
keys, but all to no avail. She started screaming when she thought they were
going to kill me and that attracted people’s attention.
“When crowd
gathered and people started recognizing me, there started coming to my rescue
and there was almost a mob attack. A soldier out of fear cocked his gun and said
he’ll shoot me if I don’t enter the bus.
“What hurts most is that I’ve
been fighting against violence against women, and now I’m a first victim of it.
I have over 70 cases of abused women on Abuja streets.
“The team that
assaulted me tried to escape. I chased them down to area 10. Ugo found me there
and another soldier cocked a gun, pointed at his tummy and threatened to shoot.
A female soldier cocked her gun and pointed at Justina, the girl in my car, who
was supposed to be on my show (ability talk, earlier in the day on love
104.5fm). Apparently the female soldier wanted to shoot Justina for having
piercings on her face, because she said Justina was not a true Nigerian by
that.
“Women have been randomly abducted and forced to confess to
prostitutions by AEPB in conjunction with the questionable NGO, Society Against
Prostitution and Child Labour.
“I have over 70 cases against them and now
I’m a victim. Women are not safe in Abuja.
“The Military should be put to
better use. It’s high time they pay for the damages they have been causing. I am
so traumatized. Having cocked guns pointed at us is a mental image that tortures
me.
“Government needs to hear us out, get facts and figures and stop the
abuse against women. I wish the national assembly will permit me make a full
presentation on the degree of this violence against women in Abuja and act
immediately on it.
“I have rape victims, bullet injury victims, people
beaten out of their jeeps at gunpoint whose names were published as prostitutes
in national dailies, abused youth coppers… all sorts of traumatized victims.
These people need rehabilitation at different levels urgently.”
And we are supposed to feel safe with these people are meant to be protectors. Nigerian law is dwindling. We all better learn.
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