I am Amarachi*, a 20-year-old lady, and this is my story.

I am Amarachi*, a 20-year-old lady, and this is my story.
I am the only surviving daughter of my parents because my mother had lost 2 children at childbirth before I was born. My mother passed on when I was about three (3) years old which meant that I have faint memories of her.

My father was devastated by mother’s passing as well as that of my two elder siblings at childbirth that he swore never to remarry. I was raised single-handedly by my dad, meanwhile, the surrounding circumstances that accompanied my mother’s demise made some relatives to accuse my father that his family was cursed and my mom’s relatives swore never to have anything to do with me or my father. My father had one sibling who lived in Lagos so I barely knew nor met her in person say for a few occasions when she visited the village while I was still very young.

I finished secondary school when I turned 18year-old and I sat for my WAEC exams. I had excellent results with 5 distinctions and 3 credits in the 8 subjects which I enrolled for. I also enrolled for JAMB exams; I choose one of the prestigious universities in Lagos as first choice while my second choice was another university in my state capital. My father and I made both choices after speaking with his elder sister who is his only sibling living in Lagos who agreed to be my guardian whilst studying as an undergraduate for my degree.

My JAMB results got released and I made the cut-off to study Computer Engineering which made my dad to be elated while promising me that he will ensure I lack nothing, even if it meant him sacrificing some comfort till later while studying for my degree in Lagos. Thereafter, my dad took me to Lagos to my aunt’s house for the post-Jamb exams and he stayed a while so I could write my exams and he was there with me throughout the process.

About 3 weeks later, it was time for my dad to return to the village. We had a father to daughter discussion while he encouraged me to remember where I was coming from and also to focus on my studies. I wept and my dad also cried at the end of our talk because that was the first time, he was leaving me in the custody of anyone, his elder sister (my aunt) who is to assume the role of guardian. He also had a talk with my aunt whose children are all grown-up who are either married or in other countries abroad. Hence, my aunt and her husband lived alone with their maid. My aunt ran a supermarket in the neighborhood and her business was doing well while her husband was a retired civil servant.

My aunt always took me along whenever she was going out to her shop whilst also teaching me to help out at her store. On this particular day in February, I was not feeling too well as I was purging from the food, I ate last night so my aunt left me at home and promised to return later in the day to check on me. She then took the maid along, and not long after she had gone out, my aunt’s husband came to check on me while I was having my bathe, hence, I locked the door from within telling him, I would come out when I felt better.

My Aunt’s husband returned later and this time, he banged on the door until I opened it, immediately he came into my room, he pushed me on the bed and removed my clothes. I begged him but he refused, he forcefully inserted his penis into my vagina and raped me. When my aunt’s husband was done, he raped me a second time, and he stood up when he was satisfied after which he asked me to clean up. It was in the process of him coming out of my room and I was still weeping inside the room, whilst still naked that my aunt came in and discovered what had happened. I explained everything that happened to my aunt but she refused to listen to me. She threw me out of the house saying I seduced her husband. She also collected my phone so I couldn’t call my dad. I slept outside that night since my aunt did not accept my pleas.

After that incident, I was homeless and resulted to begging for arms because I did not know my dad’s phone number off hand until a few days ago, when a good Samaritan saw me begging for assistance who asked to know my story and she took me to the police station. The team of police offices asked me to lead them to my aunt’s house which I did. My aunt and her husband were arrested.

The police got in touch with my dad after collecting my phone from my aunt and my father immediately boarded a bus to Lagos the same day. The police referred me to WARIF for medical assessment, treatment and psycho-social counselling. Meanwhile, my dad was heartbroken while both of us experienced self-blame, guilt and anger for everything that happened to me. At WARIF Centre, we were given medical examination, treatment, psycho-social counseling for free. The counselor who attended to me, encouraged me psychologically and emotionally while explaining that it was not my fault. She counselled my dad, taught both of us coping mechanisms and we all set up safety measures for handling trauma.

I was given the opportunity to join the group counseling session where I met other survivors whilst developing a sense of belongings and I learnt that I was not alone. My aunt’s husband was charged to court because he was found guilty of rape. He was sentenced to prison for crimes committed against me.

It’s been two years since the incident and I am in my second year in the university with excellent grades. I healed from guilt, self-blame, mood-swings, anger, fear, anxiety, worry and flashbacks and I am excited for the journey ahead. My dad is also doing well, he has established a branch of his business in Lagos state. He is always available to check up on me when he’s in town. I believe more in myself. I have learnt to accept and appreciate myself more. I’m excited about my progress. My goal is to be the best version of me and help other survivors like me.

All this wouldn’t have been possible without the professional help gotten at WARIF Centre. Many thanks to the staff and management of WARIF Centre. You are all amazing!

-End-
* Real name of survivor changed for confidentiality

Dear survivor, please know that you are not alone, and it is not your fault. Help is available. If you have been raped or know someone who has, please visit us at:
The WARIF Centre
6, Turton Street, off Thorburn Avenue, Sabo, Yaba.
or call our 24-hour confidential helpline on
0800-9210-0009
For questions or more information please contact: [email protected]

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