One evening, I decided to go on a solo stroll to a nearby village, and while returning, I lost my way on the trail and came across some uncompleted buildings with street touts smoking hemp and drinking spirits. I was afraid. Then, the one that looked like the ring leader came over and asked what I was doing in their territory. I told him that I was lost. He laughed out loud and said, “See JJC,” meaning “Johnny Just Come.” He asked his boys to carry me to their den, then he placed me on the ground and commanded them to leave.

I tried to scream, and he showed me a dagger by his waist and told me he would use it on me if I didn’t cooperate. I told him to please not harm me, that I would cooperate, and he immediately grabbed my throat and pushed me to the floor with one hand, while he used the other hand to remove my clothes. He pulled down his trousers and raped me. He repeated it again and raped me three times.

Then he called his men to give me water because I was struggling to breathe. His boys also wanted to have a feel of me, but because of the state I was in, he asked them to leave. Afterwards, he threatened that if I ever told anyone about it, he would end my life. Then he ordered his boys to drop me off at the main road.

I was grateful to be alive. I waved a taxi down because they took my phone from me and pleaded with him to take me to my friend’s house. The cab man was afraid to help me, but he later felt pity for me. Upon getting home, Esther, who was surprised to see me looking tattered, hit the cab man before realizing he was my helper. She took me in, gave me water to drink, and asked me to narrate my ordeal. After apologizing to and paying the cabman, she even dashed him extra cash for helping me.

After hearing my story, she called the DPO, who was a family friend, and he asked us to come to the station and write a statement. There, we were then referred to the WARIF Centre from the police station.