I am Arafat*, a 21-year-old lady, and this is my story.

I am Arafat*, a 21-year-old lady, and this is my story.
I am a 300 Level student, studying Architecture in one the prestigious universities in Nigeria. This happened to me while I was still a 200 Level student. My parents had just acquired this apartment in one of the suburb areas of Lagos state and we all moved in. This property was managed by the service apartment of the Estate. We were elated to be moving to a new neighborhood and ready for all the intricacies that comes with living in a new environment.
A few weeks after our arrival, our water system got broken and it needed to be fixed so we asked the maintenance officer of the apartment to send a plumber to fix it and they did. The plumber arrived and I opened the door for him. My mother was upstairs while I was fixing breakfast in the kitchen for her before she was preparing for work. My elder brother was out of town on a work visit and my father was also out of town. I was at home because my school had closed for the semester. My mother came downstairs and asked me to pack her food as she was pressed for time, and I did so she hugged me and left for work. She told me that she left instructions for the handyman to leave when he had fixed the water system.

I went to the handyman that I was going upstairs and would be back when he will be done. Not quite long, I heard footsteps, then a knock on my door, I asked who it was, and the handyman answered that he needed my attention, I told him to go downstairs, and I will join him soon. Unknown to me, he did not leave because as I opened the door, he was standing there, I was surprised, when he showed me a knife, that he was going to kill if I shouted, that I should cooperate that he was going to have sexual intercourse with me.

I was so scared that I was just shaking and nodding to all his instructions while he asked to go back into my room, remove my clothes and lie down on my bed and I did. He removed his trousers and pounced on me while he raped me several times until he was satisfied. I was crying in pain throughout the time, it was a painful experience. When he was down raping me, he further threatened me with the knife and then he left. I was shaken and weak for a while, then I crawled to the kitchen to get water, so I regained some strength. After taking the water, I was able to coordinate a bit and I called my mom who rushed back from work, and she alerted the estate management. They joined us to the police station where my family reported a case of sexual molestation, and the police went after the perpetrator who had absconded. We were immediately referred to WARIF Centre for medical assessment, treatment and counselling.

We arrived the centre and the medical personnel addressed me professionally, I was accessed medically, given treatments, and psycho-social counselling for my mental and psychological well-being. At the counselling session, the counsellor informed me that what happened to me was not my fault but that of the perpetrator. I was hopeless at that time in my healing journey, but the counsellor gave the courage to live again. I had other counselling sessions, and I also joined the Group therapy session where I developed a sense of belonging with other survivors in a confidential and serene environment. I discovered that I was not alone and WARIF was there to walk the journey of healing with me and other survivors. All this services at the WARIF Centre are all rendered free of charge.
The police with the help of the estate management, caught the perpetrator and arrested him. The police case charged the case to the court, and I am confident that the court jury will sentence him for crimes committed against me at the next hearing and this will serve as a deterrent to others.

I was experiencing feelings of shame, fear, moodiness, loss of concentration, appetite, and flashbacks when this first happened but gradually with the help of the counselling session and coping mechanisms taught at the counselling sessions, I have overcome those symptoms, and I am doing well academically. I am grateful to my parents, the police force and most especially to WARIF team for the laudable job they are doing in SGBV space.
I have joined the volunteer team of WARIF and I now an advocate for GBV. Thanks to the WARIF team!

-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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