Tawa, 23: I Left Home Hoping for a Better Life But I Was Raped During My First Week in Lagos

I grew up not knowing who my mom was. My dad told me that she abandoned me at birth and never came back. No one had heard from or seen her since she left. I finished my secondary education despite the hardship I faced. My dad is a mechanic who repairs cars in a friend’s garage. He struggled to make ends meet. We barely had enough to eat and I lacked motherly care.

After my final paper, I left Ibadan for Lagos on a public bus. I didn’t know my destination or where I would spend the night, but I was desperate to succeed in life. I knew my father couldn’t afford to send me to the university, and I needed to get a job and save enough money to fulfill my dream of becoming an international fashion designer. I felt guilty that I didn’t say goodbye to him, but I knew he wouldn’t have allowed me to leave.

Experiencing the Abuse

When I arrived in Lagos, the driver dropped all the passengers at the garage. I began to wander around the park, hoping to find a friendly face to talk to, but everyone seemed to be in a hurry. At night, I snuck into one of the buses and slept inside.

To my surprise, I overslept. The bus owner returned in the morning and woke me up. I apologized and explained my situation to him. He had pity on me and gave me money to buy something to eat and showed me where the public toilets were so I could bathe. He told other people at the park about my plight, and they allowed me to sit with them during the day and sleep at the park at night.

About a week later, I began job hunting. While passing by a mechanic workshop, a man called out to me and asked what I was looking for. I explained that I desperately needed a job to survive. He told me to wait that his wife needed a salesgirl to assist her in her business. He took me to his house, but when we arrived, I didn’t see anyone inside.

He then called a lady and handed me the phone to speak with his wife. She asked when I could start, and I responded, “immediately.” She agreed to employ me, and I handed the phone back to him.

Immediately after ending the call, he pushed me onto the sofa. He forcefully removed my clothes. When I tried to shout, he covered my mouth and inserted his penis into my vagina and raped me. It was a painful experience.

He threatened to kill me if I ever told anyone. Then he gave me ₦3,000 and asked me to leave. As I was walking out, he called me back and collected the money. I pleaded with him to let me keep it so I could get medication, I was bleeding because it was my first time having sex. He refused.

I was infuriated by his wickedness, and I proceeded to look for the nearest police station. Luckily, I found one and reported the crime. The officers promptly followed me to the perpetrator’s house, and he was arrested.

My Healing Journey

Fortunately, I was referred from the police station to the WARIF Rape Crisis Center. I immediately accessed medical examination, treatment, and psycho-social counseling.

The counselor commended me for reporting the case promptly. The psycho-social counseling helped me answer many of the questions troubling my mind. She assured me that the rape was not my fault it was entirely the fault of the perpetrator. I was taught coping mechanisms that helped me deal with the emotional and psychological trauma.

It’s been a year since the incident. The case was charged to court, and the perpetrator was sentenced for the crimes he committed against me.

I was also given shelter through the WARIF Centre in collaboration with their partners. Most importantly, the group therapy sessions helped me overcome self-blame, guilt, mood swings, and lack of concentration.

I’m doing well now. I am currently enrolled in a fashion institute, pursuing my ambition of becoming a fashion designer. I was recently awarded Best Designer in my class.

All thanks to the WARIF team, my life has been transformed!

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]