10 minutes ago
Date: July 9 2007
Location: Jakande Estate isolo
Time: Around about 9pm to around about 12midnight
What- The attack that changed my life
PS: this is a long read
---------------
10 years ago today, I escaped an ordeal that has scared me for life, I might be brave, look brave, act brave, but dear, underneath that bravery is a brutalised and damaged person. Many times when I flashback to that day, I cry, sometimes I laugh and sometimes I went into that very depressing place of self hatered and I loath myself.
Here is my long story
---------------
It seems like yesterday but I made a vow not to remember to the point where it pained. It was a very lovely Monday, the sun was shining and as usual I was getting on with my life.
I had just returned from the Internet cafe, where I had endure a long walk of shame with abuse and name calling. How I had endured that for almost 5 years I had no idea. I think it's more about the friends I had than my ability to cope.
We were beaten together and harassed together, sometime the ordeal is alone. I think knowing we had no where to go to, we got used to it, at least we had each other.
This Monday (9 July 2007) marked a month I had returned from attending a conference in London and that was my first trip out of Nigeria ever.
It felt great to be back as I never really liked London, it was too cold and too clean.
---------------
As I walked home that Monday I saw a friend of mine, Jude, very tall and muscular guy, a gay guy as well but on the downlo. He was living with his sister on the estate. We exchanged pleasantries and he walked with me home, asking what I brought back from London.
Jude is a very nice guy but a player, I have seen him played with the hearts of my girls, he is one guy that is very cute and he knew it and made his money from it.
He walked home with me and as usual, told me he is hungry, I told him we have food at home. My girls always cook, they are the best irrespective of whatever shit is going on now.
We got to mine and he went through my bag and saw some DVDs and he wanted to borrow Brother2Brother
He had it but with a very strong warning to return it that night or he will never get any DVD from me ever again. He ate, chatted a little bit more and left. My boyfriend (I won't mention his name for security reason) settled in to watch another DVD
---------------
My boyfriend and I had been together 4 years, we both live in the estate and there is a funny story behind our dating. I had had a bet with my best friend Femi (he died of AIDS complication 10 years ago), and the rest was story.
My boyfriend lives in the same estate with me and I wondered how he was able to deal with the showers of abuse that we both face everyday. I love him so much, he was 10 years younger, a very cute charming and promising young man and I felt that was what drew me to him.
---------------
Around about 9pm, NEPA has taken light so thanks to my neighbour Iya Lanre, we had access to generator to give us power, the usual over dramatic Mexican telenovela was on, we had our light off and using the tv light as the room light. We had just had dinner, both of us, cuddled up on our bed, watching tv, then there was a knock.
He looked at me asking if I was expecting anyone, another knock. All my girls had gone home and none planned to sleep over that night, then I remembered it might be Jude returning my DVD. Then another knock, I got up walked to the door and opened it.
---------------
The person at the door gave me a very 'dirty' slap, I went blank and saw stars, pushed me with his leg and I fell backward hitting my head on the floor, then they entered. I knew they were they because I heard more than one voice, but I have no idea how many. He turned me over, but before then, had removed my shirt and my trouser, I was left with my underwear. He told me to face the floor and one of them put his leg on the back of my head.
I heard my boyfriend begging and they told him to be quiet, they started beating him and they were beating me too, it felt like iron, it was hard and painful; what they were using to beat me.
After over 2 hours, which included causes, abuse and the fact that I was disgracing the Nigeria government during my trip to London (I had granted an interview to BBC network Africa).
Then one of them said; let's do this and go. I had no idea but suddenly I felt a cold steel touching my head and then it hit me, it might be a gun, then my fear was confirmed, the other said, we need to make it look like a robbery, let's turn the house upside down and take as many things with us.
---------------
While they were doing this, I heard another knock on my door, it was my neighbour wanting to know if I am in or not as it is almost midnight and she wanted to lock the gate. I couldn't answer, but they forced me to tell her not to, few minutes after that knock, I guessed they had a peep, saw the road was clear and ran out of my room.
---------------
What happened next? Come back tomorrow
Location: Jakande Estate isolo
Time: Around about 9pm to around about 12midnight
What- The attack that changed my life
PS: this is a long read
---------------
10 years ago today, I escaped an ordeal that has scared me for life, I might be brave, look brave, act brave, but dear, underneath that bravery is a brutalised and damaged person. Many times when I flashback to that day, I cry, sometimes I laugh and sometimes I went into that very depressing place of self hatered and I loath myself.
Here is my long story
---------------
It seems like yesterday but I made a vow not to remember to the point where it pained. It was a very lovely Monday, the sun was shining and as usual I was getting on with my life.
I had just returned from the Internet cafe, where I had endure a long walk of shame with abuse and name calling. How I had endured that for almost 5 years I had no idea. I think it's more about the friends I had than my ability to cope.
We were beaten together and harassed together, sometime the ordeal is alone. I think knowing we had no where to go to, we got used to it, at least we had each other.
This Monday (9 July 2007) marked a month I had returned from attending a conference in London and that was my first trip out of Nigeria ever.
It felt great to be back as I never really liked London, it was too cold and too clean.
---------------
As I walked home that Monday I saw a friend of mine, Jude, very tall and muscular guy, a gay guy as well but on the downlo. He was living with his sister on the estate. We exchanged pleasantries and he walked with me home, asking what I brought back from London.
Jude is a very nice guy but a player, I have seen him played with the hearts of my girls, he is one guy that is very cute and he knew it and made his money from it.
He walked home with me and as usual, told me he is hungry, I told him we have food at home. My girls always cook, they are the best irrespective of whatever shit is going on now.
We got to mine and he went through my bag and saw some DVDs and he wanted to borrow Brother2Brother
He had it but with a very strong warning to return it that night or he will never get any DVD from me ever again. He ate, chatted a little bit more and left. My boyfriend (I won't mention his name for security reason) settled in to watch another DVD
---------------
My boyfriend and I had been together 4 years, we both live in the estate and there is a funny story behind our dating. I had had a bet with my best friend Femi (he died of AIDS complication 10 years ago), and the rest was story.
My boyfriend lives in the same estate with me and I wondered how he was able to deal with the showers of abuse that we both face everyday. I love him so much, he was 10 years younger, a very cute charming and promising young man and I felt that was what drew me to him.
---------------
Around about 9pm, NEPA has taken light so thanks to my neighbour Iya Lanre, we had access to generator to give us power, the usual over dramatic Mexican telenovela was on, we had our light off and using the tv light as the room light. We had just had dinner, both of us, cuddled up on our bed, watching tv, then there was a knock.
He looked at me asking if I was expecting anyone, another knock. All my girls had gone home and none planned to sleep over that night, then I remembered it might be Jude returning my DVD. Then another knock, I got up walked to the door and opened it.
---------------
The person at the door gave me a very 'dirty' slap, I went blank and saw stars, pushed me with his leg and I fell backward hitting my head on the floor, then they entered. I knew they were they because I heard more than one voice, but I have no idea how many. He turned me over, but before then, had removed my shirt and my trouser, I was left with my underwear. He told me to face the floor and one of them put his leg on the back of my head.
I heard my boyfriend begging and they told him to be quiet, they started beating him and they were beating me too, it felt like iron, it was hard and painful; what they were using to beat me.
After over 2 hours, which included causes, abuse and the fact that I was disgracing the Nigeria government during my trip to London (I had granted an interview to BBC network Africa).
Then one of them said; let's do this and go. I had no idea but suddenly I felt a cold steel touching my head and then it hit me, it might be a gun, then my fear was confirmed, the other said, we need to make it look like a robbery, let's turn the house upside down and take as many things with us.
---------------
While they were doing this, I heard another knock on my door, it was my neighbour wanting to know if I am in or not as it is almost midnight and she wanted to lock the gate. I couldn't answer, but they forced me to tell her not to, few minutes after that knock, I guessed they had a peep, saw the road was clear and ran out of my room.
---------------
What happened next? Come back tomorrow
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