It was the rush to get a new laptop on the best possible deal on a black Friday night that took me online that fateful night.
Just as I managed to get my phone connected, tons of messages started rolling in. I just wasn’t concerned, I knew where the main gist would be: twitter.
As I scrolled up to see older tweets, one thing was constant: Sugarbelly. Everyone was talking about her. She had been raped by the son to the late former governor in Nigeria, Kogi state, Abubakar Audu.
It happened way back in 2007 when the lady was still a minor at 17. I hadn’t got enough detail. So I got on her timeline looking for the article which contained the whole gist.
I read everything carefully and I can say she had quite an experience. Just another victim, thousands out there.
How long will our women continue to suffer at the hands of men like Audu, or less, who have allowed their penis to get in the way of their reasoning? Just how long shall we allow men who reason through the penis destroy our women? While the case of Sugar-belly is not uncommon, there was something quite disturbing: she was repeatedly violated, and she kept going back. She said she was emotionally attached.
Rape is not an act that is peculiar to Nigeria, it happens all over the world, but that does not make it normal.
In fact it happens every day around us, usually between lovers. So what exactly is rape? Rape is not just sex through with force or violence. Sex with a minor (someone who is not 18 yet like my friend) is rape. So now you get it. And a lot of questions are being asked as regards who should take the blame.
The lady that goes about with a skimpy skirt and a shirt exposing that which is meant to be hidden is as much at fault as a man who allows his penis to get the better of him. And for those raping minors, two years of age or less all the way till 17 years, at times it is a medical condition, and the individual needs o be checked.
They have their excuses. However, the fact remains that both parties in a rape saga are to blame not at all times though. The question should therefore be more of what to do to forestall the re-occurrence of this evil act, than who is to blame.
Punishment. Rapists would not desist until one or two are punished severely, maybe death sentence at times. But how would they be punished when victims don’t speak out? Victims should despise the shame and speak out. That’s the only way they can help themselves.
It is however befitting of the public to know there is nothing godly in raping. If a lady won’t allow you in, why cause trouble? What do you stand to gain? After 15 minutes max, what else?
And for the ladies, you will do well not to set yourselves up for rapists to feed. Once you smell, move as far away.
Raping has gone beyond a matter of dressing. However, moderate dressing keeps you away from the clutchful eyes of the rapists.
You alone can save yourself, and when it happens, don’t keep quiet. Don’t love a rapist at the expense of your life. Love your life more.
