Sad Story of a Widower Whose 11-Year-Old Pregnant Daughter’s Health Might be in Jeopardy
Was preparing to sleep last night when I got a call from a relative that stole the sleep from my eyes. He’s a widower who lost his wife at child birth so he has been taking care of his 3 kids all by himself in Bwari, Abuja because most of his relatives are all managing and can’t take responsibility for any of the kids. The problem is the life of one his kids who is pregnant may be in jeopardy.
Most of us his relatives are applicants with retired parents but we managed to get him a barbing salon to support him cause he didn’t really go to school like that. So he leaves the children at home while he is at the salon after they return from school. After a while, he changed his neighbourhood cause he didn’t think it was safe for his kids to be at home alone in the afternoons.
His oldest daughter is 11 but looks older. 6 months ago, she was sent on an errand by a man in the next compound. When she brought the items, she stood outside and told him she had bought it. He asked her to bring it into the room. She did. He covered her mouth and raped her. He warned her that if she told anyone, he would kill her. She didn’t want to die so she kept quiet. 5 months later, neighbourhood gossip had it that she was pregnant. The man ran away.
Her dad found out and reported to the police but the guy was no where to be found and no one wanted to give the police information for fear of being arrested as accomplice. Even when it was rumoured that the guys still calls a few people in the neighborhood, they kept denying.
This girl looks older than 11 and people advised him to abort the 5 months-old pregnancy. He consulted a retire midwife who warned him against it and said the child might even have to give birth through CS. The stigma was too much for the girl. The father went to an orphanage and begged them to keep the girl till she put to birth. They asked him to bring a police report. He went to the police and in the confusion, requested for police statement instead. The DPO was mad at him and was shouting “get out of here, bastard”.
Now the rapist seem to have gotten away with the crime because the police told the father to come anytime he has new information but with the reaction of the DPO, he is really worried. She is 6 months gone now and will be 12 years old next week. He is totally confused and is concerned about the health of his daughter when she is due. He was told if she goes for antenatal in a hospital, journalists will find out and splash her picture everywhere. He also feels helpless about the crime. He is blaming himself for changing his neighborhood but he did it to protect his kids. He said he is so confused and hopes he won’t die and leave them orphans. He called last night asking what he should do. I was lost for words. What should he do?
He needs people like you to help him with the police report. Like you said, he is not very educated and you are so please go with him to the station to help get the report.
Well, for some reasons I can’t respond to this post on Facebook.
Dear Poster, abortion is off the table because she’s far gone already! I’ll advice he takes her to the hospital cos her health and life is paramount.
As for the media and the stigma that would come with them… there’s nothing that can be done about that except to get justice for your daughter! The stigmatization has already began with the neighbours and even the Nigerian Police Force who are suppose to hunt down the bastard that did this to her.
This is a total injustice!…to an 11 year old! and a Violence Against Person Prohibition Bill (VAPP) has been passed. So the law is on your side. Ignore those police, get in touch with DPA on facebook.
really sad…