ALL ALONE: VICTIM OR SURVIVOR

'VICTIM' OR 'SURVIVOR'

"Welcome brother Samuel, how was your day sir? Let me help with your bag sir." That's the voice of innocent respectful Moriyike as she welcomed brother Samuel a neighbour and family friend respectfully.  At 8 she had understood moral and godly behaviour because her parents had taught her well to be respectful to all irrespective of age or tribe.  She had been taught to be an exceptional person in the society.

On this fateful day, it all happened like magic or drama as that was not the first time she would help Brother Samuel.  She had been looking up to him as a  father-figure as he was very close to the family especially Moriyike's father.  She never knew that he was a wolf in sheep cloth and a devourer in human form.  

Brother Samuel apartment was upstairs while Moriyike's family lived downstairs.  As she mounted the staircases, Brother Samuel persuaded her to stay behind him so as to allow him open his living room.  Brother Samuel entered before Moriyike and went straight to his bedroom as he was using a room and parlor, he quickly opened the door to his bedroom which led to the corridor and locked the living room door from outside as quick as possible, he had locked the both doors now and trapped Moriyike in his apartment.  He highhandedly dragged Moriyike to his bedroom and alas! ‘What are you doing sir, cried Moriyike, ‘please my mummy would be waiting for me, stop touching me, stop! stop!  please don’t hurt me sir. She continued to scream at the top of her voice but it was a pity, nobody could hear her to rescue. Hmmmm… the poor girl was devoured by a father-figure brother Samuel; she was actually raped at 8.

‘Sorry Moriyike’ pleaded brother Samuel ‘I found it difficult to take you off my mind because you are such a beautiful girl, I have been trying to control myself but I couldn’t hold it anymore, please don’t tell anybody especially your parents because they would be highly disappointed. Let’s keep this between us and I would be nice to you forever’.  He cleaned Moriyike and sent her away.

Moriyike was very scared to narrate the unpleasant incident to her parents but she could not hold the pains and the tears.  ‘What is wrong with you!!’ Moriyike’s mother yelled at her when she came back from work and saw her mood and how she walked.  Moriyike’s mother pressurized her and she eventually opened up.  ‘No it can never be, not brother Samuel, no! Moriyike no!  What did you even know about what you are saying, where did you see that, you have to stop saying nonsense’  Moriyike’s mother continued to rant without listening further to see the plight of a poor girl that was devoured at 8.

The matter was delayed till arrival of Moriyike’s father and when he was told about the incident, he totally turned it down; he called his daughter, Moriyike different odd names, that she was so frustrated and depressed, it was a lone battle for her, nobody was there for her even her mother kept quiet about the whole thing because she was claiming protection of family's name and image of her daughter.

One way or the other, the story got to the neighbourhood and she became mockery of the neighbourhood. ‘Iyawo boda Samuel’ (meaning brother Samuel’s wife) that’s one neighbour calling out to Moriyike sarcastically.  She was clothed with garment of shame.  She lost her dignity and glory in the neighbourhood, she could not raise her head in the midst of her mates, she was molested and raped at 8 but there was nobody to fight her case at that moment of her life.

On the other hand, Brother Samuel denied the whole incident; he claimed it was all lies that a child of that age would know nothing about rape.  He was proved right while the victim was proved wrong.  The society too did not help the matter as they see Moriyike as a wayward girl that could not scream and shout well for people to rescue if she did not really enjoy the moment.

Poor Moriyike, she was going about with the stigma

All alone she carried the burden in her heart

All alone she was crying in silence

All alone she bored the pain

All alone she was sinking in more abuses that came her way

All alone she lost her voice to say no to abuses

All alone she became a pretentious person that smiled but embittered at heart

Even though she’s married but the pains of rape and abuses never left her

All alone she’s living a life of regret

Moriyikeee!!! Can you ask yourself this question:

Am I a VICTIM OR SURVIVOR?

Ø  TO EVERY MORIYIKE OUT THERE

Ø  SAY NO TO RAPE AND ABUSES

Ø  SPEAK OUT BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND

Ø  ONLY YOU CAN UNDERSTAND AND LET GO

Ø  ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A ‘SURVIVOR’ NOT ‘A VICTIM’

CREATED BY: VICTORIA KISIRA-ADAMS '07/19'