Three weeks ago, my 23-year-old neighbor was kidnapped on her way to Kontagora in Niger State.
While in captivity, the bandits repeatedly raped her taking turns sleeping with her night after night. Still, they kept bargaining with her father over the phone, demanding ransom even as they violated her.
Her father fought with everything he had. He hustled day and night, borrowed from everyone, took loans, sold whatever he could determined to bring his daughter home.
When he finally gathered the full amount, he called the bandits and begged them, ‘Please, give the phone to my daughter. Let me speak to her. I want her to know I’m coming for her.’
They gave her the phone.
In a broken, traumatized voice, she told her father: ‘Dad, do not suffer yourself looking for the money. They have been sleeping with me. I’m traumatized. I can’t forgive myself. Even if I’m released, I’ll kill myself. Don’t bother paying the ransom.’
Those were the last words she ever spoke to him.
While her father was still holding the phone, he heard the gunshot. He heard his daughter being killed. Moments later, the bandits sent pictures of her remains to him, a final act of cruelty.
A 23-year-old girl. My neighbor. Someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s friend gone in the most horrific way possible.
This is not just one story. This is the nightmare too many families are living in Niger State and across Nigeria. Young women snatched on the roads, violated, used as bargaining chips, and discarded like nothing.
Living in Nigeria has become truly scary. You wake up, you step out, and you don’t know if you or your loved ones will return home. The fear is constant. The pain is constant. And too often, justice never comes.
Rest in peace to my neighbor.
Supporting bad governance because it benefits you today is a dangerous gamble.
Many think they can dine with the devil using a long spoon. Sooner or later, the spoon disappears, and they realise they were never exempt from the consequences.
A broken system eventually serves everyone the same meal.
Tinubu wants Nigerians to believe he can’t loose the next election and some of you are falling for it.
Last election, he won (rigged) with 37%, meaning 63% of Nigeria never wanted him.
Now he has proved his incompetence and lack of leadership ability…Kindly go get ur PVc
I just hope we haven’t forgotten about the Nigerian police man that executed a harmless Nigerian in broad daylight even after he has pleaded several times.
Man, nobody suppose heartless like this.
They beheaded a “teacher”, and you haven't said anything. They killed hundreds in Jos, and you only greeted them at the airport.
But when tragedy befell the UAE, you were the first to tweet.
Ika! A da nita ma da nile.
APC primaries revealed one truth, THEY DON’T HAVE THE NUMBERS! Go & get your PVCs. On that day, apply the Kwankwansiyya method.
We vote & escort the ballots & officials to the collation centers. It’s going to be a vigil night across Nigeria. There’ll be no 4am declaration!
There’s a 2 year old kid among the children kidnapped in Oyo state.
There are about (8) 4 years old kids & about (10) 5 years old kids.
This is failure. Huge leadership failure!!!
Remember, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers because his source of income was threatened. No one died.
Thousands have died in Nigeria since, but I guess the only deserving emergencies are oil and money, not people’s lives.
The biggest game changer for romance is spending time in the punishment box because even in bondage, men like Marcus will still find a way to woo women.
So what do you think? Will Marcus and Kandi become a thing?
Are you a Kandi or a Marcus?
Would you wish to suffer in silence or sate the pain?
Aside: the fantastic actors above were the main drivers of the Sea of Silence story. In this scene, they meet for the first time.
This story had its parts. Despair! Blinding despair, showcased through cruel acts of the characters. But the comedy was another defining part. The comedic mockery of the simplistic nature of our differences and how we go about conflicts.
The climax of the story became the question of: “What would you do if all your life you believed a personhood was a menace, but when you’re faced with a true compassionate individual from that tribe, do you become ‘compassion’ or would you bleed out the rage from your mind?
P.S. In the behind, watch how those on the sidelines sit on the fence.
‘And their numbers overwhelm them.’
P.S. The dynamic between the uniformed handlers was incredible.
It’s been three months since I staged Sea of Silence. A potent anxiety forced its release and granted me the courage I’d needed since 2020, when I first wrote this play. I’m grateful to the 290+ supporters who showed up without knowing me or having seen any of my stage plays. Thank you for granting me courage. I’ll be more courageous going forward. Expect great things.