A Harrowing Tale of Rape, Shame, and Survival, by Grace Maigari Bunyan

In the sweltering heat of Kashere, a small town in Gombe state, a young girl’s voice trembled like a leaf in a hurricane, as she broke her silence, shattering the chains of shame that bound her. With a courage born of desperation, Hadiza Abubakar unfolded her heart-wrenching tale, a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit, like a lotus flower blooming in the darkest depths of despair.

 It took two years before the twenty year old Hadiza Abubakar finally agreed to share her story with this reporter. Despite initial reservations and warnings from loved ones, she courageously chose to speak out, inspired by the potential to make a difference in the lives of others.

Growing up in a small town of Kashere in Gombe state, Hadiza’s life was marked by hardship and struggle. Raised in a humble one room mud house with eight siblings, the twenty year old Hadiza learned to face challenges head-on. Her parents worked tirelessly to provide for the family, her mother running a small food stall and her father working as a bike rider.

Hadiza’s days were filled with responsibility, caring for her siblings and helping with household chores. But her life took a devastating turn when she was raped by her father, a traumatic experience that left her shattered and silenced.

Her mother’s response was devastating, prioritizing family reputation over her daughter’s well-being. But Hadiza refused to be silenced, her story a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of survivors everywhere.

In a world where sexual exploitation continues to ravage lives, Hadiza’s story shines a light on the darkest corners of human nature, where victims are treated as objects for satisfaction. It’s a violation of the utmost severity, leaving scars that never fully heal.

Yet, Hadiza’s resilience inspires us to confront this issue head-on, working towards a world where no one suffers in silence. Her voice is a powerful reminder that survivors will not be silenced, and that together, we can create a brighter future for all.

As Hadiza was going deep into her story, her voice reflected the agony she went through. It cracked by the seconds as she tried to compose herself. “ After my mother said i should not reveal anything to anyone, i asked i could stay with my grandmother for sometime, she scolded me and asked what i will tell my grandmother when i meet her.” she continued “ before i could say a word she asked me to get out of her sight and find something meaningful to do.” A few days later Hadiza, Decided to bounce back after that unfortunate incident but she was plague by the same unfortunate incident but this time she was beaten by her father claiming that she had started telling people about the way he behaved with her. “He started beating me, and telling me that that is what every girl go through to become a complete woman. After he finished I picked a few things from my bag and ran to my grandmother’s place as fast as I could”. Still in tears she describes how she walked to a neighboring village. “I ran as fast I could to my grandmother’s house in Pindiga village without looking back and the moment I reached her hut I immediately passed out.” She continued “ I remember waking up late at night, my grandmother asked what had happened but the fear of what my parents would do to me if I tell her anything”. Hadiza said her grandmother said she was looking pale so she used some herbs so that Hadiza could feel better. She said that after the rape case she withdrew from people.

A few month passed before hope smiled on her when a family friend came visiting from Zamfara and took her to stay with her where she wrote her west African Examination (WAEC) and Joint Admission and matriculation exams (JAMB). She bounced back and decided to go back to her home town to study in it’s university, the Federal University Of Kashere.

According to the punch and sun newspaper findings over a five-year period, I found that younger females are more vulnerable to rape, with victims between ages 11 and 20 making up a staggering 46% of all reported rape cases. This indicates that teenagers are more prone to being raped than any other age category in Nigeria. Furthermore, the majority of perpetrators are young men between 18 and 35 years old, accounting for 43.5% of all rapists, while older men between 36 and 55 years old also constitute a significant proportion of offenders, at 30.2%. These findings suggest that urgent attention is needed to address the epidemic of sexual violence in Northern Nigeria, particularly among young people. One in three girls in Nigeria experience sexual exploitation before the age of 18 (UNICEF) 70% of survivors suffer in silence due to stigma and fear (Nigerian Ministry of Health).

In Nigeria, rape is considered a grave offense, akin to murder, carrying a deep shame that prompts families to seek refuge in hiding while they scramble to restore their honor. Yet, despite this cultural stigma, rape cases continue to skyrocket, leaving everyone wondering: what’s driving this alarming trend? Is the punishment no longer a sufficient deterrent, or are there hidden factors that make the reward worth the risk?

Grace Maigari Bunyan
Mass Communication student
Federal University of Kashere, Gombe state
gracebunyan@gmail.com
09034704160