Deborah
Jolaosho was in JSS2 when a family friend took advantage of her vulnerability
to rape her. Now pregnant and abandoned by the alleged rapist, she tells MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN her story
There
was no sign of an impending danger when Rachel Jolaosho sent her slightly
mentally challenged daughter, Deborah, to go and get a drum from a family
friend’s house in Meiran, a community along the border between Lagos and Ogun
States. To her, it was a routine errand to task her daughter’s understanding of
her world.
But
danger was actually lurking because Taju Adejumo, a friend of the Jolaoshos who
was to give the drum to Deborah, was not as virtuous as he seemed. He allegedly
preyed on the girl’s mental weakness, taking her to a room in his house before
tying the 15-year-old girl’s hands and legs and raping her. He reportedly told
her not to tell anyone and that if she did, death would visit her in seven
days.
Deborah
who is now seven months pregnant showed signs of being pregnant and when her
mother noticed changes in her appearance and failing health, she queried her
and realised that her daughter had been abused by the alleged sex offender.
Deborah says her life has been sent on a path she did not prepare to tread.
“I’m
going through pains. My back is hurting. I can’t sleep well and I don’t have
appetite for food. I don’t have friends any longer and I rarely go out of the
house. It feels as if my world has come to an end. Every day, I blame myself
for allowing this to happen. Probably if I had fought him, I wouldn’t be
pregnant. I’ve brought shame to my family,” she says.
Her
nightmare is also multiplied by the alleged constant verbal attack from
Adejumo’s wife whenever they meet on the street.
“Any
time I step out of our house, Adejumo’s wife rains curses on me. She has said
terrible things to me. I try to move around the community so that I can ease my
pains and take time off my sorrow but Adejumo’s wife is always waiting for me,
she doesn’t allow me to go out again, I feel really bad,” Deborah says.
Adejumo,
who accepted his crime against the teenager, no longer wants to be associated
with Deborah. The Jolaosho’s say the alleged rapist has abandoned Deborah, a
position that is attested to by the victim. She says Adejumo treats her like
filth.
“When
I see him on the street now, he walks past me without saying a word. He hasn’t
even offered to pay for my hospital bills. My parents have spent so much money
on my antenatal care but he simply walks away from his responsibility after
raping and impregnating me. Earlier, when my parents found out about the
pregnancy and confronted him, he made promises that he would pay for my
hospital bills and take care of the child after I give birth,” she states.
Deborah,
who dreamt of becoming a nurse before the incident, says her dreams had been
put on hold. “I like studying and I had a lot of dreams before I was raped. My
focus has always been to excel in school but Adejumo has robbed me of my joy as
a girl. I was a member of the Red Cross club in my school, Meiran Community
Junior High School, Lagos. I was also a member of the choir in my church. But
with my present position, I can’t take part in the activities of these groups
any longer. I feel bad each time I see my friends playing, knowing that I
cannot join them in the task. I don’t know how they feel about me now.”
But
Deborah has not given up on a better future. She expresses determination to
overcome her plight and move on with life. She also has plans for her baby.
“I’m
determined to complete my studies. It may not be easy, but I will try my best.
I hope to give my child the best in life. I can’t allow the baby to suffer,”
she says.
She
is not alone in her grief; the family have been grossly upset by Adejumo’s act.
Deborah’s mother says the incident casts shadows on her ability as a mother.
She
says, “I cried for hours the day I found out my daughter was raped. And to
compound the problem, the man who did it was a friend of the family, I
respected him before he showed the other side of himself. Sometimes I confided
in him about some personal issues. I never thought he could do such a terrible
thing.
“I
cry each time I look at my daughter now. I can imagine the pain she is facing.
No mother would ever wish this sort of life for her 15-year-old daughter. She
is still young. Her body isn’t prepared for this. She doesn’t eat much. I’m
always begging her to eat. This is not the type of life I dreamt for my
daughter.”
When
asked what she wanted from the alleged rapist, Deborah’s mother answers,
“Adejumo has to pay us back the total money we have spent on Deborah’s
antenatal. He must take responsibility for his action. He must also take care
of my child’s education.”
Although,
Adejumo, who claimed to have been embarrassed by his action, promised the
Jolaosho family that he would take of Deborah, but according to the family,
Adejumo has since shied away from his responsibility.
Deborah’s
father, Peter, told our correspondent that Adejumo had shown no concern for his
daughter’s condition and that after he paid for the scan which confirmed his
daughter’s four-month pregnancy, Adejumo had not offered any form of support.
“The
night Adejumo was released from the police cell; he threw a party in his house,
celebrating being a free man again.
“Adejumo
was a close friend. I took him like a brother. I have known him for five years.
I wonder why he would do this to me. He has ruined my daughter’s life. Since
December, he hasn’t offered to pay for my daughter’s hospital bills. He shows
no concern about her health in any way,” he says.
Beyond
Deborah’s pregnancy, there is fear of attack on the family. Jolaosho says when
his family reported the matter to the police, the community criticised him for
going too far.
“The
whole community is now against my family. They queried us for taking the matter
to the police. They said we should have covered up for Adejumo. The nurse who
was treating my daughter all of a sudden refused to treat her again. We found
out that members of the community were the ones that inspired her to quit. I’m
always worried whenever my daughter goes out because these people can harm her.
I can’t even go to my work place. On several occasions, I’ve had series of
accidents,” he states.
When
SUNDAY PUNCH contacted Adejumo, he claimed that the Jolaoshos lied
against him.
“I
have being fulfilling my responsibility. On several occasions, I’ve offered the
family money but they refused to collect the money. On January 4, I offered the
family N1, 000 but they did not collect it. And on January 22, I gave the
father some money but he turned down my offer. I don’t know what they want me
to do. I have tried my best,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the police have taken the matter to the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, and hearing
will start on Monday.
PUNCH
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