Friday, March 29, 2024

They want me to sell my baby, teenager impregnated by stepbrother, raped by Rev. Father cries out

For any true mother who appreciates the pains of childbirth, even if the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy was not enviable, giving up her baby for pecuniary gain is far-fetched and certainly not an option.
This is the situation starring 19-year-old Grace Nkanueko in the face after being impregnated by her stepbrother, ostracised by her community and allegedly raped several times by a reverend father (names withheld) while she carried her pregnancy to term. The reverend father had promised the impregnated teenager a new lease of life, if only she could go with him to Lagos. But she did not bargain for the treatment eventually meted to her by the cleric, who allegedly subjected her to sexual abuses inspite of her condition.

After I became pregnant and my family sent me away, Reverend took me up, brought me to Lagos and gave me a home; he fed me, but he was always sleeping with me by force. And because I was pregnant and I needed to be cared for, I felt I had no other option

Having successfully had her baby, she’s now being pressurised by the same reverend father to trade her child for a more comfortable living.
Nkanueko, who was allegedly raped many times by her 28-year-old step brother, Chris Onokwa, eventually got pregnant for him. But her ordeal deepened following the stigmatisation and ridicule she suffered from family members, relations and friends, who perceived her conception out of wedlock a taboo.
Our correspondent learnt that Nkanueko was not only ostracised by the villagers, she was also discriminated against by members of her own family.
But, according to her, when the Catholic priest offered to take her away from the village and bring her to Lagos, she thought she had got some respite. But this seeming good gesture of the cleric allegedly turned out to be the climax of the pregnant teenager’s ordeal.
The 55-year-old cleric, who sponsored Nkanueko’s trip to Lagos and provided her shelter upon arrival, in spite of her heavy pregnancy, however, allegedly soon subjected the victim to “intense sexual exploitation.”
“After I became pregnant and my family sent me away, Reverend took me up, brought me to Lagos and gave me a home; he fed me, but he was always sleeping with me by force. And because I was pregnant and I needed to be cared for, I felt I had no other option as he was there for me by providing me food, clothes and other things,” sobbing Nkanueko told our correspondent at a medical facility – Mother Mary Catholic Hospital, Isolo – where she had her baby.
But Nkanueko’s tears were as a result of what she had suffered before the arrival of the baby, the alleged circumstances surrounding the birth of her child and the situation she had found herself after delivering the child.
According to her, she was “emotional mauled” by the cleric, who, along with two doctors (names withheld), suggested to her to give up the ownership of the baby for her preferred price, a proposal which has since left the victim in a dilemma, considering her dire need for help.
“I am confused, I need the money to take proper care of myself. I don’t want the baby to suffer and I know that if I refuse the suggestion, the priest will not cater for me again,” she said.
Reacting to the development, a resident of the area and human rights activist, Hammid Bakare, said, “The church priest and some other people are trying to convince this young lady to give out her child for a price. She is really shattered because of all she has gone through. I believe that she should be assisted and not deceived.
“I am taking it upon myself to investigate this matter and help this young lady. From her story, her step-mother and even the village has sent her away; which means she is basically on her own.”
The activist, who labelled the case “abuse, rape and possible child trafficking,” disclosed that he had contacted the appropriate authorities to ensure that necessary measures were taken to save the girl from further trauma and to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
Bakare added, “I am currently waiting for the welfare officers now to ensure that the young girl and her baby are not separated. At the moment, officials of the hospital are trying to take the mother and the child to an unknown destination.
“The culprits will be arrested and prosecuted and if they are found guilty, they will be sentenced to prison
terms.”
Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the reverend father and the two doctors proved abortive.
Attempts by our correspondent to also speak with the authorities at the hospital were also
rebuffed.

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