A Nigerian father has publicly expressed his disappointment after he and his daughter were allegedly denied entry to a supermarket within the Emirate Mall in Ilorin, Kwara State, due to his child’s physical disability.
The incident, captured in an emotional video shared on TikTok, showed the man protesting at the shopping mall gate.
Visibly enraged, the man, whose name was not disclosed, said in the viral footage, “I am very disappointed. I took my baby here for shopping, but it is so sad that the security officer sent us out because of my baby.”
He further explained that the security guard offered no clear explanation for denying them access, implying it was due to his daughter’s condition.
However, in a subsequent update, the father confirmed that the mall’s Chief Security Officer later intervened, allowing them to enter the premises.
The video has since garnered significant attention and a flood of reactions across social media platforms, with many condemning the initial treatment and expressing solidarity with the father and his child.
Among the numerous comments, Oluwafisayomi remarked, “She looks peaceful, why are they being mean to her? It is really sad.”
Abiola Sunday Adeoye offered words of encouragement, saying, “The fact still remains that you never give up on your daughter….. I am proud of you. May God bless you.”
Another user, Pokz, questioned the perceived issue, asking, “But nothing wrong with the baby….or I am not seeing well??”
Timmynaija HairDynasty expressed profound sadness, stating, “This breaks my heart like never before, the reason why I have been thinking on how to start a centre for children living with special needs.
May the universe give me the financial strength to make this happen in Nigeria.”
Thesheyifunmi emphasised the need for societal change, commenting, “This is just plain wrong. No one should be turned away or treated differently because of a child’s condition. We need to do better as a society disability isn’t a reason for discrimination. Please, we need to raise awareness on conditions like this.”
KendieYeyeOgeJosie criticised the security guard’s alleged misconduct, while Blizzyscorner offered a contrasting perspective, suggesting, “To me, the father don’t need to carry her like this. There is a way he should have carried her that won’t make people to be scared or something else. See the way he carried her.”