By Pius Onyebujor
Twelve-year-old Ella watched her mother standing in the middle of the street shouting at the top of her voice at Uncle Sunny. The ground was littered with a million broken pieces of what was once a couple of bottles yet, her mother’s feet didn’t bleed.
The ‘area people’ had gathered and were trying to placate her. Mommy Buchi, Oga Emma, Aunty Ruth, Pastor Jeff, Mallam Sani… everyone was in the middle of the street with her trying to hold back the violence she was threatening to unleash.
Uncle Sunny owned the biggest store in the neighborhood. From daily sustenance to indulgences, everyone had a reason to visit his store. He was such a vital part of everyone’s life: in fact, he was a lifeline for so many people. He offered sales on credit according to how frequently a person bought from him, which was welcomed by families of civil servants who had to wait till the month’s end to get their salary.
“Tell that bastard to come out and face me!” Mommy shouted. “He is not a real man!”
Mommy Buchi held my mum from behind and spoke in her ear.
“My friend, it is okay. Let us go inside and talk about what happened.”
“No!” Mommy replied. “He will pay for this with his life.”
Oga Emma went to the front of the now barricaded door, the tall towers of crates of soft drink lay scattered, some of which had been broken from Mommy’s outrage.
“Sunny?” He called. “Sunny?”
Uncle Sunny answered from behind the barricade.
“Emma? Na you?”
“Yes O. Wetin happen na?”, Oga Emma asked
“Emma, that woman is crazy. Are you seeing the damage she has caused? Does she know how much all those drinks are?”, Sunny ranted
“That is why I am asking wetin happen? Because Mommy Ella is not like this at all.” Oga Emma explained.
“She is mad, that is what happened! I have already called the police, they will soon be here, don’t worry.” he replied then shouted, “She will pay for everything she has damaged!” for everyone to hear.
My mum was incensed by this and she began to struggle in Mommy Buchi’s grip.
“Sunny you are mad! You will be miserable for the rest of your life!” She began raining curses on him.
Exasperated Aunty Ruth walked over to Ella who had been standing to the side.
“Aunty, good morning.” Ella greeted
“Ella, how are you?”, Aunty Ruth asked.
“Fine thank you, ma.” Ella replied
“Oh, Ella. Don’t call me ma. It makes me feel old.” Aunty Ruth teased.
“Sorry, Aunty.” Ella apologized with a smile.
“It is okay, dear.” Aunty Ella replied as she bent down to Ella’s height. Glancing at the little crowd in the street, she asked Ella. “Can you explain what happened this morning? What did Uncle Sunny do to your mother?”
Ella took a bit of time before saying, “It is my fault.” She didn’t know her eyes were filled with tears until they began streaming down her face. Aunty Ruth was taken aback for a moment before pulling Ella in for an embrace.
“Hey! No, no. It is not your fault. It can’t be your fault. You are just a child.” She consoled Ella.
Ella began to explain.
“Mommy said I should go and collect bread and tea from Uncle Sunny. I don’t like going to his shop but I can’t disobey my mom. So I wore a jean knicker under my gown…”.
Aunty Ruth was taken aback. “Why? Why did you wear that?” she asked with growing dread in her stomach. “Because every time I go to Uncle Sunny’s shop, he will be touching my body and I don’t like it.” Ella responded
“Ah! My Goodness!” Aunty Ruth exclaimed. “What?!”
The little crowd in the middle of the street now turned their attention to them.
“Ruth, what happened?” Mallam Sani asked
“Sunny is a pedophile! A disgusting pedophile!”
Everyone suddenly froze in disbelief but slowly began taking in all that had been happening. It began to make sense: the destruction Mommy Ella had wrought was understood as the pain of a mother. In their midst, a predator has been allowed to thrive because of his social standing.
Suddenly everyone gathered in front of Uncle Sunny’s shop shouting and banging on the barricaded door. Oga Emma went to his house to bring a sledgehammer which he used to break down the door. If the police had not arrived when they did, Uncle Sunny would have lost his life. He was charged to court and other girls in the community came forward with their story of his abuse.
For the first time in their community, justice was served.
***
At Shades of Us, we believe all girls – and all children – must be protected from abusers by the entire community. It takes a village to ensure everyone lives free of fear, molestation, and harm.
