Ronke Ajayi (not real names), a 200-level
Microbiology student of one of the universities in Lagos State, left class that
afternoon without any clue of the terrible evil that was lurking in store for
her – she had hardly walked four blocks away from the lecture room when some
hands grabbed her from back and gagged her before pulling her roughly into one
of the lecture-rooms in the adjoining block.
She was stripped in a flash and pinned on top of a
long desk while her assailants took turn on her – she was being gangraped in
broad-day light!
The rapists had their fill, jeered her and
strangely, just sauntered away, possibly because, they felt she could do
nothing about the rape, as in, she would be ‘ashamed’ to report it to anybody
or the relevant authorities!
She wiped away her tears, pulling herself together
before wearing her clothes - she was able to recognize one or two of their
faces BUT she was ‘devastated’ and ‘undecided’ of what to do next!
Like Ronke, it is disheartening that many people
(women, including men – I’ve heard about a ‘guy’ who was gangraped in one of
our schools though that is another story for another day) have found themselves
in this dilemma BECAUSE after a sexual assault, a victim has a lot of
choices/decisions to make – e.g. getting medical care, making a police report
and telling other people.
The victim may even have concerns about the impact
of the assault and the reactions of friends and family members; so, what is/are
the step/steps a victim should take after being sexually assaulted?
These tips would provide the answers and even calm
the victim(s):
·
The first thing is that you must come to terms
with the fact that it has happened to you and it wasn’t your fault – you are
not the first/last person such thing would/will happen to; point is, you still
have your life to live.
·
Call or contact and confide in a friend, family
member or someone who can be with you and give you support.
·
Get medical care as soon as possible. Go to a
hospital emergency department – even if you think that you do not have any
physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with
a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and
the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault.
·
If you suspect you have been given a ‘rape
drug,’ ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take a
urine sample. Drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB are more likely detected in urine
than blood.
·
Preserve all physical evidence of the assault.
Do not bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands or brush your teeth until
after you have had a medical examination. Save all the clothing you were
wearing at the time of the assault. Do not clean or rearrange the area the
assault occurred.
·
Write down as much as you can remember about the
circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.
·
Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense
of personal power and control. If you want to report the crime, notify the
police immediately. The sooner you make a report, the more likely it is that
the police will be able to collect important evidence and apprehend the
assailant. A strong report can also strengthen a case for prosecution.
·
Talk with a counsellor who is trained to assist
rape victims. Counselling can help you learn how to cope with the emotional and
physical impacts of the assault.
This is an
excerpt from ‘Breaking the Silence’ -
there are more useful tips and information on “how to protect your kids from
sexual abuse at school, home or anywhere). It was written by Esther
Ijewere-Kalejaiye with the forward written by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, member
of the Federal House of Representatives and currently, Chairman of House
Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
The book has
been endorsed by the Lagos State Deputy Governor.
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