By Pascal Oparada (Social Media/Tech Reporter)
Women from the northern part of Nigeria are leading a massive social media campaign against sexual exploitation against what they call entrenched patriarchy that has left women unable to speak out.
Using the template of the #MeToo movement that has seen sexual offenders being called out and prosecuted, the #ArewaMeToo campaigners hope to draw attention to years of abuse.
People tell tales of abuse by relatives, spouses and even parents.
It is not only women that are speaking up against sexual abuse. Men too have been molested mostly by their parents.
“#ArewaMeToo at 3yrs old my own father started molesting up until I was 19. I feel so insecure can’t even fall in love with a girl as I am madly in love with my dad I don’t know where I can find help??? He got me a job and an apartment where he comes in most times to stay with me.”
“I was sexually abused from the age of 5 till I was 15…I spent 10 years of my life in pain, depression, disgust, and sadness, in silence. I wasn’t taught to be wary of men touching me at a young age so when my uncle, in his late twenties (who was living with us since before…” one of the campaigners shared on Twitter.
According to her, she was abused by her uncle from the age of 5 until she was 15.
The movement has seen more women coming out to speak against their abusers.
Some reports say most of the abusers have either locked their social media accounts or have come out to apologize to their victims.
A radio programme which was to air #ArewaMeToo was threatened and the programme taken off the air.
Head of Media and Communications, London School of Economics, Africa Summit, Gimba Kakanda said these victims are just a fraction of the many prevented from sharing their stories in a society quick to question the morality of the abused while protecting their predators.