How I Was Molested By Uniform Men- Actress Dorothy Njemanze

From Ladun Liadi

The actress had an encounter with some men in man-o-war uniform few days ago in Abuja, and you

just don't want to read her story. Lawless country where men in uniform are allowed to misbehave.

“On my way from the ambassador for peace beauty pageant held at the Sheraton Hotels, I decided

to check on my brother at the end of my street. I parked my car in front of Dreams Garden at the

end of my street behind one bus, and was going in to see Ugo (my brother) when a man dressed

in a man-o-war uniform appeared from nowhere and shoved me on my breasts, commanding that I

get into the bus I parked behind.

“I reprimanded him for touching my breasts but instead of apologizing, he continued to pushing

me by my breasts towards the bus, so when I couldn’t bear it anymore I pushed him too and

started running away.

 “Three men wearing man-o-war uniform and a head warmer, no name tags, and two plain clothes policemen ran after me. When they caught me they descended on me, beating me mercilessly

despite the fact that I was screaming who I was.

“A girl who was waiting for me in my car, after waiting for a while and didn’t see me, came down

to go and look for me at my brother’s place. She was horrified to see all those uniformed men

assaulting me and trying to force me into the bus.

“She started pleading with them, telling them who I am and even showing them my car keys,

but all to no avail. She started screaming when she thought they were going to kill me and

that attracted people’s attention.

“When crowd gathered and people started recognizing me, there started coming to my rescue

and there was almost a mob attack. A soldier out of fear cocked his gun and said he’ll shoot me

if I don’t enter the bus.

“What hurts most is that I’ve been fighting against violence against women, and now I’m a first

victim of it. I have over 70 cases of abused women on Abuja streets.

“The team that assaulted me tried to escape. I chased them down to area 10. Ugo found me

there and another soldier cocked a gun, pointed at his tummy and threatened to shoot.

A female soldier cocked her gun and pointed at Justina, the girl in my car, who was supposed to

be on my show (ability talk, earlier in the day on love 104.5fm). Apparently the female soldier

wanted to shoot Justina for having piercings on her face, because she said Justina was not a

true Nigerian by that.

“Women have been randomly abducted and forced to confess to prostitutions by AEPB in

conjunction with the questionable NGO, Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour.

“I have over 70 cases against them and now I’m a victim. Women are not safe in Abuja.

“The Military should be put to better use. It’s high time they pay for the damages they have

been causing. I am so traumatized. Having cocked guns pointed at us is a mental image

that tortures me.

“Government needs to hear us out, get facts and figures and stop the abuse against women.

I wish the national assembly will permit me make a full presentation on the degree of this

violence against women in Abuja and act immediately on it.

“I have rape victims, bullet injury victims, people beaten out of their jeeps at gunpoint

whose names were published as prostitutes in national dailies, abused youth coppers…

all sorts of traumatized victims. These people need rehabilitation at difference levels urgently.”

Well, we hope the people in Government are reading this, because the worst kinds of

violence are those against women and children.