I’m Yet To Overcome The Trauma Of My Father In-law’s Killing – Says Oluwabunmi Hannah Farina

In a tearful narration to our correspondent, Oluwabunmi stated, “My father in-law, Mr. David Olatunde Farina, hails from Ido Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State. On 31st December, 2003, at about 2.43pm, I was at Oshodi area of Lagos State with him to buy things for the family for the yuletide celebration. After shopping, we were on our way back when a Police officer attached to One Africa Industrial Bank stopped us at checkpoint. He requested for a bribe of N20 (twenty Naira) but my father In-law refused insisting that it was against the law to bribe a Police officer. What happened thereafter has continued to traumatise me till now. To my utter disbelief, the Police officer shot my father In-law and he died on the spot. I was shocked and equally scared for my life”.

“While still in a confused state, I ran out of the car. But I returned to the scene after some minutes and by then a huge crowd had gathered calling for the arrest of the Police officer. From there we took my father In-law’s body to the mortuary.”

“My cry then was just for justice for the gruesome murder. I was subsequently invited over to the Police station. On getting there, I mistakenly opened an office door only to see Police officers sharing huge amount of money. Knowing I have seen what was going on, they asked me to keep it as secret. They tried to bribe me and equally compel me to drop my father In-law’s while insisting I should not tell anyone what I saw them doing when I mistakenly opened the door.”

“However, I confided in my friend and they (the Police)) later got to know that I told my friend and I also refused to accept their bribe to forget about the case. Later, I noticed a strange car following me and I immediately knew I was not safe. By the time I returned from work, I met everything in the house scattered showing clearly that the Police had sent some people after me for failing to drop my father in-laws case and seeing them sharing money.”

“They did not stop at those attempts. They eventually broke into my shop at night, destroyed my goods and equally stole my money. Fearing for my life at that point, I relocated to the Northern part of Nigeria. But my stay in the Northern part of Nigeria was short-lived; I was there for only two months. A fight broke out over there between Muslims and Christians, which forced me to return to Lagos State.”

“While still nursing fears of attack over the case of my father In-law’s gruesome murder, my family people came with another disturbing development. They came to the house asking me to take my daughters for 9 tribal marks. They believe that it is customary for every daughter in the family to have tribal marks on the face. As a matter of fact, I was only 6 years old when my uncle forced me to have tribal marks on my face. Back then, my mother was against it and I did not like it because it was so painful.”

“The truth is that anytime I remember what I went through it breaks my heart as I feel bad and ashamed with the marks everywhere I go. I equally remember I was given some black stuff to put on it but my mother threw it away. Times have changed and I do not think I will allow my daughters go through such harrowing experience. I have been told something bad will happen if I refuse them taking my daughters.”

“Ordinarily, I would have reported the matter to the Police. But looking at innumerable unresolved cases of killing, abduction, rape, assault and attacks across the length and breadth of North and South of Nigeria, I am strongly convinced that I cannot stand another mistake.”

“Disdain for the female folks is glaring from the number accommodated in elective positions and appointments. Believe in female children is abysmally low as only male children are believed to be heirs and apparently so. It is believed that female children do not have rights to decide what they want. I am strongly opposed to this as a feminist. I am of the opinion that my girls are equal to their male counterparts in all ramifications. So it is my decision to bring my girls to America, where they will be accorded due recognition and equally get a better future in life.”

“At the moment, no place is particularly safe in Nigeria. With incessant reports of attacks on travellers by gunmen, killings, kidnapping for ransom, attacks on farmers and residents by bandits, one must consider security of lives and property paramount” Oluwabunmi stated.