- ‘She got pregnant five times, has four children with no particular father’
- Doctor confirmed she has HIV – Says victim’s guardian
Since her family neglected her as a result of her physical and intellectual disabilities, Abibat Toyin Ahmed has been exposed to lack, hunger and all manner of sexual and mental torture.
Some randy men took advantage of her condition and lack of protection to sexually exploit her.
Abibat, an indigene and resident of Osogbo, capital of Osun State, has been living from hand to mouth after the demise of her mother a few years ago.
The Point gathered that her father relocated to Abeokuta, Ogun State capital and practically abandoned her to her fate.
In a bid to survive hunger, the 35-year-old deaf woman who also has intellectual disability, has been falling prey to randy men who see her as an object to satisfy their sexual urge.
Abibat has lost count of the number of men who have had sexual intercourse with her.
Her guardians, in separate interviews with The Point, disclosed that Abibat was impregnated by unknown men and gave birth to four children with no man claiming responsibility for any of them.
They said after Abibat’s fourth child, she met another man who accommodated her and made her his wife.
Sadly, the man died after months of living with Abibat.
Two years after the man’s demise, it was gathered that Abibat got pregnant the fifth time after about five men reportedly had sexual intercourse with her.
Abibat’s guardian, Mrs. Rashidat Lawal told The Point that she was able to confront two of her abusers and asked them to take care of Abibat’s pregnancy, but they shunned her and denied the pregnancy.
Lawal, a former chairperson of Osun State Deaf Women Association, said she was taking care of Abibat and her pregnancy because her family members abandoned her.
She disclosed that Abibat gave birth last Wednesday at Osun State University Teaching Hospital but the child died immediately after.
Lawal called on the state government and other stakeholders to assist in rehabilitating Abibat so that men would desist from sexually taking advantage of her disabilities and poor condition.
She disclosed that since the doctor had confirmed that Abibat is HIV positive, the woman ought to be taken care of and placed under medication.
According to her, the men who had been sleeping with Abibat are not aware of her HIV status and they pose danger to the society if they continue to have sexual intercourse with other women without protection.
Lawal, who also has hearing impairment explained to The Point through the aid of a sign language expert that, “Abibat’s problem started after her family members abandoned her because of her disabilities. They claimed Abibat gives them issues and because they don’t use to give her food and other needs, she left her family house and started wandering. Even when she was living with her family members at their family house in Osogbo, men have been taking advantage of her condition and abusing her sexually. She got used to these immoral acts and started allowing men to have sex with her.
“I met her when she was hawking groundnuts and that was how I took interest in her case. She used to come to my house at Sabo Area of Osogbo and I used to assist her with food and her other needs. By that time, she was staying with a man whom she introduced to me as her husband.
“Her situation changed from bad to worse after her husband died about two years ago. She started experiencing lack again and whenever she came to me, I gave her whatever I had. One day, I discovered she was pregnant and I asked her who was responsible, she said she didn’t know. It was later she confessed to me that about five men slept with her. She was able to show me three of them. Two are in Osogbo and one is now in Ibadan. I confronted the two in Osogbo for them to take care of Abibat’s pregnancy but they shunned me.”
Lawal revealed that her efforts at making her family members care for her failed.
“Abibat told me that her family members don’t give her food and that was why she left the family house. When she was in labour, myself and other members of the Osun Deaf Women Association took her to the hospital and she was delivered of a baby. But, the child died. The doctor and I had to practically force the family members before they could bury the baby. Immediately after they took the baby away, they never returned to the hospital.
“Before she was delivered of a baby, a series of tests were conducted on her at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Hospital, Osogbo and the doctor told me she is HIV positive. I was disturbed because of the way men have been sleeping with her without protection. A group had to pay her hospital bill before she was allowed to leave the hospital. She needs help and I am appealing to the government and civil society organisations to come to her assistance,” Lawal pleaded.
Also, the chairperson of the deaf women association, Mrs. Omolara Oyebode, said even though Abibat is not a financial member of the association, members contributed for her hospital needs, urging members of the public to raise funds for her rehabilitation and treatment.
Efforts by The Point to speak with Abibat’s family members failed.
