Little Jane, the Sexual Abuse Victim You Never Heard About

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'Aunty Oyoyo! Aunty Oyoyo!! Screamed Jane as Aunty Uche entered the compound.

'How are you my darling? See how big you've grown! How old are you now?

Asked Aunty Uche as she hugged Jane.

'I'm 14 years old', replied Jane.

'Hey! Eziokwu! See how ripe you are looking already.'

Mama Jane laughed loudly. 'They grow so fast nowadays'.

'Ndeewo Sister', greeted Aunt Uche.

'Nnoo my dear. How is Lagos? Family and business? Asked Mama Jane.

'Everyone is fine. We thank God. Answered Aunty Uche.

After the evening meal and village gossip, Mama Jane and Aunty Uche sat down to discuss.

Aunty Uche spoke.

'My dear sister. I am sorry about the death of your husband. I know it's not easy, taking care of your three children with the little farm proceeds you get and sell in the village market. 

So, I have decided to take Jane back with me to the city, so I can take care of her and send her to school'.

'Eh! Thank you, Nne. Chukwu gozie gi.' Mama Jane danced for joy.

'Jane come o! Your Aunty is taking you to Lagos.'

'Thank you ma', said Jane kneeling excitedly.

'No, get up my dear. You are my daughter too. Your mum is my only sister. So we are family.

The next day, Jane bid her mother and younger siblings farewell. As she and her aunt set out for Lagos.

Aunt Uche stayed in Ikorodu. She sold used wear, popularly known as Okrika in the market. Her husband was a businessman who sold electronics. They lived in a two-bedroom flat with their two kids.

When Jane arrived, her aunt called her for a discussion.

'My dear, you can see how we are managing. So you have to sell some wares to assist the family. It's from what you sell we will use to send you to school'.

'But aunty, I have never hawked before', interrupted Jane.

'And so? Can't you learn it? Replied Aunty Uche sharply.

'Sorry, ma. I will learn' Answered Jane, fearfully.

By 5 am, Aunty Uche woke Jane up to do the chores. She swept, cleaned the house, cooked and prepared the kids for school.

By the time she was done, she was exhausted. She tried resting for some minutes when Aunty Uche shouted. 

'Jane, what are you doing?

' I'm… I'm…stuttered Jane.

'My friend get up and start preparing lunch. My kids will soon be back from school.'

'Yes, Aunty'. She got up tiredly and went to the kitchen.

This continued for weeks. Jane did all the chores in the house. She slept late and woke up early. Yet her portion of food was always little. 

She was hardworking. Even though the chores were too much, she never complained. She only wondered why her Aunt would maltreat her.

One day, Aunty Uche called her to the sitting room.

'I have decided on the business you will do. You will sell vegetables. Since Ugwu is in season now, you will start with that.

I'll go to the market and buy them today. Tomorrow, you'll start hawking.

'Do you hear me?

'Yes Aunty'.

So it was. After her morning chores, when everyone had gone about their business and the kids to school, she would hawk along the streets of Ikorodu. She would try finishing up so she can hurry home to take care of the kids.

Yet it seemed her Aunt could not be pleased. One afternoon, Aunty Uche beat her mercilessly for allowing the jollof rice they were cooking to get burnt.

'That's what you will eat'. She told Jane. The poor girl sustained bruises from the punches and slaps.

Her husband always complained. 'This is getting too much. Take it easy on this young girl.

Uncle Okon didn't support how his wife treated Jane. He always tried to defend her. But he had a hidden motive. 

No one knew that he had been making passes at Jane. One time she was washing dishes in the kitchen, and he brushed past her buttocks pretending it was a mistake.

Jane stared at him in shock. 'Uncle, please don't do that again.'

He smiled at her sheepishly. The truth was he desired her sexually. 

His wife was always away from home, so she didn't know what was going on.

One day, while she was preparing her wares to sell, Uncle Okon came in unexpectedly. 

'Uncle, is everything ok? This one you came back from work by this time'. Jane asked, surprised.

'No, everything is not ok my dear. I like you, Jane. He said coming close to her.

He started touching her body. 

'Uncle no, please stop it. I can't do what you want.' 

She shifted away but Uncle Okon held on to her. She tried to scream and run out, but he had locked the door.

She was pleading and crying. 'Uncle please I'm a virgin. Please don't do this to me.'

'Don't worry. It won't hurt. You will enjoy it'.

Uncle Okon forcefully raped Jane that day. When he was done, he threatened her not to tell anyone. Especially his wife. He told Jane that his wife wouldn't believe her. And would send her packing.

Jane believed him. She didn't want to go back to the village. She wanted to school in the city and get a job to help her family. After all, that was why she came.

She decided to keep quiet about it.

This was how Uncle Okon continued defiling Jane. He would come back from work when everyone was out. Then leave when he was done.

No one knew what was going on.  Jane dared not tell her Aunt. She feared it would increase her hatred. What's the point?

There was no one else to talk to. Whenever her mum called, she pretended that she was happy.

Aunty Uche had warned her about saying anything negative. So, Jane was willing to endure anything, with the hope that she would go to school and have a better life.

The constant physical and sexual abuse made her always so moody. She wore long sleeves to cover up her many scars.

The inevitable happened when one morning, Jane woke up feeling unwell. She went about her duties sluggishly. Her Aunt noticed and asked her what was wrong. Jane said she wasn't feeling fine.

'Rest for some time and continue later'. That was all Aunt Uche said.

Jane felt weak. As she tried to sweep the passage, she fainted. 

Fortunately, her neighbour, Ms. Ella who was spreading clothes outside saw her slump. She screamed for help. With the help of other people, Jane was revived.

When Jane felt a bit better, she started crying.

'What's the matter, my dear? You know you can talk to me my darling.'

Ms. Ella was very nice. She liked Jane because she was respectful and hardworking. She knew how her Aunt mistreated her. Her constant yelling could be heard all over the compound. But everyone minded their business.

Jane was too scared to talk. So she left.

The symptoms continued. Weakness, vomiting. Aunt Jane was forced to take her to a nearby clinic. After explaining the symptoms, Jane was advised to take a pregnancy test.

The results confirmed Aunt Uche's fears. Jane was pregnant!

When they got home, it was war. Uncle Okon pretended he didn't know what was happening.

'You want to disgrace me abi. You've been sleeping with those street rats with the pretense of hawking ehn. Who is responsible for this baby? She yelled, hitting Jane with her fist.

Jane confessed that it was Uncle Okon that had gotten her pregnant. 

'What do you mean my husband got you pregnant? Aunt Uche asked, confused.

Jane narrated how he came back home many times from work and slept with her. And how he threatened her not to talk. Else he would send her back to the village.

Uncle Okon couldn't deny it. Aunt Uche nearly lost her sanity. Her husband kept pleading for forgiveness. That it was the devil's work. 

He begged her to allow them to resolve this issue silently to avoid public disgrace. To save her marriage, Aunt Uche agreed to his suggestion to allow Jane to have an abortion.

Jane cried. 'Aunty, I'm scared. What if I die?

'You won't die. Your mates are doing it.' Responded Aunt Uche angrily.

After much pressure, Jane was taken to a quack doctor to have an abortion. It was a painful experience for the young child.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. A few days later, Jane began to bleed. She bled continuously and was in severe pain.

When she couldn't bear it any longer, she went to Ms. Ella's house that evening.

There she opened up and told her everything. Ms. Ella was heartbroken. 

'Why didn't you say anything, Jane?

'I was scared, Aunty'. Replied Jane.

Ms. Ella vowed to deal with Aunt Uche and her husband. While she still spoke, Jane started screaming.

'My stomach, my stomach'. She cried.

Her dress was soaked. She had lost too much blood. She suddenly collapsed.

Jane! Jane!! Yelled Ms. Ella.

To be continued…