A teacher named Ebele Light has revealed how she was introduced to a life of sexual perversion at a very tender age.
She said she must have been around 7 or 8 while playing with the neighbours kids.
It was the usual ‘Mummy and Daddy’ game and gradually they started exploring each other appropriately until it became an obsession.
She called on parents to make a deliberate effort to listen to their children no matter how busy or tired they are.
Ebele made the revelation in several Twitter threads where many people also voiced their experiences.
“This was also how my struggle with masturbation and pornography began. Our parents would let us play with the kids in the compound and, as long as there were no physical injuries or anything of that sort, they let us play “unsupervised.”
@ebeletheservant· “They were probably thinking “they are just children. What harm could possibly be done?” I do not blame them at all. Because when they were young like we were at that age, the only kinds of play they knew involved stones, catapults, singing etc. No one was getting under sheets.
“But things are not that way anymore. It hurts my heart to say that it is a RARE thing to find an ‘innocent’ six year old. And I can say this because I had the privilege to teach both primary and secondary school children for a number of years.
“You need to hear some of the things these children say. You would be shocked at some of the things they know. The devil is really working overtime, and he’s very particular about children. If he can catch them young then he can control what kind of adults they become.
“I want parents and guardians (teachers inclusive) to be very mindful of the children in their care. Be very watchful. Don’t just send them out to play because they’re making noise and you want to be alone. Go out often and observe. Ask them questions about their play.
“Be interested in them. Don’t always say “I’m tired” whenever they invite you to join them to play. Join them sometimes. Find out what kind of languages they use when they play. Observe their body movements and how they interact with one another.
“If you notice anything that causes you to raise your eyebrows, don’t just write it off and say, “they’re just children. It doesn’t mean anything.” Correct IMMEDIATELY. And most importantly, pray for these children. I mean it. Your prayers will get to places your eyes won’t.
“May God give us the wisdom we need to be proper stewards.”
Expectedly, thousands of reactions traced Ebele Light ‘s post with many people revealing how they were abused by close family and house helps.
Others describe how they help young people overcome the trauma of the experience.
Reactions:
Oluwadamilola Balogun “This is one reason I never allow my niece go play with other children without supervision. We will both be in the house together, dey play make I dey see you.
Favour@_________favour·When I was 8, the house girl would ask me to lie down on the bed and ask me bring out my tongue. She would then put her private part on my mouth and ask me to lick it. Would then threaten to kill me if I tell anyone. Till today, my parents don’t know”
Hollamedey of Awka “My younger brother and I were abused by my mom’s cousin. She was the one taking care of us while my mom was busy with her business. She would ask us to suck her breast and hump on her and threaten to flog us if we told anyone.
“I still haven’t told my mom about it cos I don’t want to ruin her relationship with her. She’s now married with kids. Don’t know if my younger brother remembers cos he was very young then.”