Let's welcome sister Victoria as she shares her testimony rounds of applause
Victoria: ummm hello everyone my name is Victoria and this is my first testimony so pardon me if I go a lil bit off. I intentionally decided to be the last to testify because mine isn't just a testimony, it's a confession and a realisation...
You all know me, most of you not personally but you've seen me around, I've never really believed in God and his existence... I had so many unanswered questions like how he came to be, what made him the Lord of all, he is God yes but what power made him God? So many unanswered questions and when I couldn't get answers I got the scientist Mentality "God doesn't exist" I just thought and believed humans needed to worship and they made up the whole God idea..... Mumbling among the congregation
The only reason I ever came here was simply because my parents made me and like I said earlier, most of you know me as the girl in the welcoming committee that doesn't smile at the new comers while the few that know me personally know I hate the job and didnt care about being here..
Voice from the congregation: then why are you a worker here?
Victoria: I was made to
My life outside this walls was pretty fabulous to me, I smoked, fornicated, went clubbing, toyed with guys all with the" life's too short and you only live once" mindset... You need a spiritual life Vicky my friends often said to me and I always responded with "you need a life". I always laughed and shook my head when I saw how serious they were coming for night vigils or services during the week, I couldn't imagine myself doing that, Sunday services tired me let alone staying overnight praying ''nahh not my thing" I always said
My life was going great, I didn't need no God that dint exist.... I got a sponsor to study abroad which had always been my dream and the only thing that could make that dream an actual reality was the TOEFL exam I had to write and I was more than ready for it. On the Friday i was suppose to travel from Kano to Abuja to write it my aunty said pray before and after you write...
Me: okay but deep down inside I said I don't need God.... But I did
Since we didn't have a house in Abuja, we were to stay at our in-laws house for the three days we were supposed to be there. When I got to Abuja I quickly called my friends there and told them I had arrived, they were all excited and said they wanted to give me a tour of the city; I told them it wouldn't be possible cause there was no way my mum was gonna let me leave the house...
"You're a smart girl nau, you can figure something out", they said and yes I did figure something out. While my aunt was preparing lunch, she asked me to help her blend the fruits for the fruit juice.... I said okay not because I wanted to but because I wanted to drug the drink... I added a few sleeping pills before blending and rejected the juice during lunch with the excuse of a stomach ache. I sent my address to my friends before watching them doze off into deep slumber. I couldn't stop laughing at what I did and when my friends came we took pictures of them and posted on Snapchat... We went out, it was fun. I didn't have any money on me but they did so I had nothing to worry about. I met new guys, interesting new guys and overall the day was fun but I had to get back by 8pm so I could sleep in readiness for my exam the next day.
I got home and I met them still sleeping.... I panicked Abit, the baby was crying ( too little to have fruit juice) I was very sure she was hungry so I woke her mum up (it wasn't easy). I studied a little and went to bed.
The next day
I was up early and before 9:30 which was the reporting time, I was there. I saw a guy that looked kind of familiar there but we didn't have time to recall where we'd seen each other. The exam started, it was pretty easy after all it was just English. During our 10 minutes break, I was eating an apple I brought when I heard his voice..
Him: hello, I'm Ade... Sorry to disturb your lunch break but have we met? You look awefully familiar...
Me: I've been wondering the exact same thing ... I'm Vicky by the way, I just came in to Abuja from Kano and I was out with my friends, maybe you saw me around town yesterday...
Ade: ahhhah Vicky yes I remember you From yesterday, I was the guy driving the car that took you home last night...
Me: ummm you mean Joy's friend?
Ade: joy? Ummm yes joy...
Me: sorry I was too high on weed to notice you...
Ade: it's fine... Can I seat?
Me: yeh sure...
We talked and talked til our break was over... I felt nice and comfortable talking to him...
Ade: see you after the exam..
Me: yeah sure...
The exam was smooth and nice and we finished at the same time. We sat and talked...
Ade: so did you pray before starting the exam?
Me: nah, I don't believe in all that stuff..
Ade: ohh really (he smiled) me neither..
We talked till two guys came to pick him up
Now I remembered I had a problem; I was suppose to call my mum and aunty to come pick me up after the exam and I didn't have airtime (I never have airtime)..
I told him and he offered me a ride back home..
Me: are you sure they'lll agree? I was referring to the driver and his companion cause I noticed they were looking at me some kind of way..
Ade: who my brothers? Nah it's fine ofcourse...
As open minded as I was I accepted the ride... We both got into the tinted car..
I took my phone out of my bag..
Me: my address is....
Ade: ssshhhh don't bother, you're coming with us now...
The last thing I remembered was a white handkerchief on my nose and everything went pitch black...
I woke up when the effects of what I had inhaled wore off but I wasn't quite conscious of my surrounding and my vision was a bit blurry. It wasn't until I felt firm hands caress my body that I became fully conscious of my situation....there I was in a room(not so big) with a only a mattress on the floor and the chair I was tied to with two guys; "Ade's brothers"
1st Guy : she don wake....
2nd Guy: go call am...
The first guy walked out...
2nd guy: (grabbing my face) hello beautiful, did you enjoy your sleep?
Me: what is this? Where am I? What's going on? Who....
2nd guy: shhhhh... Don't stress yourself and waste your energy cause you'll be needing it...
Me: why did you bring me here? I haven't done anything wrong please let me go I'm sure my family would be worried sick about me....
Ade: (entering) let you go??
Me: (noticing him) ohhhh Ade thank Goodness you're here I don't know why your brothers tied me up please tell them to untie me or better still you do it .. I'm sure my family must be worried About me...
Him: Ade? Brothers?? Let you go??? Sweetheart you don't get it do you?
I looked at him confused and tired...
Him: okay lemme explain a few things to you; my name is not Ade, these aren't my brothers and no one is letting you go....
Me: look if I was rude to you yesterday when we went to hang out with joy then I'm very sorry, I apologise...
Him: (laughing) I don't even know this joy, I just played along with your story....
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks when I realised the hot mess I was in....
Me: (crying)please I'm begging you just let me go, I've only been in Abuja for 2days and....
Him: you are not leaving this place without a paid ransom., I'm sure your family will pay any amount to see this pretty face of yours again and this body, damn (caressing) you can't leave here the way you came now, things aren't done that way you know..
Me: NOOO!!! I'd rather die...
I was very scared but all my life I've been an activist against rape and abuse of all forms and I've always said to myself that I'd prefer death to sexual abuse... The pain, the trauma afterwards, nooo I'd rather die...
Him: ohh you'll die if you resist, struggle or we don't enjoy it...
My mind was blown when he said "we" gang rape???
Me: (screaming) somebody help me!!! Somebody please, anybody!!!.
Guy 1: (untying the ropes) if you like shout make heaven hear, nobody dey come this area, nobody fit stop this enjoyment...
Ade: fortunately for us you don't believe in the one who could have helped you so shut up and spread those legs.. He pushed me onto the bed and the two guys pressed me down as I struggled while he unbuckled his trousers...
He was right, no one but God could save me but how could he just forgive all my shortcomings like that and come to my rescue? I had my doubts, serious doubts til I looked up at Ade and saw his huge shaft...
Me: (screaming) PLEASE!!!! FORGIVE ME!!!! MERCY PLEASE MERCY!!!!
Ade: (laughing) sweetheart you haven't done anything to me that needs forgiveness or Mercy.. don't worry I'll try to be gentle ..
But I wasn't talking to him....
Me: MERCY!!!!
Just as he was about to Rip my clothes to shreds, a knock was heard on the door..
I couldn't believe it, had God come to my rescue? Had he actually forgiven me that quick and easy, I felt relieved when the guys let go of me, grabbed their guns and headed to the door...
Guy: who be that?
Intruders: guy open door...
I became puzzled as they put their guns away... Did they know the guys at the door? Had God actually not come to my rescue?
As they opened the door, two guys and a dwarf stepped in ..
Dwarf... Where the fish wey una catch? Noticing me ahhhhh this one fine o....
Ade gave a bad look to one of the guys...
Guy: sorry, I just feel say e go settle our small wahala...
I couldn't believe it... Settle problems with my body...
Me: (facing the guy) you animal!!!
Dwarf: shut up jare, your mouth get better use no be to dey talk anyhow...
Me: stay away from me you freak...
Dwarf: guys hold her...
Me: (struggling) NOOOOOO!!! Leave me a alone!!! PLEASE!!!!!
They held me down and the dwarf got on me and put his shaft in my mouth. I closed my mouth and put my teeth into action until I tasted blood, I wouldn't say it was an accident, it wasn't intentional either, it was more of a reflect action; an action that dint go unpunished.
I got a very hard slap from him, so hard I couldn't see again, well actually all I could see was white, I didn't know if it was as a result of the slap but it happened immediately after it, then got punched on my stomach and countless times until I was too weak...
The only thing that came out of my mouth was a faint "please" before things started happening... I wasn't pleading with them, I was pleading with the God of the Christians, the God of the Muslims; the God over all, the Almighty God... I said it and resigned to fate when I heard some of the guys screaming in pain and confusion.. I couldn't see anything but I could hear they were in pain and agony...
Ade: we will release her, we will let her go please.. please..
Guys: please!!!
Ade: Victoria please come and be going before they burn us...
Me:(weakly) wha... What... are you talking about?
Guy: come dey go abeg...
I realised unseen creatures were fighting my battle...
Me: (crying) I can't see...
Guys: haaaaa...
Guy 1: go help her
Guy 2: you go...
Ade: Oya stand up...
I was still very weak with a bloody face and mouth, blind eyes but I was happy...
We got into a car and after about 15 mins of driving they dropped me off somewhere...
Ade: (driving off) you said you don't believe in God... Liar!!!!
God did it for me, I was free from their grip but that wasn't all....
They dropped me off and hadn't really gone too far when I heard a shout and a crash. I wasn't sure it was their car that crashed but I was sure the car was on fire and if there was one thing I was afraid of, t'was a burning car. I crawled abit before being able to stand and I walked on shaky legs to a destination I dint know...
Me: (faintly) somebody please help me..
I was weak, bloody, tired, hungry and lost with no money, no phone, alone in a city I was just a visitor to...
Girl voice: who be that?
Girl 2; one chick, why she look like that?
Walking up to me...
Girl: wetin you dey do with white man by this time and why you resemble something wey come from dustbin?
Me: (shouting) WHITE MAN!!!
I started to run but I tripped and fell. I thought she was talking about Ade coz he was very light skinned....
They helped me up...
Girl: wetin dey do you?
Me: please help me he wants to hurt me...
Girl 2: hurt you keh... I doubt o... E be like say he dey protect you o... See as he huge come fine...
Me: where is he?
Girl: you no dey see?
Me:(tear drop) yes...
Girl: eyah... Ohk make I help you feel am... Maybe you go know am by him body...
They took me to where the "man" was and I swung my hands but felt nothing...
Girls: GHOST!!!!....
And they ran away leaving me...
Ghost? A ghost had been following me around?
Me: I donno who you are but can you please help me!!! I beg you in the name of God!!!
Female voice: mama???
I recognized that voice...
Me; mummy??
Uncle: mama...
That was the last thing I heard before I passed out...
I woke up the next day on a bed that felt homey... I was safe now... I told my family every thing Im telling you guys right now... I told them how sorry I was and also that I Couldn't see...
Dad: you need to go see the doctor...
Well apparently immediately they found me, my mum had my uncle drive us back to Kano that night...
Me: I want to go to church first...
They brought me here and the first thing I saw was a huge white man in white...
Me: are you....
He nodded , touched my face and smiled...
Me: I... I can see
I hadn't even gotten into the church proper and I got my sight restored... I got my sight restored at the church gates...
Me: the Lord be praised... I'm here to not only testify, and confess my sins but to also dedicate my new life to him cause brothers and sisters HE IS REAL!!!
And the presence of the Lord was full in that place
Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5, Daniel 9:9
The end...
Writers note: although it has a church setting, this book isn't based on religion so people of different faith can relate... God is the God over us all not a God of religion...
I do hope you enjoyed this story and it opens your heart more to God...