A 19-year-old survivor (names withheld) has shared her experience of alleged abuse by her father for over eight years.

She described the traumatic ordeal that began when she was seven and continued until she was 15.

She spoke during an interaction with journalists at the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) facility in Abuja, where survivors of sexual and gender-based violence shared stories and their struggles in seeking justice.

Initially, her attempts to report the abuse were dismissed by her mother, who did not believe her claims.

Even when her mother witnessed an incident, the matter was not pursued after her father pleaded for forgiveness, citing the need to preserve their marriage.

The survivor stated that the abuse was often accompanied by physical violence whenever she resisted.

She documented her experiences in a diary, detailing the abuse over the years, and eventually confided in a friend, leading her to connect with the foundation.

She said: “I was sexually abused by my father for nine years, from the age of seven to the age of 15. And whenever I don’t let him have his way, he would beat and injure me because he’s angry.

“When I told my mother about it, she said I’m just a child and I don’t know what I’m saying.

“One day, my mother saw when my father was sexually abusing me. She took her phone and wanted to call my father’s people. But my father begged her, so she forgave him. She said if she reports the matter, it could affect her marriage.

“Most times, when my mom is angry with me, she would say I am disrespecting her because we have been eating from the same place.”

The survivor explained that she initially confided in a friend, which eventually led to her being connected to the foundation.

“I wrote everything down in a diary — the abuse, the pain, and everything I went through,” she said.

Despite reporting the case, she lamented the slow pace of justice.

“The last time I heard about my case was about three years ago. At some point, I even had to sit in the same car with my dad, and he was asking me to drop the case,” she added.

She said that family pressure persists, with her mother urging her to return home on the claim that her father has changed.

Now 19, the survivor said support from the foundation helped her through one of the most difficult periods of her life.

“What I wanted at that time was just a place where I could sleep peacefully without fear,” she said.

Also speaking, Ifeoma Clement, mother of a teenage victim, recounted her experience with law enforcement after reporting her daughter’s case.

She said her daughter, who was 13 at the time, was assaulted and threatened into silence by the alleged perpetrator.

“She was told she would die if she spoke. She lived in fear for months before she could tell anyone,” Clement said.

According to her, when the case was reported, the response from the police was dismissive.

“The officer said because she didn’t report immediately, it meant she enjoyed it. That was painful to hear,” she said.

Clement further alleged that the suspect, described as a manager at the establishment where the incident occurred, was treated leniently.

Frustrated by the situation, she said she almost took matters into her own hands before being connected to the foundation.

“Someone intervened and gave me a contact. When I spoke with them, I was told that all hope was not lost,” she added.

Executive Director of the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Dorothy Njemanze, said systemic failures continue to undermine justice for survivors.

Njemanze noted that survivors often face re-traumatisation when seeking help.

“There is a gap in both prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence. When expectations are not met by law enforcement, it weakens trust and emboldens perpetrators.”

She disclosed that the foundation provides counselling, legal guidance, and shelter for survivors, many of whom are women and children.

According to her, many cases remain unresolved for years.

“We have about 100 cases in court, some dating back to 2012. While there have been some convictions, many are still ongoing,” she said.

She called for stronger, survivor-centred systems and improved institutional accountability.

“We don’t just want systems that look good; we want survivors to feel justice,” she added.