Paulina before and after the acid burn
August 28, 2010 Paulina, an indigene of
Kokori in Ethiope –East Local Government Area of Delta State, was
bathed with acid by Mr. Difference Ogba, her lover who knocked on her
door at 5 a.m. Ogba is now serving a ten- year jail term in Okere
prison in Warri after he was convicted by the High Court at Otu-Jeremi. –
Read her story
‘How I met my ex-lover’
I divorced my husband with whom I had three
kids after irreconcilable differences and incompatibility . I relocated
to Ujevwu in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. There, I
began selling meat at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company,
WRPC, area, a business which sustained and provided for my needs as the
kids were with their father.
“After about six months, my church members
alerted me that Ogba whom I was dating was married with wife and four
kids. I trailed him and got the truth and I told him to leave me
alone, but he refused. His wife got wind of our relationship and started
coming to abuse me at home. I told Ogba to leave me alone, but he
refused. He went to disturb my pastor. The pastor asked him to leave me
alone, but he would not listen. They beat me up and took my money
(N30,000). I reported to the leadership of Egini community. They
reprimanded him but he would not change his mind. This started the
he, as a motorcycle rider(okada) conveyed me home. He identified himself
as Mr. Difference Ogba, and told me he was resident in Egini, a
neighbouring community to Ujevwu. He said he was not married. He picked
interest in me and I told him I was a divorcee. He said he did not
mind.
Escape to Ekrokpe
I had to leave where I was staying just to
escape from him. He found out where I was and continued making trouble.
He said that I must marry him. He would not leave me alone. I had
packed out to Ekrokpe Community in Ughelli-South Council area.
After about three months, he found out where I
moved to and he came again. I chased him away but he continued
disturbing me until my landlady got tired and threatened to give me a
quit notice. I continued to chase him away any moment he came around and
my landlady later joined me in chasing him away, till he stopped.
On August 27, 2010, I didn’t go to the
market. I fasted and went for our Wednesday prayers in my church (Church
of God Mission). I prayed to God to chase away Ogba completely from
my life.
I went to sleep early that evening as I had
my plans for the next day. I wanted to go to the market and sell and, on
return, cook and eat my choice soup (banga). But very early in the
morning, August 28 , at 5 a.m, I heard a sharp knock on my door and the
voice of a woman I knew. I was shocked because she resides in Egini. I
was wondering how she came to Ekrokpe that early.
Immediately I opened the door, I was poured
something (acid) on my head and face. I shouted for help and
fainted. I woke up two days later at UBTH to discover that Ogba was
the one who knocked on the door and poured me acid.” Ogba fled after the
incident.
“I have gone through excruciating pains as I
had to undergo three different surgeries. Flesh was cut off from my lap
to patch my head and lip. My skull was operated on. I weaved my head a
night before but the acid that soaked on my head burnt it. I saw death
but God did not allow me to die. I cursed the day I met Ogba. I
regret meeting him and I am still baffled that he did this to me. He
neither drinks nor smokes. I am not aware that he had or has mental
problem. So, it is like a bad dream. How I wish it is a dream. I can’t
see. I’m almost blind, I need help, I want to see again. Please, I need
help.”
-Vanguard
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