The Last Time I Went There, He Offered Me Buns & Told Me to Carry My Skirt Up- Student Opens Up

In a harrowing interview shared by The Vanguard, several students from a Lagos school have courageously come forward to reveal their traumatic experiences of sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher. The disturbing allegations center around Mr. Gbenga, a staff member accused of exploiting his position to prey on vulnerable students. Corps member Clement James is now championing the cause of 13 victims, determined to seek justice for them.

One of the victims recounted her ordeal in chilling detail.

“I was on my way to my classroom when Mr. Gbenga called me. When I looked back, he hugged me. I felt uneasy because why would a teacher hug me? I offered a handshake and said, ‘Sir, good morning.’ He then asked me to help carry his bag to the ICT lab. I agreed but, having heard rumors about him molesting students, I gave my friend a sign to follow us. She did, but Mr. Gbenga sent her back to class.”

She continued, “Inside the ICT lab during Assembly, the place was stuffy and dark. I asked if I should open the windows, and he said yes. As I opened the windows, suddenly someone grabbed me from behind. It was him. He grabbed my waist, turned me around forcefully, held my hands, and started kissing me. I begged him to stop, saying I had never done anything like this before. He held me tightly, took off his belt, lifted my skirt, and started pushing me onto the table. I was crying and shaking. Then he left me. I wanted to scream, but he told me to wait and not worry.”

The victim revealed the chilling manipulation that followed.

“He told me to sit down and asked if I was a virgin. I said yes. Then he said I should be his girlfriend and promised better marks in mathematics and other subjects if I agreed. I was scared and just said okay. He warned me never to tell anyone, saying if I did, I would be embarrassed. I cried, but he told me not to cry or tell my mother.”

She added, “Since then, anytime he saw me, he would call me to his staff room, saying he wanted to tell me something. I started taking two friends with me because I told them what was happening. The last time I went there, he offered buns and told me to carry my skirt up and that he wanted to do something very quickly. I started crying and told my friends to come in immediately. He left me and never called me again.”

The victim expressed gratitude for Clement James, who was serving in the school at the time.

“He was the only person who understood us and talked to us, unlike other teachers. My mom always told me to tell someone I trust if I had secrets, and at that time, Mr Clement was the only person.”