I was sexually abused - Rita Edochie

Popular Nollywood actress, Mrs. Rita Edochie said she was a victim of sexual abuse many years ago and called on parents to regularly communicate with their children.

Edochie revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Edochie, who was a guest at a seminar to end violence against children, told NAN that she was sexually violated at a young age by a family friend.

“I was a victim of sexual abuse; that was when I was in primary six; I was going to the hospital and somebody called me.

“The boy used some diabolic means and sexually violated me; when I could not see my period, I refuse to tell my mother, because she was very strict.

“ I love sharing my experience because at the end of the day I succeeded; If I had not succeeded, I would not have been able to be saying it,’’ Edochie said.

She explained that the pregnancy was about seven months before her mother noticed it.

Edochie added that her mother was shocked at the pregnancy because she thought her being strict would not allow such a thing to happen.

“My mother asked how it happened and I told her everything; my brother picked a knife and wanted to kill me, but my mother stopped him.

“It happened that the mother of the boy that violated me was my mother’s friend; the boy’s mother was surprised but the boy denied.

“My mother took me to the hospital to abort the pregnancy with a planned of taking me to my grandmother’s place at `Ogede’ to stay for one week before returning home.

“ I told her I may lose my life in the process; and because she loved me, she then aborted the planned abortion; I feel it was God that spoke through me.

According to the actress, “my mother took care of the baby while I went to school; if not for my mother I would not be where I am today.’’

The veteran actress called on parents to communicate regularly with their children and make them their best friends.

“Parents should always listen to their children’s complaints on happenings both in and outside the home.’’