A widow, Omobolanle Bakare, on Wednesday narrated how her husband was killed by stray bullet during the EndSARS protest in Lagos, as she was gifted N100,00 by Mothers United and Mobilised (MUM), an NGO.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased, Rasheed Kareem, a 42-year-old car dealer, was hit by stray bullet and on the spot at Stadium Hotel area in Surulere, Lagos, during the EndSARS protest.
“We were on the verge of getting legally married, though we had done the Islamic rite and was planning the major ceremony when the unfortunate incident happened,” the widow said.
She told NAN that she was two months pregnant when her husband was killed but that she lost the pregnancy due to the trauma from the shock of the bad news.
“However, after breaking the news of the loss of my pregnancy to my in-laws, they immediately came to my house claiming that I intentionally aborted the pregnancy.
“They then took away the television set, fridge, mattress and cupboard, virtually emptying the house and they even locked up the house,” the widow said.
Bakare, 33, said that she had moved to her sister’s place since her in-laws had decided to lockup her house and make life unbearable for her.
Patience Marcus-Jinadu, representative of MUM in Lagos, said that the N100,000 donation to Bolanle was to encourage her to develop herself further in her hairdressing trade in spite of her loss.
“The token sum is just an encouragement for her to start up something and we pray that with time, we will be able to help her more than we have done.
“Presently, medically she is still not fully okay and has not stabilised from the trauma of losing her pregnancy at the same time.
“So, we were informed to help her with the token sum which we believe will go a long way for her to start up something small to help herself with,” she said.
Marcus-Jinadu said that the organisation would revisit her after six months to see how she has fared with the token given to her.
“If she puts the money to good use, more donations will be raised individually and collectively for her again.
“I advise her to utilise the money wisely so that we will be encouraged to help her more as well as others who may be in her situation,” Marcus-Jinadu said.
Tessy Ajakaiye, also a representative of MUM said that the NGO aimed to reach out to as many less-privileged women and widows in the society as possible.
“We know what it takes, especially for widows who have lost their loved ones. We do not want her to be devastated and think that it is the end of life.
“Most times, in this climes, when such things happen, the in-laws sometimes make life unbearable for the widow, leaving her to fate alone,” she said.
Ajakaiye wished Bakare well and advised her to be wise in spending the money so that she can benefit more from the NGO in future.
