BY FELIA IGBINOSUN
BENIN CITY : The family of one Joy Oviawe who was trafficked to Europe by an alleged sponsor have been at the receiving end following their inability to pay up the agreed fee for their daughter’s trip to Europe.
For two years running, the Oviawe’s family have come under constant attacks, culminating in the killing of Joy’s younger brother, Wisdom Oviawe on October 1, 2021 and now the rape of her younger sister, Happy Oviawe by three masked men believed to be cultists acting on the orders of the said sponsor who had become belligerent and unforgiving in the desperation to get back her money.
According to information scooped up by our reporter, the ordeal of Joy Oviawe and her family, especially, her mother and siblings, began in 2009 when at the tender age of 11, she was allegedly raped by her half brother .
It was a sad and shameful incident which their patriarch, Chief Peter Oviawe, a renowned custodian of the cherished Benin custom and heritage would want to be kept secret. But Joy’s mother, acting on the instinct of a loving mother, reported the matter to the police.
Chief Oviawe who was held in high esteem in his immediate community of Obagie in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, felt betrayed as his reputation as the custodian of the Benin custom and cultural heritage has been brought into public ridicule.
Chief Oviawe was mad at Joy’s mother and consequently chased her and her children out of the family House at Aigbovbiosa Street, Obagie village. Following that, Joy’s mother relocated with her children to No. 3, Enagbare Street, off Lucky Way, Benin City for their own safety. Joy was however approached by a woman who promised that her daughter, Mrs. Loveth Nosa would help her travel abroad where she could continue her hair dressing career. She was told that whatever she earns would be shared on a fifty – fifty basis with her sponsor. It was an offer the young lady could not resist . However, no sooner had Joy left the shores of Nigeria than Mrs. Loveth Nosa began to demand payment for Joy’s sponsorship from her mother who had no means of paying. In 2020, Mrs. Loveth Nosa allegedly hired his brother, Friday Nosa to attack Joy’s mother and her children and destroy their house, thinking that would force them to pay the money. Tragedy struck again a year later when on the 1st October, 2021 Madam Loveth’s brother, Friday Nosa, a notorious member of the dreaded Eiye Confraternity along with some of his cult members stormed the humble abode of Joy’s mother on the instruction of Madam Loveth to demand her payment for Joy’s sponsorship. Apart from beating them, one of the gunmen shot at her son, Oviawe Wisdom whom they left in the pool of his blood. The family mourned and hoped that the tragic death of Oviawe Wisdom would put paid to the harassment of Joy’s mother and her children until the cultists resurfaced on 19th January, 2022 and raped Joy’s sister, Oviawe Happy to a near point of death.
Although, Happy Oviawe survived the ordeal of gang rape, the Oviawe family are fearful that this might not be the end of their nightmare. They are equally worried of the fate of their daughter, Joy Oviawe who is at the centre of the whole saga.
