Nollywood actress, Rita Edochie, has opened up on how she was raped many years ago and called on parents to regularly communicate with their children.
Rita, who is the sister-in-law of Nollywood heavyweight, Pete Edochie, revealed this in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking as a guest at a seminar to end violence against children, the Waterloo actress said 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 refused 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 say it,’’ Edochie said.
The former broadcaster explained that the pregnancy was about seven months before her mother noticed it.
She 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 hospital to abort the pregnancy with a plan 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.’’
Rita is married to Pete Edochie’s younger brother, Tony Edochie.
