In a harrowing tale of tradition, harassment, and resilience, Oyinwola Abimbola‘s life took a dark turn after the death of her husband, Oyinwola Benjamin Tokunbo, in the United States on January 5, 2015.
The widow became the focal point of a family tradition demanding that a brother marry the deceased wife after eight years.
Refusing to succumb to this tradition, widow Abimbola faced relentless harassment and even rape by her brother-in-law, Leke Oyinwola, a member of the influential Ogboni Fraternity cult group. Allegations of Abimbola’s bisexuality, caught making out with a female friend, added another layer to her challenges. Despite parting ways with her partner after marriage, she secretly resumed her practices, leading to societal condemnation and further isolation.
The widowhood ritual rites imposed on Abimbola after her husband’s death subjected her to 27 days of consuming ritual concoction, bathing by seven naked aged widows, and isolation in a room, covered in ashes for seven days. These rituals aimed to cast out her husband’s love and pave the way for her brother-in-law’s advances, culminating in sexual abuse.
Amidst humiliation and loss of property, Abimbola’s eight years of peace shattered when her brother-in-law, supported by the family members, attempted to force her into marriage. Her neighbor, fearing reprisals from Leke, revealed the attempted kidnapping and the community’s intervention, giving Abimbola a chance to escape.
It was gathered from her concerned neighbors that she was able to secure a visa to Canada, signaling a new chapter of her life in safety and freedom, Her neighbor, relieved by this news, urged her never to return to Nigeria, emphasizing the safety of Abimbola and her daughter in Canada.
Unveiling another layer of secrecy, the neighbor disclosed Abimbola’s alleged lesbian relationship with Ayo Morenikeji. The revelation highlights the societal taboos and potential legal consequences faced by individuals engaging in such relationships, underscoring the challenges Abimbola navigated in her journey to safety.
By Adeyemi Adetutu