By Bernard Ibelih | Communications Programmes Coordinator
LEAP Africa, working with its network of social innovators and Alumni members are reaching vulnerable people in underserved communities and correctional facilities with food, relief items, awareness and sensitization with the aim of giving hope to 4000 households across Nigeria during the pandemic.
Locked up in a cell with 58 inmates, with the original capacity house only 10. Having to wait hours before being able to use the bathroom due to the strain congestion has brought on the prison facilities. Eating cassava flakes and pap without sugar or any form of supplements because these are considered as luxury and unavailable in the prison.
Going on weeks without bathing with soap or having to use wrappers as sanitary towels which have resulted in all sort of bacterial infections induced by the unhygienic state of the facility. With restrictions on visits to prison due to COVID-19, LEAP Africa is breaking the barriers to bring hope to inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facility in Abuja through Hope Behind Bars Africa.
Rahila is 18 years old, she was charged with murder and has been in prison since she was 15. Rahila grew up in a village in Nasarawa state; Northern Nigeria. Brought up by uneducated parents, she never had the privilege of getting formal education herself.
At 13, Rahila lost her father to an unknown disease and a few months later, she was married off to a man thrice her age by her father’s brother. For 2 years, Rahila suffered the anguish of being sexually violated by her betrothed husband; beaten and dehumanized. Amidst these, Rahila became pregnant, had a child who later died at 4 months.
A fight that would see Rahila sent to prison broke out with her betrothed husband’s first wife. Rahila ran to a neighbour’s house after the fight and on her return, her rival’s child had fallen into a well and drowned. Unfortunately, Rahila was accused of the crime and in one fell swoop, she was taken away to face the law. 3 years later, Rahila is still awaiting trial for culpable homicide punishable by death.
With restrictions of movement due to the pandemic, LEAP Africa and its network of social innovators are providing relief materials for over 4000 households across Nigeria. Rahila is one of the beneficiaries, with the generous donations of food and sanitary items to the Keffi prison by Hope Behind Bars, a LEAP Africa social innovator, Rahila is breathing the fresh air of hope in detention. For the next 3 months, Rahila can use sanitary pads rather than old wrappers for her monthly cycle. For the first time in 3 years, Rahila and 269 other inmates would now have more food options available to them just because LEAP Africa cares.
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