Tina Okpara, the teenage girl who was serially
raped by Super Eagles star, Godwin Okpara, has released a book, detailing how
the sexual assault went on for two years.
In the book titled,
“My Life Has A Price”, the victim narrates how she was adopted at age 13 by the
Okparas and taken to France.
“My Life Has A Price”, the victim narrates how she was adopted at age 13 by the
Okparas and taken to France.
Linda, Okpara’s wife, then enslaved her for five years and
turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse, she says in the book.
Tina’s decision to write the book seven years after she regained
freedom, aims at raising awareness and helping other girls who might be going
through the same horrendous experience, she said in an interview with TheNews
magazine.
freedom, aims at raising awareness and helping other girls who might be going
through the same horrendous experience, she said in an interview with TheNews
magazine.
“One day, I told myself that if I refused testifying, other
girls will continue to experience modern slavery,” she said.
girls will continue to experience modern slavery,” she said.
She explained how her biological father was tricked by the
Okparas into believing that she would be sent to school in France where the
Super Eagles star was playing for Paris Saint Germain.
Okparas into believing that she would be sent to school in France where the
Super Eagles star was playing for Paris Saint Germain.
However, once in France, she was used as a sex slave. She was
also prevented by Linda from attending school.
also prevented by Linda from attending school.
“The day she spat it on my face that schooling was not for me
because I was too stupid, I lost all hope,” she said
because I was too stupid, I lost all hope,” she said
As the abuse worsened, Tina kept secret notebooks where she
could “dump all my sorrow”.
could “dump all my sorrow”.
“These notebooks were used to dump all my sorrow, all my hatred
for Linda. It was my lifeline and my friend,” she said.
for Linda. It was my lifeline and my friend,” she said.
The 188-page book, originally written in French, has just been
translated into English.
translated into English.
Godwin is currently serving a 10-year jail term in France, while
his wife, Linda, will be in jail for 15 years.
his wife, Linda, will be in jail for 15 years.
