Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has narrated how she was almost raped while engaging in investigative journalism.
Speaking after receiving an award at the maiden edition of the National Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), in Abuja, Abike encouraged journalists in Nigeria to brace the odd and undertake investigative journalism.
Sharing her experience while engaging in the practice, the former lawmaker recalled how the timely intervention of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, saved her from being raped after she was arrested and locked up in a military facility in Apapa area of Lagos state.
Dabiri worked for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for 15 years, anchoring the weekly NTA News line programme.
She said: “Dare to venture, dare to succeed. I was arrested at a point I was doing investigative journalism, locked up in Apapa in one of the military facilities there. What saved me from being raped was Major Al-Mustapha who happened to come in at that point. So, you cannot afford to be afraid.”