Mother
The mother explained that her initial video was prompted by a passage she read in her child’s book, which she believed was inappropriate for young readers. According to her, the story describes an old man punishing a dog by burning its nose with a hot iron after it failed to guard meat.
A Nigerian mother has raised an alarm over alleged threats to her life and the reported arrest of people around her after she posted a viral video questioning the content of a children’s book.
In videos shared online, the woman said she is now in hiding and fears for her safety, claiming that individuals close to her have been detained for questioning.
“Good day, Nigerians. And I think this period now, my life is being threatened,” she said. “Everybody around me now, the police people are carrying them, investigating them, because of the video I made about this book.”
The mother explained that her initial video was prompted by a passage she read in her child’s book, which she believed was inappropriate for young readers. According to her, the story describes an old man punishing a dog by burning its nose with a hot iron after it failed to guard meat.
She noted that the passage made her come online.
“As a first-time mum, my children are my priority,” she said.
“And I read this. And I came online to ask a question, that is this the book that they are reading now? I only asked a question, if it is the book that they are reading now, and if it is, it doesn’t sit well with me.
And now, they called me, when that thing went viral, they called me to take down the post.”
She stressed that her intention was simply to seek clarification, not to cause controversy.
“I just came online to ask a question,” she said. “Once you write a book that the public will read, you defend it. You explain what the book meant.”
The video quickly gained traction, after which she said she began receiving calls from individuals, including someone who identified himself as a lawyer, asking her to delete the post.
“They told me to bring it down, and I did immediately,” she said. “I’m not doing this thing for trend. I’m not doing it for content.”
Despite complying, she alleged that threats continued and escalated.
“Because now, they are threatening me, they are threatening my family, everybody that is close to me, they are picking them up one by one, and asking them questions,” she claimed.
“Everybody that has been calling me, they’ve been contacting them. My family are in danger. They’ve even picked some people that are close to me. Police people have picked them up, arrested them.”
The mother also expressed dissatisfaction with the response from her child’s school, saying staff failed to adequately address her concerns about the book’s content.
She argued that the material could negatively influence young children.
“This is for my five-year-old child, and that content… it is too much,” she said. “Most children are mischievous, and you are giving them the go-ahead to do what they are doing.”
According to her, she was later invited by authorities but feared the invitation could lead to her arrest, citing her lack of financial resources to secure legal representation.
“They sent me an invitation… I know that that invitation is arrest,” she said. “I don’t get money for lawyers… I don’t even have up to 100K (N100,000) in my account.”
The woman said the situation has forced her to go offline and leave her environment out of fear.
“I had to go offline… and I had to leave my environment because I’m scared,” she said. “These people are just looking for me.”
At several points, she made emotional appeals for help from the public, particularly legal professionals and fellow parents.
“Nigeria, please help me. I’m crying for help,” she said. “Lawyers… you guys should please help me. Parents… I beg, everybody should help me.”
She maintained that her actions were motivated solely by concern for her children and others, insisting she had no intention of creating controversy.
The mother also alleged that her relatives, including her mother and sister, have been contacted in connection with the matter.
“They are calling my mum, calling my sister,” she said.
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