Life · Social Issues

No City Is Safe For A Woman Alone!!…personal

jacquelineobyikocha

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I shudder as I write this. It was not a planned post, but I just can’t keep my mind from wandering on how my Angels worked overtime today in keeping me safe from becoming a drowned/missing person.

I will make this as brief as possible.

Earlier today, I went to the creek side to get shots of Seagulls and just explore.

Some part of the creek is very busy and crowded with boats, but as one walks further up, it gets less rowdy, as a matter of fact a bit of a lonely stretch.

I got carried away clicking happily, when these three guys approached me. Two were jet-black and one is an Asian.

A little voice in me just instructed me to carry my bag and start walking away.

One asked if I am a tourist, I did not respond, but I picked up my pace almost breaking into a jog to put some distance between us. Meanwhile, that stretch was just sea water, the narrow path and nobody else except speed boats flying past.

Inside me, I was panicking and I started praying as I hurried along and they followed. One of them even whistled at me and they broke out into hoots of laughter. From the way they spoke and the darkness of their complexion, I think they are Sudanese or Chadians.

My thoughts was that they would try to divest me of my things and push me into the water. At that thought, my heart stopped and started.

I simply said ‘God, what will happen to my children? Nobody will know what happened to me except when my body is found. Please help me.‘ I was contemplating what to do, if I should start waving frantically to the passing boats, when I saw two figures approaching at a further distance – besides I had no idea whether the path I was taking would lead to a dead end – I simply broke off into a run to meet the couple.

Luckily, as I got to them, a Bangladeshi husband and wife, I asked them if they were going back to the road and if I could join them and they accepted.

As we walked back together, we crossed the menacing guys on our way back who looked at me very malevolently, made very rude, derisive comments and laughed like idiots.

I struck up a conversation with the couple and the woman said that sometimes those guys are sailors who have been on the water for a long time and looking for a woman to play with or harass and that though she liked coming out there, she waits for either her husband or son to accompany her.

They walked with me until we came out to the road before we parted ways. I thought about it all the way home and wondered why it was just unfortunate that women have to be scared of their safety at every turn and how sad it is that some men have to keep molesting women or taking physical advantage of a woman alone.

My heart knows a heartfelt thanks, because I know that I had just been saved from danger. I am going to look for pepper spray. I wonder if they sell that here.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

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Published by jacquelineobyikocha

A wordsmith with a vivid imagination, an eager mind and a burning desire to carve out tales. As I journey with my muse to that land of all possibilities and self discovery, I hope my personal evolution will serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who chooses to stop by.

88 thoughts on “No City Is Safe For A Woman Alone!!…personal”

  1. I am glad you are safe, oh my goodness my heart skipped many beats as I read this. It is unfortunate for women and girls to live in a world where they can never feel 100 percent safe

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  8. So happy all ended well. I used to spend a lot of time out in the woods, at place called Busse Woods in Schaumburg, IL. There are lots of walking paths and an eight mile loop I used to use daily for either rollerblading, streetstriding or walking and as time went on I really started feeling not so safe there and there were more and more reports of women, in particular, getting accosted on the trail. It was too bad that it was going that way, I sometimes would get a bad feeling about a person but I would just look at them and say hey, how you doing in the hopes that they would not see any fear and leave me alone which for the most part they left me alone with a maybe a little learing being the worst of it. The other problem was maniacs on speed bikes, there were so many bad accidents on the trail because of them. It’s just not safe all around anymore.

    Best,
    Candice~Marie

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  9. Praise be to God that you are safe,For sending help at the nick of time, my heart palpitated for a moment there. Biko Sis, Take heed to thyself o. It’s a shame that women are subjected to this ordeal. God’s protection on you and yours always.

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  11. So glad this worked out well for you, and that you followed your gut instinct and found those 2 folks in the nick of time. I walk alone, very often, and am always aware of spaces that seem isolated, or unguarded…there, I break into a run, until I’m in safer, more populated areas. It’s a shame that we have to think this way, but that’s the reality. Take care, Jacqueline. And thanks for this important awareness reminder for us all. 💕

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  12. what a terrifying moment! I often go for walks and without thinking take paths that I suddenly realize are quite secluded. I am learning to pay more attention to my surroundings and if alone to walk only in well populated places. It is a sad world that we have to think like that. So glad you are safe and found another couple to walk with to safety. ❤

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    1. I was so relieved to see them that I was practically stuttering! I was thoroughly shaken. It’s really true that we have to be more mindful in these times, but that is just so sad. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

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  13. Oh Lotd, thank You for keeping my friend safe, for bringing a comforting couple to her at just the right time, for wisdom and safety. You are a safe place.
    I’m so glad you’re well.

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  18. I hate it that you had to go through this. I hate it that your choice, your freedom, is limited by such behaviour. Really! I stop typing now before I say something you-know-what. Glad you are safe.

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  19. Such a dangerous situation!! I’m glad you are safe now ❤
    Some men think it is their privilege to harass women.
    Pepper spray is a good idea i want to get one as well but it will take me ages to pull it out my bag

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      1. Thankfully you are ❤ it's too bad we live in a world where we have to be cautious all the time and always looking to see who's walking behind us

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  20. I am so proud of how you handled that situation Jackie. Your smart thinking saved your life. What in the world we do without you. I really wish I could send you some pepper spray from my webstore. You should definitely get some if it’s available there. Next time there may not be someone else there to help!!! *hugs*

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    1. Tasha dear, funny enough you came to my mind at that time. I am very doubtful if such things will be on sale here but I will ask around and see. What baffles me is that this is during the day and not at night. At night my husband usually goes with me if I need to go out. It’s a total shame what our World has become. One just has to be vigilant more than ever. Thanks dear for your thoughts *hugs*

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  25. Oh this is horrible–I’m so glad God had His angels on duty to protect you. It is difficult not to become bitter that women must always be on guard–we have never had the freedom that men have, to simply go where we like without worry. Thank God you’re safe 🙂

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    1. I was so relieved to see that couple. I must tell you, I knew that was God. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for He is with me. That was my prayer akk through. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

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  28. It always pays to listen to your instincts. I’m so glad He sent you those angels and that you are safe. We would have forever wondered what happened to the lovely Jacqueline.

    Sadly, such is the nature of some men that they prey on women this way and have for who knows how long. I had a couple of close calls myself a long time back.

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  29. Very, very glad you stayed safe and thank goodness for the couple to walk with you a while. How awful for you to be in such fear though, it is a sad world when a woman can’t go for a simple walk alone in some places.

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  31. This is really sad, that we have to think, “Am I safe? Should I run? Where is my pepper spray?” Many men seem to think that a woman alone is fair game for harassment. It makes me so mad.

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  32. Oh no! This must have been so terrifying. I’ll never understand why some men derive perverse pleasure from preying on defenseless women. It makes me so angry.

    I am so glad that you got out of the danger zone safely.

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  33. Woah. Now that is crazy. God truly was working overtime for you on that day! It’s a shame really that these threats exist but.. *sigh* life knows no bounds. Yes, invest in some pepper spray. Maybe even a taser. I’d hate to have you disappear on me Mom 😦 What would I do without you in my life? How much joy would I be robbed of? I don’t wanna think about it.

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