A video has gone viral on social media showing the moment an Abuja-based fashion designer confronted a trader at the Garki International Market for allegedly sexualising a minor. TV& Video
The designer, identified as ElPraise, shared the encounter on his Instagram page. According to his post, the incident occurred at the Obasanjo Block of the market while he was shopping for fabrics. ElPraise stated that he overheard an older trader making highly inappropriate sexual remarks to a child, estimated to be between 7 and 10 years old, who operates a Point of Sale (POS) business in the area.
Disturbed by the comments, ElPraise immediately intervened and challenged the older man on the spot.
Giving an account of what transpired, El-Praise wrote;
I wasn’t planning to make this video, but since the video of what happened has gone viral, I feel I should tell my own side of the story.
This happened last Saturday, after choir rehearsal. I went home, changed out of my kaftan into a polo and jeans, and went to Garki International Market to get fabric for a client’s suit.
A friend had also asked me to help pick up some pants from a vendor there. His shop was opposite where this happened. He was still attending to other customers, so I decided to get my own things and come back.
As I stepped out of the shop and walked through the corridor in Obasanjo Block, I heard a man, clearly older than me, making sexual comments about a little girl.
She looked about 7–10 years old. She was wearing a brown dress, holding a blue Moniepoint POS machine and helping with her mum/guardian’s POS business.
A woman nearby said, “This one na small pikin na.”
The man carrying the red jerrycan replied, “Who tell you say na small pikin? If you carry am enter inside room now, she go break your waist.”
At that point, I couldn’t keep walking.
I turned around and said, “Sir, with all due respect, this thing you just said is very stupid. You shouldn’t say that to a child because she’s a minor.”
Instead of acknowledging that what he said was wrong, he started defending himself. What disgusted me even more was other men supporting him.
Another man even commented on the girl’s dress, asking why she was wearing a “show me your back” dress.
She’s a CHILD!
Why are grown adults looking at a child through a sexual lens?
Another man told me it wasn’t my business and that I should leave.
And I keep asking myself: at what point does something become our business? When it’s your daughter? Your sister? Your niece?
I didn’t know anybody was recording me. I didn’t know the video would end up on TikTok, and I didn’t step in for attention. TV& Video
I stood up because I’m human, but beyond that, I’m a Christian. The life of God in me trumps my humanity. I couldn’t hear that and walk away.
This isn’t about me being a “good man.”
It’s about refusing to normalize the sexu@lization of children”
Watch the video showing the moment he challenged the trader below…
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