As Nigerians mark five years anniversary of the #EndSARS protest, Derin, girlfriend of a product designer, Oke Obi-Enadhuze, who lost his life, has narrated how the tragedy changed her life.
Oke was st@bbed to d3ath in October 21, 2020 by hoodlums who attacked his home in Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos State, a few hours after he had tweeted: “Nigeria won’t end me”
Taking to her Instagram page, Derin recalled her last conversation with Oke, which ended with a promise to ‘get through the day’ amidst the restricted movement and violence rocking the city.
Derin said she found out about Oke’s d3ath while scrolling through Twitter.
“Imagine finding out that way. How do you process that,” she asked.
She said that day marked the beginning of a hard and painful journey that ultimately changed her relationship with God.
“5 years since the hour my life changed. Still feels like yesterday,” she wrote.
2020. restricted movement in Lagos-Nigeria, and all we had was social media to make our voices heard. we cried in person and online, #EndSARS.
That morning, I had chatted with the man I was dating, and our last message was “we’ll get through the day.” but it wasn’t going to be a we, it was going to be an I.
I did. I got through the day with tears, screams and heartbreak. how was it that I had just seen the body of whom I spoke to earlier, casually lying d3ad on twitter as I scrolled my TL? Imagine finding out that way. how do you process that? What a country.
I got through the day, and the rest of the week, and the month, and the year, and the years after. but it was the Lord who held my hand. The One who had shown me that something I didn’t understand was about to happen. The One who immediately sent me men to raise me up in prayer, in hope and in love.
That day started a journey in me. Changed my walk with Him. Pushed me into depths of Him I didn’t know existed. took me on a very hard, painful journey. Almost like there was a new level to my seeking, but also my warfare haha. that part. many things you learn on the field, as you walk.
People have met me after and the first thing they ask is to give me a warm hug. beautiful. I have appreciated it. it’s meant everything on the days it came. but, I hope they also know that this is not my identity. I’m not my grief. I’m not the pain of my past.
And in all of this, thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ. I’ve had questions. I’ve had desires. I’ve had even suggestions for the Lord… my how about’s that He would listen quietly to and offer me perspective on how His ways & thoughts are higher than mine. I’ve been very grateful to Him.
He’s taught me how to lean in. how to stay. how to find rhythms in seasons. how to hope against hope. how to trust when I don’t understand it. He gave me supernatural faith, the kind that holds you steady. He gave me joy again. Taught me to dance again. He’s shown me that things change, grief softens, light returns and somehow, life blooms again. What a good God you are, Abba.
