Ex-Big Brother Naija contestant Alex Unusual has reflected on her difficult past in a recent interview on the Unpack podcast.
She shared her experiences of abuse and bullying by family members and at school. Recalling her secondary school days, Alex described being branded a thief and seen as stubborn.
She also recounted an incident where her aunt punished her for providing clean water to their pigs instead of dirty water, questioning why she would give something living dirty water.
My aunt punished me for giving their pigs clean water instead of dirty water. I couldn’t understand why I should provide something living with dirty water.
I had washed the pig’s buckets and given them clean water, but the pigs didn’t drink it all day. When they returned, they accused me of trying to harm the pigs, claiming it was intentional and that I knew what I was doing.
They were able to label me a thief because of their actions. They would punish me throughout the night, making me the last person to leave the hostel the next morning.”
Whenever something went missing, I was always blamed. One day at school, everyone began to beat me, accusing me of eating a biscuit in class. I told them I hadn’t eaten all day, but they insisted that someone had seen me with biscuits.
They searched my locker and found provisions belonging to a senior in my corner. They beat me that day, and I called my mother to tell her I hadn’t done what they accused me of.
A friend even asked if I had a condition where people steal without realizing it, and they suggested taking me to church for prayers.
