A group of young women and men went on an awareness march at Yaba market, Lagos on Saturday.
Many traders at the market are notoriously known for unwarranted and disrespectful touching and grabbing of women walking past the market or buying goods, which makes them very uncomfortable.
The protesters want an end to the sexual harassment.
But the ignorant and belligerent traders took offence to the march. They went on to abuse, harass and bully the protesters.
One of the protesters who narrated their ordeal, said the traders made statements like: “If you don’t want us to touch you, dress well; Who are you that we shouldn’t touch you; If you don’t want us to touch you don’t come here; You should be fighting for more important things.”
But they are fighting for a valid and very important cause.
Sexual harassment is an issue that should be taken very seriously, but Nigeria’s law enforcers have, sadly, continued to be enablers of the abuse.