Raising Awareness: Fanna’s Tragic Story of Family Violence
By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Kanempress News
19th November 2024
The tragic killing of Fanna (real name concealed to avoidance family stigma), a young woman beloved by her community in Bama, north-eastern Nigeria, has left a painful void in the hearts of many.
What began as a family altercation spiralled into a horrific femicide, raising urgent questions about misogyny, honour-based violence, and justice in Nigeria.
Today, as Fanna’s family continues to mourn her loss, her alleged killer, Rawana (real name concealed due to safety reasons), walks free, a painful testament to the inadequacies in addressing gender-based violence.
The Prelude to Tragedy
The altercation that ultimately led to Fanna’s death started like many other domestic disputes, small and seemingly innocuous. According to Fanna’s mother, Yakura (real name concealed for safety reasons), the argument began over a minor disagreement. Rawana, Fanna’s uncle, emerged from his room in a fury, berating her for allegedly disrespecting her mother.
“He came out of his room ranting,” Yakura recalls vividly. “He said, Stupid child. Is she not your mother? Why would you talk to her like that? Wallahi, I will deal with you right now, you disrespectful brat.”
Neither Yakura nor Fanna understood the cause of his outrage, as nothing disrespectful had transpired. Yet, this outburst escalated when Fanna, weary of years of maltreatment, stood her ground, telling Rawana that she would no longer endure his abuse.
He said, “How dare you talk back at me? I will kill you today.”
Such words, loaded with the weight of cultural expectations of obedience and respect, marked the beginning of a tragic sequence of events.
In a society deeply rooted in patriarchy and rigid hierarchies, Fanna’s defiance was seen as an unforgivable affront to the family’s honour.
A Brewing Storm
The days following the confrontation were filled with tension. Rawana openly declared his intent to kill Fanna, even going so far as to dig her grave and sharpen a cutlass in public. His threats, far from being dismissed as empty bravado, were a chilling prelude to what would follow.
Yakura, heavily pregnant and overwhelmed by the situation, sought to shield her daughter by sending her to her brother’s house. However, Fanna refused to remain there, concerned for her mother’s deteriorating health. Her devotion to her family, even in the face of danger, was emblematic of her kind-hearted nature.
“She does not usually eat sahur,” Yakura recalls of the last night they spent together. “This time, she decided not to wake up and even drink the water.”
The Fatal Night
Around 2 a.m. during Ramadan, the unthinkable occurred. Fanna, exhausted from the day’s turmoil, was asleep when Rawana’s rage culminated in her murder. The exact details of her final moments remain heart-wrenching, but the aftermath has left an indelible scar on her family.
“He [Rawana] has given me a scar that I will never forget in this life,” Yakura says with anger and grief.
A Legacy of Violence
Rawana’s history of violence against Fanna had been well-known. Yakura and neighbours recounted numerous instances where he had beaten her, often using heavy logs, leaving physical and emotional scars. Yet, like many cases of gender-based violence, the warnings went unheeded.
“You would be shocked by the size of logs he uses to hit her,” Yakura laments.
Despite his violent history, Rawana was detained for only two months before being released, a decision that has outraged Fanna’s family and community.
A Culture of Impunity
Femicide remains a pervasive issue in Nigeria. Between September 2021 and October 2022, the DOHS Cares Foundation recorded 12 femicide cases across the country. High-profile cases, such as the rape and murder of 22-year-old Uwavera Omoduwa and the killing of 21-year-old Augusta Osedion, highlight the alarming prevalence of such crimes.
Yet, justice is rarely served. In Fanna’s case, Rawana’s release underscores systemic failures in holding perpetrators accountable.
Remembering Fanna
Fanna’s neighbours describe her as a beacon of kindness and respect. Her habit of addressing elders with traditional Kanuri honorifics, such as Yaya and Mama, exemplified her deep sense of respect. She was also industrious, weaving caps that sold for as much as ₦25,000.
“She was always respectful to everyone,” a neighbour recalls.
Her death has left her family shattered. Yakura, unable to bear the trauma, fled with her children to another part of town, leaving behind a home filled with painful memories.
“I have nothing to tell him,” Yakura says of Rawana. “Not in this world.”
A Call for Justice
Rawana, now living with relatives in Maiduguri, continues to evade meaningful accountability. While his whereabouts are known, his freedom is a stark reminder of the challenges victims’ families face in their quest for justice.
Fanna’s story is a devastating reflection of how deeply rooted societal norms and systemic failings perpetuate gender-based violence. As her community mourns, her tragic death should serve as a rallying cry for reforms to ensure that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are held to account.
The fight against femicide and honour killings in Nigeria is far from over, but Fanna’s memory must not fade into oblivion. Her story is a call to action – a demand for justice and a commitment to creating a society where no woman’s life is cut short in the name of honour.
Culled from HumAngle
