'My brother-in-law raped me, now my husband's family blame me'

Benjamin is the Black Sheep of the family and a good-for-nothing loafer who believes he should be taken care of my other family members even though he is above 30.

Benjamin dropped out of the university because of his cult activities and since then, he has refused to be useful to himself. He goes after each of his siblings and makes trouble for them whenever they refuse to give him money.

In all of these, his mother and other family members still pamper him because he is the last child of the family and I think they are afraid of him and what he can do to them if they get him angry.

He is so rough and uncouth that they are practically afraid of him. All he is after is getting drunk, running after women even though he does not have a job. He has been arrested several times over allegations of rape, fighting, and stealing.

I knew there was going to be trouble when he came to our house and after spending a week and there was no sign of his leaving, I asked my husband, , when his brother would leave.

But Victor told me he would stay for some time as his siblings had all agreed that he should leave home for some time so that their mother does not die an untimely death because of his problems.

But his stay has been a nightmare for me as he wants me to do everything for him; Benjamin wants me to wash his clothes, clean his room as well as make his meals and serve him.

If I refuse to do those things, Benjamin would get angry and had even threatened to beat me up on more than three occasions. Whenever I complain to my husband, he would tell me to be patient and play along with him.

But he took the liberty too far when Victor traveled to see the mother. That day, Benjamin had gone out very early in the morning and by 9 pm, he had still not returned.

I was worried and called him to find out where he was as it was getting late but he warned me not to disturb him, saying he is a man and can stay out as long as he wanted.

At about 12 am, I was aroused from my sleep with loud knocks on the door. Before I could get to the door, I heard Benjamin's voice threatening to break down the door if I refused to open the door for him.

I was still groggy from sleep when I opened the door and a drunk Benjamin stumbled in and landed a slap on my face for keeping him locked out. Before I could gather myself, Benjamin punched me and floored me on the floor.

I was still dazed from the punch when he tore my clothes and before I knew it, my brother-in-law had pounced on him and forcefully raped me. I was trying my best to get him off me but he was too strong.

I cried, begged him and screamed but no help came till he was done and staggered to his room. I laid there in a heap and cried so much, wishing it was all a dream and that I was dead.

I called my husband to tell him what his brother had done but he told me to keep calm and not tell anyone what happened. I was shocked that Victor could say that.

In the morning, I went to the police and laid a complaint and I was given two officers who went home with me and arrested Benjamin. He was locked up for four days before he was charged to court and remanded in prison custody.

But my problem now is that my husband's family are blaming me for reporting Benjamin to the police, saying I should have allowed the family to deal with the issue.

All of them, including my own husband, say I want their brother to be jailed and everyone wants me to withdraw the case so they can handle it within the family.

But my lawyer and some human rights activists say I should never withdraw the case as they are willing to fight for me. The most annoying thing is that my husband who should fight for me has issued me an ultimatum that if I do not withdraw the case, he ould divorce me.

Patricia."

Dear readers, after going through Patricia's case on Morning Teaser today, do you think she did the right thing by reporting the rape to the police? Should she have kept quiet and allowed the family to handle the matter?