Nigerian woman, Zanzibar hotel clash on rape incident
A Nigerian woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted while on holiday in Zanzibar has agreed she accepted $10,000 (about Sh1.1 million shillings) to settle the case out of court.
Zainab Oladehinde narrated on Twitter how she was assaulted at Warere hotel in April 2021.
She’d visited the East African country to celebrate her 23rd birthday.
“At around 12am, a few friends and family called to wish me a happy birthday and I went back to my room to sleep. Few hours into my sleep, I started to feel a strange hand touching my breast,“ she narrates.
She would later ‘feel’ her hand stroking the man’s manhood and realized she wasn’t dreaming. Zainab lied to the man that she had HIV and asked him to use a condom to which he left.
Zainab left her room, tried to get help from the receptionist but was surprised to find the rooms empty. She then went to a Russian couple’s room who she had earlier made friends with.
“Fortunately for me, the room was opened and I ran inside. They woke up almost immediately and I told the guy ‘Alex ‘ how I was strangled and almost got raped in my room. He advised that I stay in his room till we sort out the issue by day break.”
The next day, Zainab reported the case of attempted rape and missing money at Nungwi police station and was told to go to hospital.
“When we got to the hospital, the nurse confirmed that there was no penetration. I got back to the police station and the police men said they have no issue for the sexual assault since I wasn’t raped. That the only issue here was my stolen money.”
The Warere hotel management says they brought her to the police and offered her support immediately they learnt of the accusations.
“The case was brought before Government authorities in April 2021 when it occurred. The police report indicated that this was a personal case, and not negligence on the part of the Warere.”
Additionally, Warere management claims that Zainab declined to take the case further after passing by the Zanzibar Nungwi police, the District Commissioners Office, the Regional Commissioners Office and the office of the Second Vice President of the govt of Zanzibar.
Zainab says she acquired lawyers who asked she be paid the settlement.
“Ms Zainab Oladehinde was informed the hotel would abide by damages rewarded by the court system of Zanzibar.”
The Zanzibar Commission for Toursim said they were displeased by the allegations made and promised to investigate.
“An immediate investigations has commenced and we shall report it’s findings. We condemn any harm or threat to our visitors to the peaceful islands of Zanzibar,” added Hasfa Mbamba, the Executive Director.