At nine, Obanye Francess survived a devastating acid attack meant for her brother, an act of violence that altered the course of her childhood. In this conversation with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI, she shares her journey of pain, resilience, and the strength it took to keep going with a deformed face
Can you take us through your childhood before the incident that changed your life?
I am from Anambra State. I grew up in a large extended family living in a family house with my father, his brothers, and their families. Although we lived together, each family had separate rooms. I studied Biochemistry at Anambra State University. I am the last child in a family of five.
What actually led to the acid attack?
I remember everything clearly, even though I was nine years old at the time. It happened on November 17, 2004. We lived in a family house where there were constant conflicts between my father and his brothers and their families. There were frequent arguments and threats.
One day, they threatened my parents, saying they would deal with them, but my parents did not take it as seriously as they should have.
At the time, my father was working in Enugu and was not always home. It was mostly my mother, my siblings, and me.
