The women and all participants who included Tonto Dikeh, Mercy Aigbe , Toke Makinwa and some actresses, had converged on Falomo, Ikoyi , Lagos for the peaceful walk against Domestic Violence to take off.
According to reports by Kemiashefonlovehaven, the rally did take off at 10am and the convener, wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi took the lead, held the long and big banner which had the inscription, “Stop The Violence Against Women” and others joined her.
As they walked on, they sang and others chorused.
Suddenly, Tonto Dikeh started weeping profusely.
The participants stopped and most of the women in front rallied round Tonto Dikeh! The Queen of Ife Kingdom, Olori Wuraola held on tightly to Tonto who wept the more. Before Tonto could be pacified, Mercy Aigbe too joined her in weeping and some women around them including veteran actress, Sola Sobowale, trying to calm the weeping actresses.
Tonto Dikeh and Mercy Aigbe who are top Nollywood actresses have alleged being victims of Domestic Violence in their marriages and had cried out. Mercy, who was battered in April 2017, had reported to the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and the Anti Domestic Violence Unit had taken up her case. Her husband, Lanre Gentry, was arrested, imprisoned but released on bail and would appear in court again in July.
For Tonto, who had presented evidence of being battered by her husband Olakunle Churchill during an interview with an online news portal, Media Room Hub, life had become more of a social media ‘unending series’ since January 2017 when she reverted to her maiden name and moved out of her matrimonial home.
Her customary marriage had been annulled by her family and that of her husband on Tuesday June 27, 2017.
Though both husbands (Mercy’s and Tonto’s) have denied beating these women, the actresses have maintained their stance that they were violated.
Tonto later posted on Instagram:
“Walked for a worthy CAUSE..
Enough is enough!!!
We are Saying NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE..
#protect us not hurt us #love doesn’t hurt #SpeakUp #Society stop shaming Victims,Let them speak,Let them Heal••
#women we can’t be our own enemies,we can’t turn against each other,Women you are not my competiton,I work with you not against you #Women let’s join hands #togetherwecanmakeadifference #together we can put an END to this barbaric Act’
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV-KQuphNm5/?taken-by=kemiashefonlovehaven (sic).