In what could only have been a narrative from a horror movie, Cece, an undergraduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, tells DORCAS EGEDE the horror story of how she was abducted for five days by a supposedly movie producer, raped repeatedly and beaten almost to pulp. Please ‘fasten your seat-belt’, as this is not a story for the lilly-livered.
LISTENING to Cece Olatunde (not real name) tell her story was like watching a Hollywood thriller on a larger than life silver screen. If you have never watched a Hollywood movie, where a serial rapist and killer captures his victims and gradually dismembers them after fulfilling his sexual fantasies, you may never fully grasp the ordeal of Cece, 20, a 200-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife.
The beginning
When Bevan Obaseki, a friend and roommate of Cece’s told her about Stevie Abiola Taylor, as a 100-level student in 2016, her joy knew no bounds; she could now feature in a movie or two, as she had always dreamt, she reckoned. “I knew Stevie Abiola Taylor in 2016 through a roommate and friend of mine. She told me he was a film director, producer and a movie caste” Little did Cece know that what began as a harmless introduction was eventually going to end up her worst nightmare.
Bevan had told her of how she met Taylor at the campus gate, where he told her he needed someone of her stature for a movie role. Subsequently, she asked Cece to accompany her to see Taylor. Of course, Cece asked her friend to put in a word for her too. “I told her that if I walked her there, she would help me to also get a role. Eventually, we met him on campus. He told us of some of the actors and actresses he’s worked with, and that he’s very professional and not into dirty games.”
Cece had no reason to suspect or doubt him because, “He speaks very good English.” Her social media checks also confirmed his claims, so she relaxed and even referred some of her friends to him. “The second time I met him that year was when he told me he needed a model. I told him I had a slim friend, Jane and took him to her hostel. After they spoke, he offered to take me back to my hostel.”
But as they returned, Taylor made sexual advances at her, sparking her suspicion and subsequent mistrust. “He asked me for sex, but I refused. He said okay. But I was very disappointed and told Bevan when I got to the hostel. She just dismissed it with, ‘men sha’, and we laughed over it and forgot about it.”
“After that encounter, I decided to keep my distance. The last time I saw him on campus that year was at Eco Bank. He was driving past, saw me on ATM queue and stopped. I went to the car to say ‘hello’ and he introduced a lady to me as his fiancée. I greeted her and left.”
Even though she had cut out physical meetings with him, Taylor still sent whatsapp broadcast messages. “He used to send me broadcast messages through whatsapp, but I always declined because I’m not in the location he said the movie would be shot. My friend Bevan featured in one of the movies. She only showed me the trailer but I’ve never seen it on air.”
Day one, Tuesday, 22nd May
Subsequently, Cece said she deleted Taylor’s phone number after a while, so when on the 22nd of May 2018, her phone rang, she picked it before she realised who it was. “Just back from class, I was resting in my room when my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I picked up the phone and the voice on the other end said, ‘Stevie Abiola Taylor.’ He said he needed my voice for a broadcast section at Oduduwa FM and I should come quickly because he was in a hurry. I told my roommate where I was going. She had wanted to follow me, but she had a visitor and asked me to go and come back in time.
“Since Oduduwa FM wasn’t far away, I boarded a bike. On getting there, he called to say he had already left the place and that I should meet him at Zenith Bank, Lagere. When I got to Zenith Bank, he was in a black car. There was a chief at the driver’s seat and the chief’s wife was on the passenger’s seat. He came out and requested me to get in the car, so we could talk business, but I told him I preferred outside. He however insisted, saying the road was too busy.
On a second thought, Cece said “When I looked into the car and saw the old people, I felt safe and got in. The chief started moving the car and I asked where we were going, he said Ilesha. I asked where that was, that I’d never been there. He told me not to worry, that it’s just a 30-minute drive from Ile-Ife, and that he would take me back to Ife after showing me his personal studio.
“I was out of airtime, so I couldn’t contact my roommate to tell her my whereabouts. In the car, he was just asking me what topic I’d like to talk about if I were to go on air. He asked if I was into politics, celebrities and all. I suspected he was using the period to take my mind off the fact that he was taking me somewhere I didn’t know.
“When we got to Ilesha, the chief dropped us at the road close to his place. He claimed that was his car and the chief only borrowed it because his broke down. He offered to buy me beer, I told him I didn’t want any beer that he should just show me what he wanted to show me, so I could return to school. I bought an MTN recharge card, and as I was loading it, he was like I shouldn’t be disappointed that it’s a small flat he turned into a studio.
“It was dark in the flat when we entered, since it was already evening. He showed me camera light, piano, camera. He told me he has about five personal assistants, who came with him to Ilesha to shoot a movie. He said they would soon be around. By this time, I had finished loading the card and was about to dial my roommate’s number, when he came into the living room from an inner room. He locked the door and ordered me to switch off my phone. I asked why and he said “It’s an order.” I switched off the phone out of fear. Apart from the wicked look in his eyes, he was trying to bring out something from his pant pocket.
“He told me that if I wanted to get something, I’d have to give up something. I laughed, a mirthless laughter. Is this why you brought me to Ilesha? I asked, surprised. Please, let me start going back to my hostel. He slapped me. It looked like a dream. Before I could recover from this first slap, he landed me another one. He told me to strip. I tried to protest and he held my neck, trying to suffocate me. He told me that I shouldn’t try to fight him; else he would just kill me. He said he learnt kung-fu and knows exactly where to touch to make me pass out. Then, he seized my phone.
“I stripped after several slaps and an attempt to snuff life out of me. After I had stripped, he asked why I told Bevan that he wanted to sleep with me; that didn’t I know he and Bevan were dating? I told him I didn’t know because he had introduced someone else to me as his fiances. Then he told me I’m a fool and started slapping and punching me. He said he had hated me since then.
“Then there was a knock on the door. He told me to get into the room. I asked him if I could take my clothes, but he just gathered them and walked away.
“I heard him talking with someone he addressed as Segun. I was later to discover he was his PA. After speaking with Segun, he came into the room to ask me if I had any money in my account. I told him I had only N6,000; he brought my purse from the palour, searched out my ATM card and asked me for the PIN. Then he gave the card to Segun to go and withdraw the money.
After Segun had gone, he came back to the room. “You told me your parents live in Lagos, right? He said he rules the whole 36 states and that just one phone call and my family would be wiped out. He said he was going to butcher me. Again, he asked why I told Bevan he asked to have sex with me. He slapped me again, and I shouted, Jesus! He almost broke a bottle on my head. He beat me till I was on the floor and was hitting my head on the floor so hard.” At this point, Cece broke down. It was as if she was feeling the pain of his action all over.
“I tried struggling with him for the bottle, he held on to my neck and pressed so hard, I chocked. He said he knew all the policemen in the whole of Ilesha and could even give me an officer’s number. He added that his girlfriend is even a police officer.
“After more serious beating, he handed me my clothes and asked me to put them on and leave. He however vowed to me that I would never graduate from OAU. As I made to wear my clothes, another round of beating started. “You really want to leave, right? I said, ‘But you just asked me to wear my clothes and leave.” He beat me to the point that I had no strength to fight again.
“Segun soon returned with the cash and ATM card. I guess the money they got from my account was what Segun used in cooking that night. Then, Taylor went to meet Segun in the kitchen and I overheard him saying that he was going to treat my fuck-up. I was naked all along, until he came to give me a rag to tie around my body. Before bedtime, he switched on my phone and my roommate’s call came through, but he didn’t allow me take the call before he switched it off again.
“He raped me that night. I tried to fight him to no avail. Every time I put up a resistance, he dealt a heavy punch to my stomach. It was pointless calling out to Segun for help because just before bedtime, I had heard Segun tell Taylor, “We’re in this together.” I was alone in this, and nobody knew where I was.
“After the deed, he slept off, while I stayed awake, afraid for my life. I thought that this was the end. All night long, I lay awake, staring into the ceiling while he slept. I kept thinking that I was going to end up dead with no one knowing my whereabouts. The bed in which both of us slept was just slightly bigger than a school-size bed.
“Just before dawn, he raped me again. This time, there was no fight left in me. At some point he said, “You’re not allowing me into your vagina,” then he tossed me over and forced his way into my anus. It was extremely painful. I’d never experienced that kind of pain all my life. I cried uncontrollably.” She recounted, crying uncontrollably still.
Day 2, Wednesday, 23rd May
“After forcing himself into my anus, he looked at me and asked how old I was. I lied that I was 19. He said his first son is 21, two years older than I am. He said he was feeling sorry for me and feeling like one agbaya (irresponsible adult).” This gave Cece a dint of hope. “I felt he was already feeling sorry for me when he said I shouldn’t worry, I was going to leave that day.
“Then he stood up and went to the living room to talk with Segun. He always locked me in the room every time he went to the kitchen or living room. So, I knocked to get their attention. I went to ease myself and came back through the parlour. He stopped me to ask if I knew what he was discussing with Segun. He said he told Segun that he was feeling like an agbaya, and feeling sorry for me. My hope increased.
“Taylor went out shortly, leaving me with Segun. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t find sleep. So, I went to the kitchen to ask Segun if I could help with the cooking. He was preparing rice for breakfast. He said I shouldn’t worry. So, I sat in the living room, crying. While I was there, a lady came into the house to take something, saw me crying, but left without saying anything. That’s how I knew that his neighbours probably knew about what he was doing but refused to expose him. I remembered him telling me this wasn’t his first time and that however loud I screamed, his neighbours would just think he was beating one of his girlfriends. So the manner in which the girl came in and went out, as if she didn’t see anything, convinced me I could never get help from the neighbourhood. This made me more afraid.
“When Segun finished cooking, he gave me the food, but I couldn’t eat. Soon, Taylor returned and Segun told him I was crying. He started beating me again, saying that by crying, I was making it look like I was being held hostage. He took me back into the room, locked me in and went out with Segun. I tried opening the window. Just then, he came back and asked why I opened the window. I told him I didn’t know that opening the window would offend him. “You want to shout for help, right? But there’s nobody that’s going to help you.” He shouted angrily and started the beating again.
Later he started downloading porn on my phone and told me to come and watch with him. I told him I don’t watch porn. He asked who bought me the phone, I told him my dad. He said, “There are some restrictions on your phone, right? I’m going to remove them.”
He said. He told me I didn’t have any choice but watch with him. He went into the parlour to watch, and when he returned, it was another experience entirely. He forced himself on me again, claiming it was punishment for refusing to watch porn with him.
The next thing Taylor said was completely shocking and unexpected. “For opening the window, you have implicated your roommate,” he told her flatly.
“He picked up my phone and dialed her number. He accused me of having told my roommate about him. I told him I had not. Then he asked how my roommate knew I was going to Oduduwa FM; I told him I only told her I was going there for recording. He said I should tell her that he needs her voice too for the recording. I told him I didn’t want to get anyone involved in this. He said he didn’t care, that I already involved her.
“When she picked up, he put the phone on loudspeaker. I told her everything he instructed me to say. She refused at first, asking, “What will I come and do in Ilesha? I’m not sure about this.’ She dropped the call. He told me to make sure I bring her down to Ilesha, if not he would butcher me and throw my parts into the pit toilet. He has a pit toilet big enough to take a human being. According to his friend, Ola, he had removed the water closet in his flat to create the pit toilet.
“Taylor said he would throw my butchered parts into the pit toilet, pour acid on it and nobody would know I was ever there. He dialed the number again. This time, I pressurized my roommate to come. He too took the phone and spoke to her. She asked him to give the phone back to me and asked me if I was sure about it. She asked this question repeatedly, and I kept telling her I was sure.
“But before she dropped the call, Taylor was distracted because he was talking with Segun. I tried to use that opportunity to warn her not to come, but she didn’t hear me. Taylor and Segun heard me, and he quickly ran to my side to collect the phone and directed her on how to get to Ilesha from Ife before ending the call.
“This triggered another round of beating. He went to bring his cutlass and flogged me with it so badly. Soon, my roommate called that she was already in Ilesha and wanted to know where she would drop. He sent her a message through my phone that she should drop at the last bus stop. After this, he told Segun to tie me hand and feet, gag me, and keep me in his pit toilet. He said that as he’s going to get my roommate, he doesn’t trust me not to begin to shout “don’t come, don’t come” before she enters the flat. Segun did as he had been instructed and bundled me into the pit toilet. I was there till my roommate entered.
“I overheard her asking them where I was, at the same time my phone rang. She was the one calling. Taylor asked her, ‘You’re calling her? She’s tied up somewhere.’ Later, he told Segun to bring me out. When he brought me out, my roommate was scared. She started asking me what I did. Taylor told her that I stole his N150,000, laptop and two cameras. She was shocked to hear that and looked from me to him in confusion. Then, he was like, ‘You’re shocked, right? That’s what I’m going to tell the police if they eventually find out.’
“My roommate asked again what my offence really was and why she was there. He didn’t tell her what my real offence was, but he told her that she was there to bail me out, and asked how much she had in her account. She said N49,000. Then he asked if she could trade N40,000 for me. She told him there was no problem. She brought out her ATM card, which he gave to Segun and told them the PIN.
“After Segun had left for the bank, Taylor asked me to go and have my bath, my first since I got there the evening before. After I had my bath, Segun brought me the leftover food I didn’t eat in the morning. I still couldn’t eat the food. All this while, my friend was just looking at me, shocked. She couldn’t even say a word.
“There was a time Taylor looked at me that night and sent me into the room, saying that I was looking at him like a possessed child. He asked what kind of witchcraft my father gave to me, and another round of beating started in front of my roommate. She got scared and said she wanted to urinate. Taylor told her that if she made any noise, he would involve her in the beating. She couldn’t say anything. She was just vibrating on the chair.
“Segun soon returned with all the money in my roommate’s account, N49,000. Later on, Taylor told me that he couldn’t bear to look at my face again that I should go inside the room and sleep. He told Segun to stay in the room with me. I think he raped my roommate that night. I remember her telling me later, ‘Your own is that he beats you, at least you slept at night.’”
Day three, Thursday, 24th May
“Taylor told my roommate we were going to go home that day and that he would pay her back her N49,000, but that if he didn’t pay, I would be the one to pay. He had told us on Wednesday night that we would leave Thursday morning. Morning came, and he came up with the excuse that my eyes were swollen and that I’m making him look bad. He said he wouldn’t allow us go until I was looking better.”
In what was another emotional rollercoaster ride, Taylor told Segun to massage Cece’s eyes, so that it would look good enough for them to go home. Happy that they would go home soon, the girls did everything he said, so that he wouldn’t change his mind. “Segun used hot water to massage my face, but Taylor kept beating me, because according to him, my eyes were swollen.
“He then said his brother was to wed the next day and he needed money because he could not go to his brother’s wedding without money. He asked us how we could make money.”
“As if to scare us the more, he told us he was the first person to start yahoo business and wasn’t scared to kill, and that this won’t be his first time of killing. He said the blood we saw on the bed sheet belonged to someone. He said he once stopped Osun State governor’s convoy before; that he knew Evans (the kidnapper) one-on-one and that one thing he’s got going for him was his celebrity status. He also taunted us that nobody would believe that he did such things to us.”
All the girls’ plea to him to let them go fell on deaf ears, as he continued to boast about being invincible and untouchable. “We told him we wouldn’t tell anybody. He asked how I would explain my swollen face. I told him I wasn’t going to leave my hostel until I was okay. He said he didn’t trust me.
“From releasing us in the morning, he pushed it forward to evening. That evening, he asked if we wanted to drink anything, we said no. He got angry. So, my roommate just said we should agree for him to bring whatever he wanted to give us. He brought two bottles of big stout, but ended up finishing it himself.
“Later, he asked if we wanted to go outside, because we looked bored. The loud mouth that I was, I said we want to go outside that I’d been indoors for so many days. He just started laughing and said that I wanted to go and show the whole world my face. He started beating me again. This time, he flogged me with his cutlass, screaming, ‘Do you think I care about people? I don’t fucking care.’
“When this round of beating started, my roommate shouted. He told her if he heard another sound from her, he would kill me and if he killed me, he won’t have a choice but to kill her too. I wasn’t wearing clothes, the rag he gave me to tie came off as he was flogging me, but he continued. As he flogged, me he also punched, as if I was in a fist fight with him.
“That put an end to our hope of going home that day.”
To be continued next Sunday