It was a moment of raw vulnerability as Nigerian media personality and actress, Omotunde Adebowale-David, widely known as Lolo 1, shared her harrowing experience of sexual assault.

During an episode of the Say My Piece podcast, which she co-hosts, Lolo recounted the trauma of being raped by a colleague in the broadcasting industry — an incident that continues to haunt her years later.

In her emotional revelation, Lolo 1 explained that the incident happened six years ago, yet the emotional wounds remain fresh. She admitted that fear of public scrutiny and backlash prevented her from speaking out earlier. “I hardly ever say this, and I am not even ready to tell the full story”, she said, describing the deep pain she carries.

She recalled a recent conversation with her daughter that reopened the wounds. “She held my hand and said, ‘Mummy, you’ve gone through so much,’ and I said I had.” Lolo revealed that the man who assaulted her remains active in the industry and seeing him regularly triggers intense anxiety and panic.

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The actress explained how difficult it is to encounter her abuser, especially now that he holds a prominent television role. “Do you know how traumatised I am? When I see him, I just get into this momentary panic,” she shared, adding that naming him might prompt people to question her timing.

Lolo 1 also spoke on the psychological toll sexual assault takes on women, pointing to common reactions like denial and self-blame. “When sexual assault happens to women, the first thing to happen is denial. The next thing is self-blaming,” she said, giving voice to a reality many survivors face.