I Used To Feel Ashamed – 34-year-old Female Conductor With Beards

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2020

Editor

Women are generally known to spot hairless faces when it comes to facial hair but 34-year-old Theresia Mumbi does not enjoy this.

The Nairobi based mother of one who works as a matatu conductor (matatus are privately owned minibuses) recently opened up on the struggles of having a beard in an interview with BBC.

In her chat with the BBC, she disclosed that she has had a lot of hair since her school days.

“I saw having a lot of hair as a normal thing and it didn’t bother me that much,” she said.

At first, she tried shaving off her facial hair when she noticed it was growing but this only made the beard grow back faster so she decided to stop shaving it altogether.

“I found it hard hiding my facial hair by shaving every time. I grew tired and decided to stop shaving altogether.”

Her decision, however, was met with ridicule, stares, and name-calling.

She further reveals that she started job hunting in 2005 after she completed her high school and got a job working as a waitress in a city hotel at the time.

Theresia-Mumbi-NairobiWire-

Things were easy for her at work as the customers were used to her beard but the story was not the same once she stepped outside her workplace. She usually encountered ridicule.

“When at homHO, I never left the house during the day. I would wait till dark to go to shops to buy food. Even though I had no issues at work, I used to feel ashamed of my neighbours gossiping about my beard,” said Mumbi.

She also narrated an unforgettable encounter she had at the hands of police while working as a matatu tout.

After failing to pay Sh400 bribe to the cops, she was arrested and locked up with other female remandees. However, a policewoman started questioning her gender and ordered her to strip.

“We are not sure about your gender and we suspect that you might be a man, so we would like to frisk you to ascertain your gender,” Mumbi was told.

This experience she said made her question God on why she was created with a beard. The ridicule has also given her suicidal thoughts but she says her 7-year-old son gave her a reason to live.

Mumbi reveals that at a point, she decided to seek medical help for her condition and was informed that it was caused by hormonal imbalance.

(Nairobi Wire Via Guardian)

PHOTO: File

JUST IN: Terrorists Kill Vigilantes, Abduct Two Village Heads, Others In Kaduna

Published

27 mins ago

May 3, 2024

Editor

Some terrorists have reportedly killed eight vigilante members and two other persons in Kakangi and Unguwan Matinja communities in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The village heads of Kakangi and Kisaya villages under Kakangi Ward were also abducted.

A resident of the LG identified as Idris Khalid, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the gun-wielding men invaded the villages at about early Thursday.

The eight vigilante members who were killed in Kakangi were Bala Kamba, Abdurrahman Musa (Ubale), Kabiru Dan Dugui, Hambali Abu, Aliyu Abu, Nura Jika (Maleka), Mubarak Musa (Dan Wamba) and Ikra Hantsi.

Khalid added that the two victims in the Ungwan Matinja community under Gayam Ward were identified as Christopher Abubakar and Isah Gambo.

He said the vigilantes were attacked while trailing the kidnapped victims who were abducted on their way to a burial between Kakangi and Sabon Layi.

“The vigilantes engaged the terrorists, killing scores of them but could not rescue the two traditional rulers and others.

“Normally, anytime there is a kidnap incident, the vigilantes always trail the terrorists to rescue the victims.

“It’s unfortunate that in the process, eight gallant officers of the vigilantes who have been sacrificing in ensuring the safety of our people were lost,” the resident said.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, said, “We are investigating the matter to unravel the true story because the area where the incident happened had a network problem.”

Metro

Court Remands Tenant For Setting Landlord’s House On Fire In Ibadan

Published

14 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Dickson Peter, be remanded in a correction facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged the defendant with two counts of felony and arson.

The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take his plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered that he be remanded in the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo Town.

Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter until July 23, 2024, for reference.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Femi Oluwadare told the court that Peter, on April 18, at about 12:30 am, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the house of his landlord, Cepas Okeme, and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.

Oluwadare said that after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next house property belonging to Bose Ali ‘F’ and destroyed property worth N3.5 million.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Metro

Officer Who Shot Man Dead During Fuel Queue Tumult Identified — Lagos Police

Published

15 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command said it has identified the police officer who shot a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, at a petrol station on Wednesday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Thursday.

He said, “The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.”

Recall that Eniafe was shot on Wednesday at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Eniafe was reported to have been shot dead while he and some others were resisting the move by some security agents to buy fuel without joining the queue.