"An open letter from  Michale Mathew"

Dear Reader

I write to say a big thank you to all who helped via social media, physical presence, through calls and in one way or the order to ensure we found the boys who engaged in a show of shame on my office street in Ikoyi yesterday.

Within twenty four hours of sending my ordeal and concern out I had gotten the Lagos State Government with its various parastatals to come out and get help for the girls of the Senior high school who had the last day of school as a final year student marred as the day that should bring rejoicing that one phase was over now was made sad and frightful by nasty boys bent on perpetrating mayhem and assault with the attendant result being rape. Rape is a violation of a ones personal right to choose.

Suffice to say we have the Governor's office working with the school authorities to proffer ways to mitigate this menace at the school. Also we had the social workers from the LASG also on ground, the RRS team where there with armed personnel to provide security. The SA to the Governor on Education personally handled the matter of the boys that had been found and his team are working with them on rounding up the others as the boys have given their report which includes the names of the other main culprits. My personal thanks goes to Dione Obodo who rallied her troops, All her social media persons, Bimpe Benson, Olugbenga Adeboye. Titi Solarin, Lanre Olumofe. Okaima Ohizua, Eucharia Amanambu, Rasheed Adegoke, Maryam Idiahi, Mr Tunde Fowler, Mr Yinka Oniwinde. Your personal efforts, guidance calls and time spent in ensuring we did it right and quickly is most appreciated.

Special thanks to others who rose up to help from the various arms of Lagos state government, The Permanent Secretary/Tutor General District Three, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Coordinator Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, my FGGC Bakori school mates especially my northern sisters who kept calling to arrange various quick help. The NACCRAN members, the alumni of the Ireti Grammar school who were deeply concerned for their old School. Others who posted, twitted, what's app and generally kept sharing till the needful was done. My immense thank you.

Finally I thank my family, who encourage me to be the best of me. Your unconditional love gives me wings. And my deep thanks goes to the reason it was easy to respond quickly to such an act. My children, Jossh, Lehroi but the final kudos go to Leyza who turned 18 yesterday but spent her time helping share and listen to my ordeal instead of fully celebrating her day as I spent it at the schools and police station for the most part and for whom it's easy to understand the current mindset of a teenage girl these days.

Thank you to all the Nigerians here and in the diaspora. Thank you for responding quickly via social media, we are country of over 160 million Nigerians and sometimes a few people can want to make us all look bad but collectively I find us the most large hearted and kind persons ever and for this I am truly grateful.

I am committed to working with the Lagos state government and other well meaning bodies in a concerted manner and please watch this space as we will be calling on all well meaning Nigerians who have indicated an interest during this time to help to join us. Am sure we all know there is a lot to do. Details of an email address and how to participate will be made available shortly. I have always given back to my community and also mentored but I think my work has been cut out for me.

God bless Nigeria.

Michale Matthew.