At a time when it is assumed that discrimination against people living with disabilities has drastically reduced, a Nigerian lady who had one of her limbs amputated has shared her recent discrimination experience at a church she attended.

Although it is not new to hear about cases of discrimination against people living with disabilities, it is least expected that such case could rare its ugly head in a Church where it is believed that the core message there revolves around loving one’s neighbour as one’s self.

The lady identified as Olivia Malachy shared her experience via an Instagram post.

Recounting her ordeal, Olivia said during a prayer session at the undisclosed church, the pastor instructed them to hold the hand of the person close to them for prayer, but she was rejected by the lady close to her because she has just one limb.

She said the incident left her heartbroken.

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She wrote:

“My experience in one church the other day (name of the church withheld) a female church member refused to hold my hand because am an amputee, we were asked by the pastor to hold each other’s hands in prayer, so I held the hand of the person sitting next to me, after the first round of prayer we were asked to hold another person’s hand and I gave this fine sister my hand, ???she was like bring the second hand and I told her I have problem with my hand, OMO na so the sisi quickly dropped my hand, and I asked her what the problem was? She said my hands were not complete and she left and went in search of a complete hand, I was heartbroken though but I can’t come and kill myself, I believe am going to hug thousands of people maybe not with two hands but with a Golden heart…

“Moral! No man can LOVE YOU LIKE.” (sic)

With the signing of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January, the lady risks sanctions like fines or a jail term if the case is reported to security operatives.

The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and imposes sanctions including fines and prison sentences on those who contravene it

See her IG post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

My experience in one church the other day (name of the church withheld) a female church member refused to hold my hand because am an amputee, we were asked by the pastor to hold each other’s hands in prayer, so I held the hand of the person sitting next to me, after the first round of paryer we were asked to hold another person’s hand and I gave this fine sister my hand, ???she was like bring the second hand and I told her I have problem with my hand, OMO na so the sisi quickly dropped my hand,and I asked her what the problem was? She said my hands were not complete and she left and went in search of a complete hand, I was heart broken though but I can’t come and kill myself, I believe am going to hug thousands of people maybe not with two hands but with a Golden heart… . . Moral! No man can LOVE YOU LIKE GOD? #Superwoman

A post shared by SUPERWOMAN (@olivia_malachy) on Aug 9, 2019 at 5:33am PDT