How 3 of my uncles abused me from age 6 to 13 — Media personality Dior Adiele

Media personality Dior Adiele has spoken candidly about the painful experiences she endured while growing up, including alleged abuse, family struggles and the lasting impact of her childhood.

Speaking during a recent episode of the Talk to B podcast, Adiele revealed that she was allegedly abused on several occasions by three different uncles between the ages of six and 13.

She said the experiences occurred despite her parents’ efforts to keep her protected within the family home.

‘What they tried to protect me from happened inside’

Adiele explained that growing up in a traditional Igbo household came with different rules for her and her brother.

According to her, her brother was given more freedom because he was considered the family’s heir, while she was often prevented from going outside.

She said the restrictions, which were intended to protect her, inadvertently created circumstances where she suffered abuse within the home.

“Imagine being locked in a four-bedroom flat, and the things that they thought they were protecting me from by not letting me go out to play now started to happen to me inside the house, like right under their noses. Like if they were even paying attention, they would have found out.”

The media personality stressed that the alleged abuse was not a single occurrence, saying it continued for several years and involved three different uncles.

“Because it wasn’t once. It wasn’t twice. It wasn’t even… It was three different, on several occasions. It wasn’t a one-time thing. From six going on seven till I was 13.”

Smoking, pregnancy and her turning point

Reflecting on her teenage years, Adiele revealed that she began smoking when she was about 13 years old.

She said she continued the habit until she became pregnant at the age of 20, describing her pregnancy as the turning point that eventually made her stop.

Adiele also discussed the difficulties faced by her brother, whom she described as intelligent and talented.

She recalled noticing changes in his behaviour after he returned from school, adding that the family later sought help for him.

According to her, her mother twice removed him from rehabilitation centres and took him to church because she believed his condition was spiritual.

Adiele alleged that her brother later became violent towards their mother. She recalled an incident where he allegedly held their mother by the neck and attempted to throw her from upstairs.

Despite the painful experiences she associates with her upbringing, Adiele maintained that she loves her parents but believes they should acknowledge their mistakes.

“I love my parents, but I’m not going to erase their failure. I wouldn’t have come out to talk about it if they had taken accountability.”