Mercy Abang

Mercy Abang in 2017

Mercy Banku Abang (born 20 September, 1984) is a Nigerian journalist. She is known for her self-funded journalism focused on vulnerable populations. She is described as one of Nigeria's most syndicated freelance journalists and Nigeria's most syndicated storyteller. She started her education at the Holy Child (Convent) Primary School and then her secondary school at the Holy Child Secondary School (Mount Carmel), located in Igoli- Ogoja.

Quotes

• Tweeting for me is a hobby and not what I do my whole life. I’ve had people ask me if I have a day job and if I go.
  • Her reply when asked if she gets time to rest and have her alone moments (9 August 2014)

• It’s the number of people who don’t know me that I can join in to do a thing or two for those who need them even more than I do.
  • The most emotional part of doing her work (9 August 2014)

• Experts say most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles, or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances, such as “friends” of the family, babysitters, or neighbours; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.
  • Mercy Abang‎: Sexual predators on the prowl, Nigeria​n kids the target (26 December 2017)

• Challenge is not forgetting who you are and what you stand for and also ensure that when you are a plumber you wear the hat of one and when you then become a mechanic the next day, you do same.
  • Talking about Most challenges faced when working either in politics, advocacy or media. (August 2014)

• We need men to look at what women can offer and to hand them the baton to thrive.
  • Rising above challenges (9 August 2022)

• I’d say I am lucky being married to a man who understands what I do and sure does appreciate me as a wife who sometimes moves from city to city.
  • How she balances her job and the home front without any suffering (2014)

• On the 5th of January 2018 scores of people went missing with 9 soldiers killed when Boko Haram attacked Kannama near Geidam. The likes of Falmata Shettima continue to live precarious lives in spite of the seeming degrading of Boko Haram.
  • Quoted from one of her reports titled: Restoring Hope to Boko Haram’s Theatre of War (12 February 2018)

• Monitoring elections. I mean the entire process of democracy and where we are today as a people and a nation.
  • Particular experience of her job that has made the most impact on her. (9 August 2014)

• She condemned police and military “brutality” across the country, and a “generalised system of impunity.
  • UN calls for urgent action to end violence in Nigeria (2 September 2019)

• I take a deep breath and think outside the box.
  • Her feelings when she meets gridlocks (August 2014)

• I think it was while I practised as a field reporter on television; I went for an assignment and I needed the speech.
  • Embarrassing moment in the course of her work (August 2014)