In Nigeria, women and girls are subjected to multiple forms of violence in the home ranging from deprivation, starvation hitting, suffocating, burning, acid baths, poisoning, neglect, lack of care, verbal insults, degrading comments, torture and intimidation, female genital mutilation, child marriage, child abuse, denial, neglect, deprivation and abandonment. Here are some prominent cases reviewed to mark the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Osinachi Nwachukwu
The death of one of Nigeria’s leading gospel music artistes, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who was allegedly battered to death by her husband, has elicited nationwide outcry. Christian leaders have since risen in outright condemnation of the dastardly act, with many calling for her husband to face the hangman. Her death however, revealed the scary statistics of women who are subjected to inhumane and violent treatment in the hands of their spouses.
Solape Oladipupo
Not many Nigerians will forget in a hurry the tragic story of an airwoman, Solape Oladipupo, aka Shomzy Shomzy, killed by her lover, airman Kalu Bernard in March, 2017.
Kalu purportedly killed Oladipupo at her Corporal and Below Quarters, Compound 9, Air Force Base, Makurdi, Benue State on the suspicion that she was having a romantic affair with another man.
He was reported to have shot Oladipupo in the neck at close range. Oladipupo, 21, was rushed to the NAF Hospital at the base and later transferred to the state hospital, where she eventually died.
Maureen Adejo
A bank worker, Mr. Olaoluwa Adejo, was arrested by the police in Lagos for killing his 28-year-old wife, Maureen at their home on Peluola Street, in the Bariga area of the state.
The 32-year-old Lagos indigene was accused of beating his wife of five years with a belt, as well as injuring her with a machete.
The couple’s five-year-old son, Richard, who reportedly witnessed the violence, said his father also forced a local insecticide, ‘otapiapia’, down the throat of his mother.
But the 83-year-old mother of the suspect, Florence Adejo, denied that her son murdered Maureen.
She said her son came to her house on the night of the incident, fell on the ground and started weeping that his wife had destroyed him by consuming a local insecticide.
Lucy Joshua
In the Gboko incident, one 33-year-old Joshua Terkaa-Uhir, allegedly massacred his wife, Lucy, with an axe after accusing her of infidelity.
Joshua and Lucy, a hairdresser, were married for about six years and their marriage was blessed with two children. The victim was rushed to the Gboko General Hospital where she was confirmed dead by a doctor.
Fidelia Everitus
While Nigerians were celebrating Christmas in their homes, a retired boxer, identified only as Everitus, resumed training using his wife, Fidelia, as a sparring partner.
According to the police, the ex-boxer attacked his wife during a disagreement at their home in Uli, in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and beat her to death.
The police in Anambra State have launched a manhunt for him. Fidelia, a trader, had demanded money for Christmas food from the husband when an argument ensued between them.
As the argument worsened, Everitus was alleged to have beaten her to a pulp. It was gathered that immediately the woman died, the ex-boxer fled the community.
Some youths in the area who got wind of the incident were said to have vented their anger on the suspect’s country house in Amamputu village, in the same council area and set it ablaze.
Martha Akpan
Similarly, a man, Mr. Sunday Akpan of Eda Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, killed his wife, Mrs. Martha Akpan.
He was said to have also dumped her remains in a rubbish dump after his evil act. The Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, disclosed this in a statement, adding that investigation revealed that the incident occurred on October 11, 2017.
He explained that Akpan had a misunderstanding with his wife, which led to a fight on the day. Elkana said, “After a tip-off, the command arrested one Sunday Akpan, an elder in the Light of the World Mission Church, Oron Road, Uyo, for the murder of his wife, one Martha.
This is just a few out of many women who have died as a result of violence. Some are still suffering in secrets and some at the point of thier death, the Federal Government ought to take quick decision to tackle this issue and give woman her right.
Comfort Enoch,
Maiduguri, Borno state
