Women, the world over, are described as homemakers, custodians of
social, cultural and fundamental values of the society. In Nigeria, however,
many of them are violently treated by their intimate partners. While some take
the form of physical abuse, others are sexual, psychological or arbitrary
deprivation of liberty. In extreme cases, those in this “hell” often suffer in
silence, and could be sent to their untimely grave, reports ISIOMA MADIKE
For every woman, who is violently attacked, we reduce our humanity
—Nelson Mandela
Marriage in Nigeria, in most cases, is not pleasurable. This has led many to
often describe it as hell on earth, with some couples enduring and suffering
the excesses of their partners in silence. At present, no day passes without
screaming headlines of the news media of some mind-boggling tales of domestic
violence in and around the country. This, indeed, has somehow turned many
Nigerian women into endangered species. Many are wondering how, a man, who,
during courtship promised to cherish and take care of his woman could later
turn her tormentor.
Majority of marriages have also degenerated into humiliation. While in other
cases, a promised love has suddenly taken flight and replaced by hate and
violence. Is it not strange that a man could hit a woman so violently as to
maim, or even send her to untimely grave? This was the puzzle a couple of weeks
back that returned Plateau State back in the news. Benjamin Toma, a resident of
Foron junction in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state on March 4, at
about 7:30 p.m., reportedly beat his wife, Victoria, aged 25, to death.
He, thereafter, hung her lifeless body to give the impression that she
committed suicide. The state Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, who
confirmed the incident, said Toma took such phony decision to cover up what he
did. However, investigations have revealed that Toma took such a heinous action
because of his wife’s purported refusal to summit herself to sexual
intercourse. It was also gathered from a reliable source that the suspect is
allegedly infected with the dreaded Human Immuno Virus (HIV).
This, according to the source, was why his wife had consistently denied him
sex. “On the 04/03/2014, at about 7:30 hours, Chuwang Sambo of Larwa village in
Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government, reported that one Benjamin
Toma of Foron junction, also in Barkin Ladi, beat his wife, Victoria aged 25, to
death and later hung her body” the police boss confirmed.
While mouths were still agape over what happened in the Plateau, another man
in Jerin Duwatsu village in Zamfara, Mallam Umar, got into Police net for
slapping his wife, Inno, to death. The incident, according to the village head,
Magaji Hamidu, occurred when the deceased protested against the alleged
perpetual injustice shown by the husband in favouring the senior wife on issues
relating to matrimonial affairs.
Read more accounts of hellish marriage
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