Governor’s wife outraged as man mutilates wife for rituals
The First Lady of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, expressed deep sadness over a recent incident where a man allegedly gouged out his wife’s eyes for ritual purposes early Sunday morning in Umuahia.
The man, identified as Lawrence Uzor, an aluminum worker from Umuchieze in Bende Local Government Area, but residing at Adiele Estate in Umueze Ibeku, Umuahia North, reportedly used a knife to remove his wife’s eyes while she was asleep at around 1 a.m.
According to the couple’s landlady, Madam Lovejane Nwaiwu, who was also admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia after sustaining injuries to her hand and mouth inflicted by the man, she told journalists, “Around 10 p.m. on Saturday, I heard the man shouting ‘Odogwu, Odogwu (mighty, mighty).’ I became concerned, as I had never heard the man and his wife, Amarachi Lawrence, praying like that before.”
“I started praying for them. After that, I couldn’t sleep until about midnight and felt restless. At around 1 a.m., the wife, who is a teacher at one of the foremost private schools in Umuahia and 38 years old, started shouting, ‘Mummy, I have been killed!’ I opened my door, went out, and peeped through their bedroom window. I saw the man pinning his wife down with a knife in his hand.
“I began banging on people’s gates and calling out to the Umueze community, but no one came out or responded. After several attempts to get the neighbors to help with no response, I went to their parlor door and started knocking. Suddenly, he opened the door, still holding the knife, and tried to cut my head, but I blocked the blow with my hand. He cut my hand and then slashed at my face, which resulted in a wound on my mouth and caused some of my upper teeth to fall out.
“I ran into my house and locked the door, while he ran outside, locked our gate, and went to a neighbor’s house to tell them that he had killed his wife and his landlady. While inside my room, I called my mother and my daughter, who then contacted a church neighbor and the community vigilance team. They rushed to the neighbor’s house and apprehended him.”
Speaking at the Federal Medical Centre, where the victims are being treated, Mrs. Otti expressed deep sadness over the incident, which occurred just a few days after she signed a compact agreement with the UNFPA on gender-based violence. She stated, “This is a terrible case of violence, attempted murder, and brutality,” adding that she would take immediate action to ensure Mrs. Lawrence receives proper care and protection.
Mrs. Otti also assured the state that she would see to it that the GBV response team and front desk take appropriate actions. She commended the Umueze Ibeku community for their response and support in addressing the issue. The Abia First Lady further donated cash for the treatment and upkeep of the victims.
Earlier in his response, the Medical Director of FMC Umuahia, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, represented by the Director of Medical Services, Mrs. Aisha Onyemaobi, explained to Mrs. Otti that reports indicated the main victim, Mrs. Lawrence (38 years old), was deeply asleep when her husband woke her up and began attacking her. He added, “There was an attempt to gouge out her eyes, and she suffered genital mutilation,” while confirming that the suspect is in custody.
Onyemaobi further disclosed that they expect good progress in her recovery.
The victim’s sister, Ijeoma Okpokiri, and her cousin, Chioma Okpokiri, both from Emede Ibeku, pleaded with the Inspector General of Police and the government at all levels, particularly the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to look into the matter and to assist in their sister’s recovery.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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