A man, Ekelediri Nwankwo, has been left with severe burns after his wife, Hope Nwala, allegedly poured scalding hot groundnut oil on him during a heated family dispute.
The incident, which occurred on October 11, 2023, revealed a deep-seated family conflict rooted in concerns about the behavior and dress code of the wife’s younger sister, who had been living with the couple.
According to Nwankwo, the dispute had been simmering for some time, primarily due to his concerns about his sister-in-law’s alleged disrespectful behavior and provocative dressing.
Matters escalated when he decided to send his wife’s sister back to her home, providing her with some financial assistance to do so.
However, Nwankwo’s decision met with fierce opposition from his wife, Hope, leading to a heated argument.
The victim noted that the situation took a perplexing turn when his sister-in-law was living with them.
He claimed to have noticed the presence of an unfamiliar man who seemed to be lurking around his wife and her sister.
Fueled by growing suspicion, Nwankwo confronted his wife, demanding an explanation regarding the strange man’s identity.
It was at this point that the situation reportedly escalated dramatically, with Hope Nwala allegedly turning violent, assaulting her husband as he slept, pouring hot oil on him, and even using a hammer to inflict further harm.
The victim sustained severe injuries, including burns from the scalding oil, and was left in a critical condition.
“I told my wife’s younger sister to leave my house because of the way she started dressing,” he narrated.
“Her behaviour and the way she occupied my matrimonial bed even when I was around were unacceptable. And no young guy will tolerate such behaviour. But my wife refused the younger sister to leave the house
“I also saw my wife alone with one tall black guy in the shop I rented for her. Not that he is in for business. He followed my wife and her sister here and there
“So, with all this, I gave her younger sister two thousand naira transport to go home so that I could actually understand what was going on in my house, but my wife got upset, while I went to bed to sleep, she used boiled groundnut oil on me, then started hitting me with a hammer.”
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the incident, said an investigation is ongoing but that the suspect is on the run.
“I can confirm the incident. The matter was reported at the Igwuruta Police State Station. The woman has fled but we are on her train to ensure her arrest and make her face the law.” the PPRO added.
