Two housewives, identified only as Muyibat and Biliki, have suffered
severe burns after a fight over a man.According to PUNCH Metro, the two
women emptied a kettle of hot water on each other during
the
brawl which occurred at their residence in the Yaba area of Lagos
State.Biliki, who was living with her husband in the Surulere area of
the state, relocated to her parents’ house in Abule Oja, Yaba,
in 2015, after separating from the husband.Muyibat lives with her
husband and three children in the house.32-year-old Biliki accused
Muyibat, 29, of marrying her former boyfriend, which caused bad blood
between them.Matters, however, came to a head after a disagreement on
Saturday when the duo poured hot water on each other.They were both
admitted to a general hospital in the state.The case was reported at the
Sabo Police Division and one of the parties petitioned the Lagos State
Office of the Public Defender, which mediated in the matter.Muyibat told
PUNCH Metro that their problem started after Biliki accused her of marrying her (Biliki’s)
boyfriend.She said, “Biliki told neighbours that she once dated my
husband and that she aborted for him during their relationship.“She
calls me Iyawo Sara (free wife). I have never known peace in that
house. She fights me over every minor issue. “On Saturday, I went to
the market with my husband and when we got home, my child started
crying. Biliki’s younger brother, Ahmed, came out and shouted at him and
I cautioned him. “His sister then picked up a quarrel with me and
started raining curses on me. I did not talk because I was observing a
fast. While she was abusing me, I sneezed and said, ‘Ausubillahi
minashaitani rojeem’ (God, deliver me from the devil).”Muyibat said
Biliki, who is also a Muslim, thought she was referring to her and
queried her for calling her a devil.She alleged that Biliki attacked her
in the process. “I removed the water I was boiling for my vegetables
and put it on the table. She (Biliki) held my head from behind and
poured the hot water on me.“Her younger brother slammed a plastic paint
on my head, while she drew my hair. Both of them assaulted me,” Muyibat
added.The Kwara State indigene said she was rushed to a private hospital
where she was rejected, adding that she later went to the Sabo Police
Station to report the case.Muyibat, who claimed to have passed out on
the way to the general hospital, said Biliki had earlier in May
threatened to pour acid on her.However, Biliki, who suffered burns on
her breasts, chest and hand, denied the allegations, saying her
neighbour was the first to attack her.She denied ever dating Muyibat’s
husband, saying Muyibat was fond of making trouble with her and efforts
to reconcile them had always been rebuffed by her.She said, “I went back
to my parents’ house when I had issues with my husband. Because of
that, many of the tenants started ridiculing me.“I was ill that Saturday
and was sleeping beside my baby. Her child had come to play with my
baby when she called him back. When the child didn’t heed her call, she
hit him and the child started crying.“Another child passing through the
passageway was also crying that partcular time. My younger brother asked
the other boy to stop crying and Muyibat abused my brother.“My brother
reported her to me and I told him not to reply her. She then started
insulting me. We fought and our neighbours came to separate us.“I was
backing her when somebody suddenly shouted, ‘hot water!’ As I turned
back with my hands raised, she emptied a kettle of hot water on me.
Because my hand was raised when she attacked me, a little of the water
splashed on her.”Biliki said Muyibat also bit her brother while the
latter came to separate them, adding that her two phones were smashed by
Muyibat.The Director of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender,
Mrs. Olubukola Salami, described the incident as horrific.She said,
“This horrific incident was totally avoidable as either of the parties
could have just walked away and lodge a formal complaint at the nearest
police station. But they decided to take the law into their hands and
the result was unfortunate.“Domestic violence has repercussions and it’s
totally unacceptable anywhere. The Lagos State Government will deal
harshly with those who disturb public peace.”The Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident.She
added that the victims were both given medical papers for treatment, but
they had yet to report back to the station.
No comments:
Post a Comment