A married woman based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mrs Chidinma Diala, is battling with an injury allegedly inflicted on her head by husband over infidelity allegation.It was learnt that the incident happened on November 29, when Diala accused her husband, Norbert, of engaging in extramarital affairs.
Trouble started that evening after he arrived home late and his wife alleged that he was returning from his girlfriend’s place.
Norbert was said to have taken offence and descended on his wife with a plank, slashing her head in the process.
Diala told City Round that her 11 years of marriage with Norbert was characterised with violence, adding that their daughter pleaded with Norbert in vain to stop beating her mother.
She said, “While I was on the road that day, I saw him coming out of his mistress’ house and I was very angry. When I got home, I locked up my room and slept off. All of a sudden, he broke the door. I was shocked. He started beating me. My daughter and housekeeper were begging him. He pushed my daughter and hit my head with a plank. I was covered with blood and managed to escape. This was not the first time this would happen. There was a time he hit me and I fainted. It happens over and over again.”
The 39 –year-old woman explained that he had been enduring the assaults because she did not want to be a single mother and be solely responsible for the upkeep of their three children aged between five and 10.
She said whenever she mentioned the name of any of her husband’s girlfriends, he would get angry and beat her up, adding that she was tired of the abusive marriage.
Diala said, “I have told Norbert to leave me just to be alive and train my children, but he doesn’t want to leave me. Anytime I mention the name of any of his girlfriends, I always receive the beating of my life. Some years back when we were in the bedroom, one of his mistresses named Rachael called him. I felt very insulted and I confronted him.
“The next thing, Rachael called to warn me that I could never put an end to her relationship with my husband. When I confronted my husband with what she said, he gave me the beating of my life.
“Anytime I refused him sex, he would rape me. There was a time I was not feeling fine, he tore my clothes and beat me. He pushed me out naked; it was my child who covered me with bedspread. We have been married for 11 years; it has been years of suffering and smiling. I have been enduring it. He used to pacify me with gifts in the past after beating me. I lost my second pregnancy due to beating.”
She said she reported the latest incident at the police station on Oboro Road, Port Harcourt and her statement was taken.
“The police gave me a report which I took to the hospital. He has been on the run since the incident happened,” Diala added.
When contacted on the telephone, the husband hung up as one of our correspondents introduced herself to him as a journalist with Punch Newspaper.
He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to him on the incident while subsequent calls put across to his line rang out.
The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Omoni Nnamdi, could not be reached for comment as of press time.