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Nursing mother tackles husband over abandonment, says hubby claims twins, CS are taboos

Published

4 years ago

December 22, 2021

Nwamaka and the babies

A 33-year-old woman, Mrs Nwamaka Chinwendu, who gave birth to twins, has lamented that her husband, Amajiri, abandoned her and her two-month-old babies because she gave birth to twins through a caesarean section.

Amajiri hails from Igbo Etche, in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, while the woman is a native of Ameka village, in the Ezza South LGA of Ebonyi State.

The family, however, lives at Mile 50, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

Nwamaka recalled that when she was pregnant with her first child, her husband informed her that it was a taboo in his hometown for a woman to be delivered through a caesarean section.

She said she was fortunate to have been delivered of the child without any surgical operation.

The woman, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday in Abakaliki, said trouble started when she went for an ultrasound at seven months of her pregnancy and was told that she was carrying twins.

She said when she broke the news to her husband, he became angry and told her to abort the pregnancy, but she refused.

“He began to beat me without any provocation. He stopped helping me with house chores. I went for another scan before delivery and I was told that the babies were not well positioned and that they were positioned with their buttocks. The sonographer said we should hope that the babies would position well before nine months.

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“But when it got to nine months, one of the babies turned, while the other didn’t turn. So, I was told that the only way out was through CS. When I got home and told my husband, he said I was on my own. He started nagging that CS and twins were taboos in their culture. He said if I wanted the marriage to continue that I should abort the babies.

“Since I gave birth to my twins (a boy and a girl) two months ago, he has abandoned us. He did not come to the hospital; it was my elder brother that paid the hospital bill and he has been the one catering for us,” she added.

Mrs Chinwendu, who said her husband claimed to be a marine engineer but never dressed up for work one day, noted that he always provided for them before the arrival of the twins.

She said she was no longer interested in the marriage, adding that all she wanted was for her husband to take care of his children.

Husband petitions police, accuses in-law of kidnap

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said Amajiri wrote a petition to the police, alleging that the woman’s elder brother brutalised and kidnapped him.

She said, “The allegation before us is different. This woman’s husband came to the police with a petition, alleging that one Mr Arinze Utobo beat him up with seven others, kidnapped him and locked him up in a wardrobe; that is the allegation before the police.

“It was in the process of investigation that we found out that the suspect in the matter was the woman’s elder brother.

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“It was when we arrested the suspect, including the woman with twins, that we now asked if the woman was part of his problem. We now got to know that she was the wife of the man who came to lay allegation that he was beaten up and kidnapped by Mr Utobo and seven others.

“The woman came up with her own story that since she was pregnant and discovered it was twins, the husband said in their community in Rivers State it is a taboo to have twins and to also deliver through a caesarean section.”

Odah noted that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba, had ordered investigation into the incident.

Amajiri’s in-law, Utobo, denied kidnapping him.

He said, “He abandoned his wife, who gave birth to twins and ran away for two months and did not ask after their whereabouts.

“So, one day, I saw him at the Abakaliki Stadium with two women and I asked him if what he did was OK.

“It was then that I told him to take me to his house so that I could get his wife’s clothes, because it was just one wrapper that the woman took to the hospital the day she put to birth that she had been using. It was then that he threatened to deal with me and started alleging all manner of things.”

Efforts to get Amajiri proved abortive as calls to his phone rang out and text messages were not replied to as of press time.

Punch

Related Topics:abandonment CS Featured husband Mother Nursing taboos twins

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Edo Gov Okpebholo Joins Benin City Youths in Protest Over Power Outages

Published

22 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Edo Gov Okpebholo Joins Benin City Youths in Protest Over Power Outages

Benin City, Edo State — Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday publicly aligned himself with youths and residents protesting persistent power outages and billing challenges linked to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). The protest took place at Ring Road in Benin City, with demonstrators carrying placards reading “We say no to BEDC oppression,” “No light, no bill,” and “Edo people say no to bulk billing.”

The protesters decried prolonged blackouts, estimated electricity bills, and what they described as the exorbitant cost of prepaid meters, which they say range between ₦150,000 and ₦400,000. Residents also questioned the transparency of BEDC’s free meter distribution initiative, urging the company to publicly disclose beneficiaries.

Governor Okpebholo, reportedly passing by the protest area, stopped to address the crowd. He expressed solidarity with the demonstrators, saying he stood with them “as fellow youths seeking fairness.” The governor acknowledged that electricity challenges affect both rural and urban communities in Edo State and appealed for calm while the government engages relevant stakeholders to find solutions.

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While clarifying that BEDC is privately owned and not directly controlled by the state government, Governor Okpebholo pledged that efforts would be made to tackle the residents’ concerns. He suggested liberalising the electricity distribution sector to attract new investors and reduce what he described as a monopoly. Drawing a comparison with the telecommunications industry, he noted that introducing more players would improve service delivery and provide consumers with options.

The governor also announced plans to convene a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday and urged the protesters to nominate five representatives to participate in discussions aimed at addressing electricity supply and billing issues.

Speaking on behalf of the protest group, Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel said residents were compelled to act due to what they termed oppressive practices by BEDC. He emphasized the financial burden caused by prepaid meters and irregular billing, stating: “We pay for light and they give us darkness.”

Eyewitnesses reported that the protest remained peaceful, with security personnel ensuring order. The demonstrators dispersed following Governor Okpebholo’s address. As of press time, BEDC had not issued an official response to the claims raised by residents.

Edo Gov Okpebholo Joins Benin City Youths in Protest Over Power Outages

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Pastor, Wife Arrested in Bayelsa Over Alleged Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl

Published

22 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Trends Admin

Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Daniel Edebor

Pastor, Wife Arrested in Bayelsa Over Alleged Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl

YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE — The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a pastor and his wife over the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The suspects were apprehended by operatives from the Ekeki Division during a Sunday church service. Eyewitnesses said the pastor initially fled through a back exit after sighting police officers but later surrendered himself when his wife was taken into custody at the church premises.

According to reports, the victim is a relative of the pastor’s wife. The teenager allegedly told investigators and members of the National Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence and the Do Foundation that the abuse occurred about five times beginning in November 2025.

The girl reportedly said the incidents happened whenever her mother sent her to deliver a local bread known as “madiga” to the pastor’s wife. On one occasion, when the wife was not at home, the pastor allegedly invited her inside the church, locked the door and assaulted her. She further alleged that similar incidents occurred on other visits to the pastor’s residence.

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The minor said she initially kept silent out of fear but later informed her mother after noticing she had missed her menstrual cycle. Following the revelation, the mother confronted the pastor and his wife.

Sources disclosed that the pastor’s wife allegedly handed the mother N120,000 to facilitate an abortion after a medical scan reportedly confirmed pregnancy. The mother was said to have been persuaded by a relative not to “destroy God’s house” at the time.

The matter, however, escalated during a church service where the pastor and his wife were reportedly heard thanking God for helping them overcome enemies allegedly trying to bring down the church. Feeling distressed by the public display, the victim’s mother later filed a formal complaint at the Ekeki Police Division.

She also petitioned the complaint unit of the National Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence, led by Dise Harry.

Confirming the development, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, said the case has been transferred to the Gender Unit of the command for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.

Police authorities assured that due process would be followed in handling the alleged rape case in Bayelsa, emphasizing that offences involving minors are treated with seriousness under Nigerian law.

The incident has sparked reactions in Yenagoa, with some church members reportedly seen at the police station discussing the development as investigations continue.

Pastor, Wife Arrested in Bayelsa Over Alleged Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl

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DSS Busts Alleged Arms Trafficking Network in Gombe, Seizes RPGs

Published

22 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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DSS Busts Alleged Arms Trafficking Network in Gombe, Seizes RPGs

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested two suspected arms couriers and recovered rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) equipment during a security operation in Gombe State.

The suspects — Muhammed Alhaji Mohammed, 55, and Sani Gesha, 47 — were intercepted at Mararaban Tula in Kaltungo Local Government Area while travelling in a grey Toyota Corolla with registration number Taraba JAL475YQ. Security sources said the vehicle was stopped following weeks of intelligence-driven surveillance targeting an alleged bandit network operating across parts of the North-East.

During the operation, DSS operatives reportedly recovered two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) warheads, an RPG launcher and other items believed to be linked to banditry and arms trafficking activities. Sources familiar with the investigation said the weapons were suspected to be part of a consignment intended for delivery to criminal elements operating in neighbouring states.

According to security officials, the arrests followed over three weeks of covert monitoring of a trafficking syndicate allegedly connected to a notorious bandit leader operating across Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa states. A source disclosed that the operatives monitored the group closely before launching a coordinated operation that led to the suspects’ arrest with what was described as a significant cache of arms and ammunition.

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Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the recovered weapons were meant to be delivered to one Ardo Hamma Ari, said to be a resident of Kukawa Village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Authorities are expanding investigations to track other members of the network and uncover the source and intended use of the weapons.

In a related development, DSS operatives also rescued a six-year-old boy, Mohammed Jabir, at Gyada Village in Talase, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State. Security sources said the child had allegedly been kidnapped by one Salisu Hussain under the pretext of teaching him how to ride a motorcycle.

Following a report by the family, DSS operatives launched a swift operation that led to the safe rescue of the boy and the arrest of the suspected kidnapper. The child has since been reunited with his parents, who expressed gratitude to the DSS for the prompt intervention and safe return of their son.

Security authorities confirmed that all suspects are currently in DSS custody and will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations. Officials emphasized that the operation underscores ongoing efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking, banditry, and kidnapping in the North-East region, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety.